Latest News

Call for Dignity Code to protect elderly patients

Nurses and care workers should sign a Dignity Code guaranteeing that elderly patients are treated with respect, say a group of politicians and charities.  

Highcliffe Nursing Home reduces 'death notice'

A Dorset nursing home has announced it will no longer charge for a four-week notice period after a resident's death.  

Nairn and Ardersier GP-led study on care plans

Greater anticipation of the medical care needed by vulnerable people could bring major benefits to patients and save money, according to a new study.  

Care Home developers set to create 300 jobs

Two former care home developers have launched their own company, in a move which will create over 300 jobs across the UK.   

Care home orders grieving daughter to pay £3,000… because she didn't give 28 days' notice of her father's DEATH

Sue Cann received the bill for the outstanding care bill the day after her father Kenneth's funeral.  

Four Seasons care homes in talks with new investors

Four Seasons, Britain's biggest care homes operator, is in talks with potential new equity investors to help the business grapple with its crippling debt burden.  

Animals make nursing home living easier

When Tolema Boblitt was looking for an assisted living center for herself and her husband, she had one important condition. Their cat, Calico, had to be able to come with them.  

OAPs Go Surfing at a Care Home

CARE home residents can catch up with friends and family at any time of the day or night thanks to the use of new specialist computers.  

Having a Curry Could Help Ward Off Dementia

Eating curry once or twice a week could stave off dementia, research suggests.  

Care for elderly 'let down by fragmented system'

Older people are being let down by a social care system in which they are "passed like a parcel" between services, a committee of MPs has said.   

Care stepped up for the elderly.

WITH one of the highest proportions of elderly patients in the entire country, a number of projects are under way at Scarborough Hospital to ensure older people receive the best possible care.   

Our vulnerable elderly are being treated like cattle. The private sector can help.

Care home meals costing just £2.27 a day are branded a 'national disgrace'

Some care homes are spending as little as £2.27 a day on food for each resident – less than the price of a medium-sized coffee on the high street.  

Cancer Drug Offers Hope on Alzheimer's

A SKIN cancer drug may reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease, tests have revealed.  

Four Seasons: Care Home Provider in New Debt Talks

The UK's largest care home provider, which bought many of the Southern Cross properties, has said it is in talks to raise money to pay its debts.  

New Council Warning Over Costs of Care for the Elderly

It's a political and financial worry for all of us; just how do we pay for our loved ones who need residential care?  

Trading Standards Monitors Care Home Food

Trading Standards officers in Warwickshire have been monitoring meal quality at 10 nursing and care homes.  

Elderly 'suffer as social care spending cut'

Spending on social care for the elderly in England is falling this year - despite the assurances of ministers, an analysis by campaigners suggests.  

Over-55s don't want to pay for long-term care

From The Guardian: An Avivia survey finds that the over-55s are 'terrified' of the potential bill for long-term care and believe the state should cover the costs  

Social worker vacancy rates down across Britain

Social worker vacancy rates in councils across Britain have fallen despite the squeeze on recruitment and retention budgets, Community Care can reveal.  

DoH: Improving dementia care

NHS Memory Services receive £10 million injection.  

DoH: Caring for our future

Experts have been enlisted to help the Government’s discussions on how to improve the care system in England, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow announced recently.  

NHS chiefs watch care at ex-Southern Cross homes

HEALTH bosses say they are keeping a close eye on care home residents after Britain’s largest care home provider almost collapsed amid financial turmoil.  

Care home operator expands with move into specialist market

CARE home group Maria Mallaband is set to buy two homes which specialise in caring for people with autism as it expands its operations around the UK  

USA News: Video cameras in nursing homes

Families using video cameras in nursing homes to protect loved ones  

CQC report reveals private sector standards

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) annual State of Care report has painted a positive picture of the UK’s 2,500 independent hospitals and clinics.   

Concern over quality of Cornwall's care homes

A campaign group fighting for better standards of elder care in Cornwall's care homes said more needs to be done.  

Older internet users just as competent as younger

Older internet users are challenging younger ones when it comes to using technology, according to Age UK.  

BBC: Southern Cross set to shut down and stop running homes

Landlords owning all 752 care homes in the Southern Cross Group have said they want to leave the group.  

Social care revamp: Pressure on to find money

The government is under pressure to consider tax rises and further spending cuts to find the money to pay for the overhaul of social care.  

Dilnot presents an indisputable case for reforming care funding

The government must now act on the recommendations for financing older peoples care  

£6 million to support big society in health and social care

First ever DH Volunteering Fund National Awards announced today by the Department of Health.  

Southern Cross slashes rent to avoid mass care home closure

Experts warn that care home provider could soon collapse into administration  

Four arrests after patient abuse caught on film

Police in Bristol have arrested four people after secret filming by BBC Panorama found a pattern of serious abuse at a residential hospital.  

Research links genes to arthritis

Scientists have identified at least seven genes that account for the development of a type of arthritis which affects up to one million people in Britain.  

Age UK publishes damning report on the care crisis

Age UK have published a damning report, which shows the depth of the crisis in social care and its consequent human cost.  

