Joint letter to Andrew Lansley on reform of care funding,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/05/letter-andrew-lansley-reform-care

Care home residents 'denied basic GP medical services' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17264349

Care homes 'struggling to meet medical needs' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17358741

Home care for elderly branded 'shocking and disgraceful' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17389588

Bupa put profit first at filthy and understaffed care home, says judge

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9149296/Bupa-put-profit-first-at-filthy-and-understaffed-care-home-says-judge.html

Low staffing levels 'harms elderly care' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17436928

Nursing numbers a third lower on elderly wards

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nursing-numbers-a-third-lower-on-elderly-wards-7578168.html

NHS ageism 'harming elderly care' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17515608

Deaths of five nursing home residents probed in Broughty Ferry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17573434

Care commissioning must meet people's needs,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2012/apr/04/care-commissioning-meet-peoples-needs

Integrated care: patients see no improvement, says report,

http://www.pharmatimes.com/mobile/12-04-10/Integrated_care_patients_see_no_improvement_says_report.aspx

Forget about 'social care pot of gold' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17740832

Crisis in care of elderly as £1bn cuts bite

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/exclusive-crisis-in-care-of-elderly-as-1bn-cuts-bite-7654873.html

Support for carers must be central to social care white paper,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2012/apr/19/support-carers-social-care-white-paper?newsfeed=true

The crisis in funding elderly care could lead to the closure of libraries, parks and leisure centres, the leaders of every major council in England and Wales warn today.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9229868/Elderly-care-funding-will-force-closure-of-libraries-councils-warn.html

Elderly care: politicians urged to 'pull their heads out of the sand'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9230997/Elderly-care-politicians-urged-to-pull-their-heads-out-of-the-sand.html

Alzheimer's patient left locked overnight on bus,

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/alzheimers-patient-left-locked-overnight-on-bus-7712257.html

Quote:

should have been taken home to her flat at the Jill Jenkins Court extra care home.

Why didn't they raise the alarm?

Care homes warned to discuss 'do not resuscitate' forms with families

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/may/06/care-homes-do-not-resuscitate

Why GPs need to be more carer aware

http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2012/may/08/gp-need-more-carer-aware

Hospitals should check all patients for signs of neglect on admission, according to Simon Burns, the Health Minister.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9252437/Check-all-patients-for-neglect-says-minister.html

The Queen's Speech: Adult care reforms delayed

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-queens-speech-adult-care-reforms-delayed-7728301.html

Figures expose mounting crisis in care for elderly

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9261864/Figures-expose-mounting-crisis-in-care-for-elderly.html

Ministers set to order inquiry into care homes

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/ministers-set-to-order-inquiry-into-care-homes-7742340.html

Local care 'close to break point' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18028316

State-funded elderly care declining, Labour figures suggest

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18026534

Disabled home care costs up 10 per cent

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/disabled-home-care-costs-up-10-per-cent-7756875.html

Poor care 'can't be dismissed as one-off events'
http://m.nursingtimes.net/5044964.article

Sir Keith, chair of the NHS Confederation and co-chair of the Commission on Dignity in Care for older people, told nurses stories of poor care couldn’t be dismissed as one-off events.

Speaking in Harrogate, Sir Keith, who has been appointed as chairman of Health Education England, told congress: “Having spent 35 years working in the public and private health sectors of healthcare, I recognise, and I am sure you recognise that these examples are cropping up far too often.

“We cannot simply dismiss them as isolated incidents.”

He called for a cultural shift in the way people thought about care with the individual placed at the centre.

As reported in Nursing Times earlier this week, Sir Keith also argued for patients not to be seen as a task and said nurses needed to be recruited based on their “values” with a focus on care and not cure.

He said the ageing population was adding pressure on the system, adding: “Delivering dignified care is now one of the greatest challenges facing the NHS.

“The problem of poor care will only get worse if we don’t act now to change the culture in our hospitals and care homes.”

The audience reacted positively when Sir Keith levelled criticism at hospital boards who he said on occasion “spent a disproportionate amount of time looking at finances at the expense getting person centred dignified care right for patients and their families.”

Nurses needed to take individual responsibility for speaking up, he said, arguing low wages and poor staffing levels “never justify ignoring patients”.

He said poor care would follow if senior managers did not devolve leadership to staff.

The congress also heard the Dignity Commission dismissed the “myth” of nurses being “too posh to wash” as “nonsense” and he repeated the recommendations of the commission on a College of Care to lead on ideas to improve standards.

