This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Driving up care home standards
27/03/2007
A new initiative to ensure that older people receive the highest quality of care from care homes has been launched.
The Executive, COSLA and Scottish Care have agreed new targets to be met in relation to the previously announced £30 million investment package. From April 2007, a range of measures will be introduced, including staff training requirements and clearer information for service users and their families.
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald, said:
"We are committed to investing in quality of care for our older people
"Increases in care home fees will be linked to the quality of services provided and will drive up the quality agenda for residents.
"Care homes should aim for excellence every day and put the elderly people who use their services at the heart of these new measures for improvement."
COSLA President Pat Watters said:
"Local Government is determined to drive up the quality of care in Care Homes throughout Scotland. Our senior citizens deserve no less.
"We have been working closely with Scottish Care and the Scottish Executive to achieve this objective. Through our work with Scottish Care on raising standards we have achieved the investment package which will enable us to put these improvements into effect."
Ranald Mair, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, said:
"Care Home providers are fully committed to delivering the highest quality of care and welcome this year's funding settlement as an indication of the Executive and COSLA's commitment to resourcing services to improve standards.
"Scottish Care will continue to work on the quality agenda with the Executive, COSLA and the Regulatory bodies."
The announcement came as latest statistics on Care Homes in Scotland were published today, showing the continuing shift towards more care at home.
The number of care home places has fallen by 1,105 from 39,204 to 38,099 from March 2000 to March 2006, a 2.8 per cent decrease. In the same period the number of care homes for older people has fallen from 1,060 to 960. At the same time there has been an increase in the number of elderly people with very complex needs including chronic illness and dementia for whom care home provision remains the correct option.
Mr Macdonald continued:
"The fall in the number of care homes reflects the continuing shift towards care at home. Recent statistics show that more people than ever are receiving intensive care packages of care in their own homes.
"Research has consistently informed us that people want to be able to live in their own homes as independently as possible for as long as possible.
"Some older care homes may close or change hands for commercial reasons but new, modern facilities are also opening. Major companies are investing heavily in the sector, showing their confidence in the market.
Mr Mair added:
"Although there is a slight drop in the number of people currently in care homes this is likely to increase again in the coming years as the proportion of older people in the population rises.
"Care homes are also seeing a big increase in the number of very frail elderly and those with chronic illness and dementia.
"Care Homes need to be maintained and developed as crucial part of the continuum of care. We need to be planning now for the range of care services that Scotland will need in the future."
Following the Spending Review in 2004, £37 million was allocated to local authorities to further increase care home fee levels in 2006-07 and £57.5 million in 2007-08.
From April 2007, weekly fee levels per resident paid to homes providing nursing care will increase from £471.55 to £501.37, and for homes without nursing care from £435.30 to £406.77.