Statement on care homes

If you are concerned by recent stories on care home closures, Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

'Age UK understands the concerns and worries that residents and their families are experiencing at this time of uncertainty.

'It is essential that older people and their relatives know that carefully considered contingency plans are in place, to ensure high quality residential care is maintained at all times.

'Any older person or family members who would like to know about their legal rights with respect to care homes can call the AGE UK free phone advice line on 0800 169 6565.

'The Care Quality Commission should be encouraged to inspect the practice of any affected care services during the transition period to ensure that standards of care do not fail.

'To prevent similar incidents in the future, Age UK believes that regulation should be strengthened to ensure that inspected care homes can prove they are financially viable.

'The current Health and Social Care Bill creates a new role for Monitor, the economic regulator for health and social care.  Age UK is calling for the Bill to extend Monitor's powers to include responsibility for ensuring that care homes are on a sound financial footing and reduce consequent threats to the safety and home life of residents.

'Age UK believes it is timely and appropriate for the Government to hold an independent review of the financing of the care home sector.  The aim would be to examine the totality of care home funding, to ensure that the care home market is stable in the long term and that residents' care is not compromised in difficult economic conditions.'

Media contact: Liz Fairweather
Telephone: 020 303 31718
Out-of-hours: 07071243243