On staffing levels Sir Keith added: “I say, let’s have a debate about staffing levels. But let’s also not let that debate overshadow the importance of getting day-to-day care right.”

Members of the nursing profession were also urged to work with the commission to “root out poor care and unacceptable behaviour”.

Widow reveals husband with dementia was seen by an astonishing 106 different carers in his last year

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2146292/Dementia-patient-106-carers-single-year-reveals-widow.html#ixzz1vGHGDiEm

Charities claim 'landmark' ruling could end care postcode lottery

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9302815/Charities-claim-landmark-ruling-could-end-care-postcode-lottery.html

Frail elderly people were routinely left without food after their care home ran out of supplies because of an apparent attempt to “cut down the shopping bill”, an inspection has found.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9314411/Elderly-left-hungry-as-care-home-tried-to-cut-down-on-shopping-bill-inspection-report.html

Millions of people who are forced to juggle work and family life with caring for elderly relations are to be given legal recognition and rights to respite holidays for the first time.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9320910/Carers-to-be-given-respite-holidays.html

Elderly care: Government delays threatening future of homes report warns

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9350169/Elderly-care-Government-delays-threatening-future-of-homes-report-warns.html

Have a care for the carers forced to give up work
Of Britain's 6 million carers, one in five have left full-time employment to look after an ailing relative

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jun/29/carers-forced-give-up-work

Unpaid carers cost economy £5.3bn, charity warns http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18599455

The Coalition is failing to live up to its pledge to find an urgent solution to the funding crisis over care for the elderly, the leaders of the Royal College of Nursing and Age UK claim today.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9362183/NHS-facing-colossal-care-bill-unless-system-is-overhauled-urgently.html

Care routinely rationed to 15-minute slots to save cash, study shows

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9379877/Care-routinely-rationed-to-15-minute-slots-to-save-cash-study-shows.html

"They promised so much but politicians have failed us"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9383782/They-promised-so-much-but-politicians-have-failed-us.html

National minimum standard for elderly care to be introduced

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/09/elderly-minimum-standard

Pay when you die solution for pensioners moving into care homes

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9390844/Pay-when-you-die-solution-for-pensioners-moving-into-care-homes.html

Anger growing over social-care funding confusion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18783157

Elderly care cap could be set at £100,000

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elderly-care-cap-could-be-set-at-100000-7935982.html

Andrew Lansley complains 'people always want more'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9407184/Andrew-Lansley-complains-people-always-want-more.html

Winterbourne View care home scandal 'could happen again' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19154355

Winterbourne View abuse: last staff member pleads guilty

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/06/winterbourne-view-abuse-staff-guilty

Hundreds of thousands of elderly people are admitted to hospital as emergencies because of poor care in the community, a study has found.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9461163/Poor-care-at-homes-leads-to-thousand-of-elderly-being-admitted-to-hospital.html

NHS could 'lose' 7,000 beds if home care for elderly improved, says charity
King's Fund says if all PCTs worked to best standards, £462m could be saved with cut of 2.3m overnight hospital stays

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/09/nhs-beds-home-care-elderly

Improved care for elderly could 'free up 7,000 hospital beds'

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/08august/Pages/Improved-care-for-elderly-could-free-up-7,000-hospital-beds.aspx

A £35,000 cap on care bills: PM pledges to end heartbreak of elderly forced to sell homes

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2188952/David-Cameron-A-35-000-cap-care-bills-PM-pledges-end-heartbreak-elderly-forced-sell-homes.html#ixzz23eqzCAgO

Affordable old age: U-turn on money for elderly care

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/affordable-old-age-uturn-on-money-for-elderly-care-8050584.html

Redwood attack on cap for care bills of elderly dismissed
Department of Health says Tory rightwinger's 'inaccurate' attack on Dilnot plan influenced by insurer opposed to cap

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/16/redwood-care-bills-claims-dismissed

Posted By Ian on 11th Jul 12 at 10:40pm

 

Elderly care cap could be set at £100,000

A bit different to the £35,000 figure being quoted now.

