New measures to help the elderly

Elderly residents will get more choice in their lives

The government has pledged better standards for the elderly living in care homes across the country.

Health Minister John Hutton announced a series of new minimum standards to come into force in April next year.

The government said the new standards will drive up the quality of care, increase protection of the elderly and guarantee a quality of care in homes throughout the country.

There are currently 364,000 elderly people living in nursing and residential homes across the country.

They will help us protect older people living in care homes, whilst promoting their health, welfare and quality of life

John Hutton, Health Minister

Age Concern said the standards were a "vital step forward".

Care home owners have welcomed the standards, but say they want to see it the government producing hard cash to implement the changes.

Mr Hutton said he wants to see elderly people being allowed more autonomy over their own lives, being able to choose when they get up and go to bed, when they choose to eat and what they want to do during the day.

Minimum standards

He has now set out minimum requirements in seven main areas which he wants to ensure all care homes follow.

• Ensuring residents have a choice of home and get the information they need to choose it
• Making sure appropriate care is provided for resident and that their dignity is respected
• Giving residents more say over when their day to day living arrangements such as what time they eat, get up, go to bed and the activities they want to do
• Ensuring the care home meets the needs of the resident and is safe and well maintained
• Staff must be properly trained and there must be thorough checks on recruitment
• Managers must be responsible and capable and from 2005 all must hold a relevant management qualification

Mr Hutton said the minimum standards are vital to ensure all elderly people get the best possible care.

John Hutton: Wants to see minimum standards

He said: "For too long there has been a lack of independence, coherence and consistency in the regulation of care homes.

"These minimum standards, which have been developed following extensive consultation, will change that.

"They will help us protect older people living in care homes, whilst promoting their health, welfare and quality of life."

Offer dignity

Mr Hutton said that by setting out the minimum standards the government can ensure the elderly and their relatives know what to expect.

He said: "We are putting basic standards in place throughout the country so that people, and their families, know exactly what they can expect as a minimum from a care home."

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern said it was vital old people are allowed quality of life and dignity.

"The recognition that quality of care is about a variety of issues including dignity, environment, complaints and social activities is a welcome advance.

"I sincerely hope it signifies a shift in approach and that this shift is translated down to a local level.

He said: "Clearly the new standards must be comprehensively implemented and rigorously monitored.

Tony Andrews, who runs a care home in St. Leonard's, East Sussex, said he like all care home owners welcomes an improvement in standards for residents, but said the government needs to put in extra cash to ensure all the changes happen.

"Unless you fund it properly you cannot have all these lovely thing," he said.