A market report said that the long-term decline in the care home sector had come to an end, with demographic change set to drive steady growth over the next decade. Overall capacity in the sector had risen for the first time since 1996.
Source: Care of Elderly People: UK Market Survey 2009, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Summary | Alzheimers Society press release | Community Care report | Local Government Chronicle report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Sep
A report criticized primary care trusts for not ensuring that all people living in residential care settings got access to free family doctor services.
Source: Richard Stokes, Postcode Tariff: PCTs and GP retainers in care homes, English Community Care Association (020 7793 4620)
Links: Report | ECCA press release
Date: 2009-Jul
A report said that 14 per cent of tenants in sheltered housing in England were at risk of malnutrition, with 9 per cent at high risk.
Source: Marinos Elia and Christine Russell, Screening for Malnutrition in Sheltered Housing, British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (01527 457850)
Links: Summary | BAPEN press release
Date: 2009-May
The inspectorate for education and children's services published four reports that examined children's and young people's views and experiences of life in various residential settings. A key finding in all reports was the positive difference that good staff made to the quality of life of children and young people in their care.
Source: Life in Secure Care, HMI 080241, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833) | Life in Children's Homes, HMI 080244, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills | Life in Residential Special Schools, HMI 080250, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills | Life in Residential Further Education, HMI 080251, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Secure care | Childrens homes | Residential special schools | Residential FE | OFSTED press release
Date: 2009-Apr
A report said that one-third of residential homes registered to provide dementia care did not offer their staff specific dementia training.
Source: Dementia Care Services: UK market briefing 2009, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: L&B press release | Alzheimers Society press release | NCF press release | Counsel and Care press release | Community Care report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Mar
An article examined research evidence on cultural issues relating to ethnicity in end-of-life care in care homes. It identified the need for both monitoring and research data on the experiences and perspectives of residents from black and ethnic minorities, and their family carers.
Source: Frances Badger et al., 'The role of ethnicity in end-of-life care in care homes for older people in the UK: a literature review', Diversity in Health and Care, Volume 6 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Mar
An article examined the difficulties that faced care homes in accessing healthcare services, and the potential for better partnership working between care homes and the National Health Service.
Source: Tom Owen, Julienne Meyer, Jane Bentley, Hazel Heath and Claire Goodman, 'Better partnership between care homes and the NHS: findings from the My Home Life programme', Journal of Care Services Management, Volume 3 Number 1
Links: Article
Date: 2009-Mar
A new book examined recent developments in residential care, and its future place in the system of social care.
Source: Terry Philpot (ed.), Residential Care: A Positive Future, Residential Forum (020 8949 5837)
Date: 2009-Feb
A new book examined policy and practice in residential child care. It said that the sector needed to move beyond the 'dominant discourses' of protection, rights, and outcomes to embrace those of care and upbringing.
Source: Mark Smith, Rethinking Residential Child Care: Positive perspectives, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Feb