Many people with severe disabilities should be cared for within the NHS, rather than in private facilities

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9486378/Winterbourne-View-The-problem-with-all-care-homes.html

Carer drugged elderly so she could sleep on duty, jury hears

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9490019/Carer-drugged-elderly-so-she-could-sleep-on-duty-jury-hears.html

Poor housing undermines care reforms

http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2012/aug/28/poor-housing-undermines-care-reforms

Elderly rehab services 'lacking' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19560827

Campaign to show 'skill and compassion' of nurses http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19602792

Care funding reform failure blamed on Treasury http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19670718

Ousted minister Paul Burstow attacks George Osborne over elderly care

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/ousted-minister-paul-burstow-attacks-george-osborne-over-elderly-care-8161050.html

Elderly care reforms will have to wait, warns Chancellor

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9558774/Elderly-care-reforms-will-have-to-wait-warns-Chancellor.html

A former matron and five nurses who worked for a care home have been arrested over “serious allegations” of mistreatment and neglect of "very vulnerable" elderly residents.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9598937/Care-home-staff-abused-elderly-six-arrests-made.html

Frail and vulnerable elderly people are being forced to rely on care in their homes from workers with convictions for theft and violence, an investigation has found.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9608286/Convicted-criminals-recruited-as-carers-for-elderly.html

Winterbourne View: family calls for fresh inquiry into care home abuse

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9621785/Winterbourne-View-family-calls-for-fresh-inquiry-into-care-home-abuse.html

Target to become world's best in elderly care 'at risk' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20055076

Winterbourne View patients in new care safety alerts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20070437

Winterbourne View scandal: Call for new care home neglect law

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/winterbourne-view-scandal-call-for-new-care-home-neglect-law-8230862.html

A rising number of elderly people face losing “almost all of their wealth” to pay for social care, after the Government admitted it was “unable to commit” to reforming the system.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9652629/Care-bills-will-soak-up-most-of-our-savings.html

Young people with spinal injuries face discharge to homes for elderly people
Incurring a spinal injury when you're young is surely difficult enough without having to convalesce in a home for older people

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/oct/30/spinal-injuries-discharge-homes-elderly-people

Critical elderly care report is a 'wake-up call', says Jeremy Hunt

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9698349/Critical-elderly-care-report-is-a-wake-up-call-says-Jeremy-Hunt.html


Older people are being let down by “systemic failings” in the NHS, leading health figures argue today, in an apparent riposte to a savage attack that the Health Secretary made last week about the “callous” behaviour of some staff.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9717171/Systemic-failures-to-blame-for-poor-patient-care-say-health-leaders.html

Jeremy Hunt's free-market fanaticism means he can't preach about care
Hunt claims he won't stand for poor-quality care for the elderly – but his beloved free market deals only in money, not dignity or respect

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/23/jeremy-hunt-market-care-deborah-orr

What can be done to ensure care home residents get quality healthcare?
Reports suggest the availability of doctors in care homes has fallen short of what residents are entitled to. So what can be done to ensure these patients get the care they deserve?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/28/care-home-residents-quality-healthcare

Carers of young and old 'are struggling to cope' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20541700

Frail pensioner, 72, who was moved to care home for her own safety died after cracking six ribs in a game of football
Rose Medlock developed pneumonia after the rib injury aggravated a lung condition
She had been playing sit down football at Beechwood Gardens residential care home in Earlsdon, West Midlands, when she fell
Husband John, 85, said his wife would still be alive if she had been at home with him
Inquest recorded verdict of accidental death caused by bronchial pneumonia, fractured ribs and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242303/Frail-pensioner-72-moved-care-home-safety-died-cracking-ribs-game-football.html#ixzz2E1xnAa1j

Nurses in drive for 'compassionate care' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20583115

My husband died like a battery hen: MP Ann Clwyd describes her husband's treatment at the hands of the NHS

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2242904/MP-Ann-Clwyd-describes-husbands-treatment-hands-NHS.html#ixzz2E7nxgGLE

Tougher regulation including possible new criminal legislation to strengthen corporate accountability could be introduced in the wake of the "devastating" scandal of abuse at the Winterbourne View private hospital, the Government announced today.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9735789/Winterbourne-abuse-scandal-criminal-law-to-hold-care-home-owners-to-account.html

Winterbourne View scandal: Government rethinks use of hospitals http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20669741

Families are losing tens of thousands of pounds because they are unaware that the NHS should have paid the care home costs of loved-ones, lawyers are warning.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9746138/NHS-owes-families-thousands-over-care-home-costs.html

A fixation with business jargon and targets rather than basic morality has created a generation of nurses, social workers and carers almost incapable of stopping abuse, an expert overhauling their training has warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9757968/Targets-and-jargon-prevent-generation-of-nurses-stopping-abuse.html

