Response to NICE home care guidelines

In response to NICE publication of home care guidelines Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

'We warmly welcome the emphasis which the guidance places on care that respects service users as people and their dignity, that enables normal friendly interaction between the carer and the person receiving care, and that takes account of complex needs. As the guidance notes, very short visits are unlikely to result in care that achieves these aims.
 
'Care staff who are under intense pressure of time are likely to cut short visits, leave tasks undone and may fail to notice serious changes in the person's health or circumstances. It is difficult to see how this can be described as genuine 'care' since an older person's wellbeing is not the primary consideration - as the legislation requires.

'We sincerely hope the Government will use its Spending Review to fill the gap in social care funding that has grown and grown in recent years. Unless this happens we fear much care practice will fail to reach the standards set by this excellent NICE guidance.'

>Read about Age UKs Don't Cut Care campaign