Latest links to CQC Hospital Inspections story

Links to the headlines on the CQC hospital inspections  

BBC: Derriford Hospital's elderly care 'respects dignity'

Care of elderly people at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth is meeting legal standards, a report has concluded.  

C4 News: Elderly care standards - 3 health trusts break law

As inspectors raise serious concerns about care for the elderly in some NHS hospitals, one woman tells Channel 4 News that the care her 96-year-old mother received was "abominable".  

Elderly people should take up T'ai Chi, say academics

Elderly people should take up the gentle martial art of T’ai Chi for the sake of their physical and mental health, according to academics.  

Mental health experts have developed a free online quiz to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease

The 15-minute interactive test is aimed at people aged 50 to 70 who are worried about memory decline.  

Cameron stands firm on NHS changes to 'avoid crisis'

David Cameron has said the NHS in England needs to change to avoid a "future crisis" as he sought to rally support for a controversial shake-up.  

Welsh call for new care crackdown

A campaign has been launched to give government care inspectors greater powers to stop local authorities flouting statutory guidance.  

Report on liberty safeguards published by Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission today (15 March) publishes its first monitoring report on the implementation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which protect the rights of people in care homes and hospitals who lack the mental capacity to consent to their care or treatment.  

BBC: New system uses brain scans to spot early Alzheimer's

Scientists say early tests show the new technique is 85% accurate and can deliver results in just 24 hours.  

BBC: Drugs for heartbeat problem may cut dementia risk

Treating stroke survivors for a heartbeat problem called atrial fibrillation (AF) might prevent many patients from going on to develop dementia  

Fire Safety Guidance

for Residential Care Premises Operators  

The Future of Dementia Care

A review of the Question Time Seminar on 11th February  

CQC today announced plans to develop a new scheme to recognise excellence in adult social care

The scheme – set to be launched in April 2012 – will be CQC-owned, but delivered by other organisations under licence.  

NEW REPORT PREDICTS SHORTFALL OF 100,000 CARE HOME BEDS BY 2020

Calls for immediate ring-fencing of council funding for care of older people. NHS faces bed-blocking crisis if homes are forced to close.  

Rocking Ron raises the roof and lots of cash for Kirsten

A teenager forgot her pain and danced in her wheelchair on the happiest night of her life.  

Innovation in Forensic Mental Health

The Priory Group is holding an ‘Innovation in Forensic Mental Health’ conference for health professionals across the medical sector, showcasing expert and specialist speakers.  

AGEUK: More people to pay for care homes

Funding decisions made by the Government will see more older people forced to pay for care homes, it has been revealed.  

AGEUK: Eating berries may lower risk of Parkinson's

New research shows men and women who regularly eat berries may have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease.  

Councils slash social care managers to save £35m

Three Tory-led London boroughs will slash management posts across children's and adults' services by creating single departments for both, as part of moves to save £35m.  

Care homes set to raise fees after landmark judgement

Councils will face more pressure to increase fees for care providers after a landmark legal ruling forced an authority to raise its rates.  

Carewatch enhances capital presence with extensive acquisition

Leading home care provider acquires London franchise Graham Home Care.  

Increased care home fees may not be enough

Independent care homes who won a landmark High Court victory may have to resort to a second court battle.  

Christine Ferrier: An Appreciation

It is with enormous sadness that National Care Association has announced that one of its Board Members and former Vice Chairman Mrs. Christine Ferrier passed away on 23 November 2010.  

BBC: Diabetes drug - Alzheimer's hope

A common diabetes drug could be redeveloped as a new treatment for Alzheimer's, research has suggested.  

BBC: Thousands of older people "isolated"

Radio 4 Podcast on 10th November 2010  

CQC: Adult social care services have improved but the market must respond to meet future needs

Adult social care services have improved significantly since 2008 but further growth in the market is required to meet future needs, according to a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report...  

BBC: Low life expectancy in North West

Blackpool and Manchester have the lowest life expectancy in England, according to BBC-commissioned research.  

New powers for the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO)

The Health Act 2009 has amended the Local Government Act 1974 and created a new power which will allow the LGO to investigate complaints made by “self funders” about services that are registered under CQC’s essential standards.  

Annual performance assessment

CQC response to minister's announcement  

Nostalgic toy story is child’s play

Residents of a Wrexham care home have been transported back in time to their childhoods thanks to the town’s museum.  

Implementing the End of Life Care Strategy

Lessons for good practice looks at three Marie Curie Delivering Choice programmes, which work to identify the barriers to good care and highlights examples of good practice from across the country.  

CQC SAYS IT WILL DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS

The Care Quality Commission has highlighted areas of poor practice in mental health services for patients who are subject to the Mental Health Act, and pledged to use its regulatory powers to lever improvement.  

CQC: Adult social care and independent health care providers now registered

Over 10,200 providers are now registered with CQC who are working with a small number of providers who, for a variety of reasons, are either resubmitting their applications or we have not yet invited to apply.  

Ensure your Care Home meets the new essential standards

From today, 1st October 2010 under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, all providers of adult social care that carry out regulated activities must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Providers are legally responsible for making sure they meet the new essential standards of quality and safety.