'Target winter fuel benefit to pay for elderly care' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20887547

The elderly are victims of an ‘abominable betrayal’ as the generation who set up the welfare state are now being told there is no money to look after them, Prof John Ashton has said. - video

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9786409/Elderly-are-being-betrayed-over-care-says-leading-doctor.html

Coalition's £75,000 on care costs 'mean and cynical', say campaigners

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9813244/Coalitions-75000-on-care-costs-mean-and-cynical-say-campaigners.html

Labour warns David Cameron against 'foolish' cap on long-term care costs
Prime minister reported to be considering a higher figure than one proposed by the Dilnot review in a bid to save money

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/23/labour-warning-david-cameron-dilnot

Doctors have criticised the chief executive of the NHS Commissioning Board for calling hospitals “very bad places” for the elderly, saying Sir David Nicholson's comments could result in nurses treating such patients worse.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9826916/NHS-chiefs-comments-jeopardise-care-of-elderly.html

A widow has died after being left to starve for nine days as her care agency was closed and the council forgot about her.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9850323/Starved-pensioner-left-without-care-dies.html

A council left an 81-year-old woman to starve to death despite being told by police that she needed urgent care, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9858804/Council-knew-about-widow-who-starved.html

Pensioners with savings of up to £120,000 will get Government help towards the cost of their care home places under plans to be announced on Monday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9859839/Savings-boost-for-pensioners-in-care-shake-up.html

The Government will fund plans to assist pensioners with care bills by imposing a £95,000 “stealth tax” on inheritance.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/tax/9860430/Inheritance-stealth-tax-to-fund-care-for-the-elderly.html

The Coalition’s adviser on social care warned ministers on Monday that he “regrets” the decision to cap the costs of nursing homes at almost double the level he recommended.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9863850/75000-cap-on-care-costs-is-too-high-says-architect-of-reforms.html

Elderly 'suffer from poor home care' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21430956

Covered in her own excrement and bed sores, the vulnerable pensioner left to 'lie in filth for weeks' while a council-appointed carer cleaned around her

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2278546/Pensioner-left-lie-filth-weeks-council-appointed-carer-cleaned-her.html#ixzz2Kv1OG8Ge

More than one in 10 providing unpaid care http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21471544

Elderly in care 20 times more likely to be on antipsychotics
Sharp rise in medication, including chemical calming 'cosh', revealed in database study by Queen's University Belfast

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/21/elderly-care-antipsychotics-sharp-rise

Worry over antipsychotic drugs in care homes

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/February/Pages/Antipsychotic-drugs-care-homes.aspx

Dementia 'affects 80% of care home residents' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21579394

Elderly people with dementia are enduring a “forgotten scandal” of mediocre care in homes – with all their basic needs met but little effort to enrich their lives, a report has warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9892866/Forgotten-scandal-of-mediocre-care-homes.html

Carers fed 77-year-old grandfather this jam sandwich covered in mould: Fury of daughter who found father in tears after lunch 'burned back of his throat'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285308/Carers-feed-elderly-grandfather-jam-sandwich-covered-MOULD-leaving-tears.html#ixzz2M8pus3s7

Two million quit work to care for a sick loved one

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/two-million-quit-work-to-care-for-a-sick-loved-one-8523465.html

Care home staff to have compulsory training under government plans to protect elderly

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9919194/Care-home-staff-to-have-compulsory-training-under-government-plans-to-protect-elderly.html

Retired urged to 'face up to old age'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9921295/Retired-urged-to-face-up-to-old-age.html

Basic care for elderly 'lacking' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21834679

New care czar to protect elderly after Mid Staffordshire report

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9950265/New-care-czar-to-protect-elderly-after-Mid-Staffordshire-report.html

Care homes locking up old people to make life easier for staff

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9957920/Care-homes-locking-up-old-people-to-make-life-easier-for-staff.html

More than 50,000 families forced to pay for elderly care says Age UK

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9975425/More-than-50000-families-forced-to-pay-for-elderly-care-says-Age-UK.html

Families forced to top up care fees as council funding drops

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9977781/Families-forced-to-top-up-care-fees-as-council-funding-drops.html

Thousands of care home residents told to pay more or move out because of squeeze on council budgets

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306094/Thousands-care-home-residents-told-pay-squeeze-council-budgets.html#ixzz2Q0VkD4Lx

Nursing homes, hospitals and housing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/10/nursing-homes-hospitals-housing

