15 minutes of care - UNISON report
Published on 20 June 2013 01:00 PM
Commenting on figures from the trade union UNISON that show 83% of councils in Wales still commission 15 minute home care visits for older and vulnerable people, Age Cymru's Graeme Francis says:
"It's clear that cost is a major factor in determining the type of care that people receive.
"Age Cymru appreciates that in the current economic climate council money has to go a lot further and there is a balancing act between providing care and making the most of available budgets.
"However, people's care needs vary considerably and this is why a blanket, ‘one-size-fits-all' approach to commissioning care cannot possibly meet everyone's individual needs.
"Our concern is that a 15 minute care visit is unsatisfactory in many cases.
"Age Cymru has heard of instance where people are being put to bed at six o'clock - not because that's their normal bed time, but because that's the time when their carer visits them.
"We also know of cases where the 15 minutes of time allocated to people for their care visit is not enough time to deliver package of care social services has said they should be getting.
"Age Cymru wants care workers' concerns addressed so that the people who are receiving care are not left feeling isolated, helpless and frustrated because of the lack of time available to meet their own individual needs."