Care homes face prosecution if abuse concerns are not reported
New social care legislation means executives must report employees if they are suspected of harm or neglect

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/08/care-homes-abuse-legislation

Elderly patients will get personal NHS worker to coordinate health care, pledges Jeremy Hunt
Health Secretary says each patient will have their own dedicated NHS worker

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elderly-patients-will-get-personal-nhs-worker-to-coordinate-health-care-pledges-jeremy-hunt-8613068.html

Carers let down by complicated and means-tested process

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/14/carers-complicated-means-tested-process

Rise in number of unpaid carers and young carers

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/05May/Pages/numbers-unpaid-carers-young-carers-increase.aspx

Disabled and elderly home care: Crisis talks being held http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22883708

Caught on camera, the 'carer' who showed nothing but contempt for her elderly charges: Shocking neglect by workers could become next big health scandal, minister warns

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2341323/Caught-camera-carer-showed-contempt-Shocking-neglect-workers-big-health-scandal-minister-warns.html#ixzz2WBKjTyhJ

Elderly care firm suspended over woman's treatment http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22913873

Whistle-stop care still puts vulnerable at risk
Most councils force staff to cut short the time spent with elderly people

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/whistlestop-care-still-puts-vulnerable-at-risk-8660460.html

From hospital to home: freeing up beds in the NHS
An initiative to support old and vulnerable patients during and after hospital discharge is also reducing readmission rates

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/jun/19/hospital-home-pact-frees-beds-nhs

Healthcare assistants 'should get standard training' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23246066

Neighbourhood Watch should wash and feed 'miserable pensioners' says health minister

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2363865/Neighbourhood-Watch-wash-feed-miserable-pensioners-says-health-minister.html

Will Labour have the guts to fight our unfair care system?
Few elderly people will live to qualify for this Tory 'reform'. The task of the opposition is to make it as universal as the NHS

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/23/labour-unfair-care-system-elderly

Labour calls for investigation into rise in deaths of older people
Official figures show 23,400 more deaths of older people than expected in 18 months, with many in poorest parts of country

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/25/labour-investigation-deaths-older-people

KPMG report urges radical new look at long-term care

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/aug/27/telehealth-kpmg-report

Care home bills rise by £2,400 in two years

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/10274530/Care-home-bills-rise-by-2400-in-two-years.html

The full impact of rationing of elderly care is exposed in new figures showing that the number of older people outside the system has surged by more than one million since the onset of the financial crisis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/10292562/Million-more-elderly-outside-care-system-than-before-financial-crash.html

Winterbourne View: learning disability providers have learned a crucial lesson
The launch of a quality code three years after the Winterbourne revelations means some good has come out of the scandal

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/11/winterbourne-view-learning-disability-care-providers

NHS patients 'should not face constant moves' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24047117

Agony of the care home residents left starving, desperate for water and locked in filthy rooms while staff ignored their cries
Residents maltreated at Meppershall Care Home in Bedfordshire
One told inspectors the conditions had made him suicidal
Elderly and frail locked in their rooms for four months due to broken lift
May Ward, 100, died after she was dropped on her head by carers
Carers put her back to bed and waited 40 minutes before calling for help


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2421507/Agony-care-home-residents-left-starving-desperate-water-locked-filthy-rooms-staff-ignored-cries.html

Elderly care needs 'set to treble' by 2050 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24162509

Care home monitoring could involve service users under social care reforms
Care Quality Commission inspector looks for ordinary people's help as watchdog prepares to make ranking more accessible

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/14/care-home-inspection-reforms

Government accused of "stealth tax" on thousands of care home residents
Ministers have been accused of introducing a “stealth tax” on pensioners and their families by charging thousands of pounds in interest if they take out state loans to pay for care-home fees rather than sell their houses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10405642/Government-accused-of-stealth-tax-on-thousands-of-care-home-residents.html

Cuts to home visits leave older and disabled people in the lurch
Homecare survey exposes how older and disabled people feel neglected after cuts reduce the time care workers can spend with them

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/30/homecare-cuts-home-visits-older-disabled-people

Care home subsidy postcode lottery laid out in fees study
Wide variations in the amount of money privately funded care home residents are charged to subsidise others are shown in a new study

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/10436901/Care-home-subsidy-postcode-lottery-laid-out-in-fees-study.html

Elderly 'face £150,000 care bill before hitting cap' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24923879

Call for human rights amendment to Care Bill

http://www.socialcareworker.co/2013/11/25/call-for-human-rights-amendment-to-care-bill/

Feedback needed on principles of workforce integration

http://www.socialcareworker.co/2013/11/29/feedback-needed-on-principles-of-workforce-integration/

Leap in care home deaths linked to blood infections

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10489938/Leap-in-care-home-deaths-linked-to-blood-infections.html

Nine out of 10 back giving carers right to time-off

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/10509328/Nine-out-of-10-back-giving-carers-right-to-time-off.html

Winterbourne View – ‘distressingly slow’ progress in preventing repetition
Care minister Norman Lamb admits ‘intolerable’ lack of progress in preventing a repetition of the Winterbourne View abuse scandal

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10516786/Winterbourne-View-distressingly-slow-progress-in-preventing-repetition.html

Cuts to care funding mean half a million fewer looked after, study finds
Research finds drop of 483,000 on number who would have received care services had five years of cuts not taken place

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/16/cuts-care-funding-austerity

Elderly should have right to care if they cannot do housework, says former care minister

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/10568916/Elderly-should-have-right-to-care-if-they-cannot-do-housework-says-former-care-minister.html

Elderly care loans could bankrupt councils after 'massive cost underestimate’, claim
Council chiefs warn flagship care loans scheme could leave them facing crisis within a decade to meet costs of more than £1 billion

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/10599662/Elderly-care-loans-could-bankrupt-councils-after-massive-cost-underestimate-claim.html

Many vulnerable people denied care, says Age UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26449081

Even Government does not know how long care system can cope with cuts – spending watchdog
National Audit Office warns that cuts in care for elderly and disabled are putting family carers and A&E services under ‘unsustainable pressure’

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10693548/Even-Government-does-not-know-how-long-care-system-can-cope-with-cuts-spending-watchdog.html

Disabled people in care facilities 'deprived of liberty', says judge
'A gilded cage is still a cage', according to judge who says disabled people have the same human right to physical liberty as the rest of the human race

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10708672/Disabled-people-in-care-facilities-deprived-of-liberty-says-judge.html

Staff sacking and suspensions over poor elderly care http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27128011

New care workers will have to earn certificate http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27265585

Care agencies 'must ensure recruits can speak English' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27295554

Whose fault is that care workers can't speak English?
The government is right that care workers should have passable English – but one of the first things it did made it more difficult for migrants to learn

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/12/whose-fault-care-workers-cant-speak-english

Financial strategy of Southern Cross homes blamed for old people's deaths
Case review into neglect and abuse at Orchid View care home blames too few staff and poor management for five deaths

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/09/financial-strategy-southern-cross-care-homes-blamed-deaths-old-people

Today's teenage girls will dedicate 9 years of their lives to unpaid care
ONS study finds an increasing army of people caring for their loved ones with the burden falling disproportionately on women in their 50s

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10891986/Todays-teenage-girls-will-dedicate-9-years-of-their-lives-to-unpaid-care.html

Hospital failure regime extended to care homes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28308104

Jeremy Hunt: Too many care homes are not good enough for my family
Inspectors announce spot checks on the 100 worst care homes as the Health Secretary says a new inspection regime will 'call time on abuse and neglect'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10970700/Hunt-Too-many-care-homes-not-good-enough-for-my-family.html

Will the Care Act blur the distinction between health and social care?
Call for greater clarity ahead of new legislation

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/aug/14/care-act-blur-distinction-health-social-care

Care home residents to be allowed their own furniture, says Norman Lamb
Care home residents must be surrounded with their own furniture to end the "austere and alien" rooms under new inspection regime

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11040332/Care-home-residents-to-be-allowed-their-own-furniture-says-Norman-Lamb.html

Better Care Fund fast-track projects: cautious, innovative and heroically optimistic
Strategies for five areas have been approved, revealing how local areas plan to meet targets for cutting emergency admissions and saving money

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/sep/18/better-care-fund-fast-track-projects

More than 2,000 care homes have no manager
Paul Burstow, the former health minister, warns that elderly and disabled pensioners are at risk of poor care as new figures show the scale of management shortages across the country

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11141427/More-than-2000-care-homes-have-no-manager.html

Care plan savings 'over-optimistic' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29993912

NHS is to pay out £250m on backdated care cost claims http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30081697

Decent care is a fundamental human right
Fresh evidence suggests that some care homes are not up to scratch. Britain's ageing population deserves much better.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/11306063/Decent-care-is-afundamental-human-right.html