A RESIDENTIAL care home owner has praised a States scheme that stops elderly people being forced into selling property to pay for care. Pat Davidson, who owns Apple Trees and Orchard House, said the long term care insurance scheme removed the burden that she used to feel.
‘The scheme pays for at least two-thirds of the care and then the residents lose part of their pension,’ she said.
‘It’s so much nicer to be able to provide care without the knowledge that the person is losing their home. I used to feel so much guilt about that and the scheme has removed that feeling.’
She said she hoped Social Security would be able to continue with the scheme.
‘It’s a huge amount of money to put up but I’m a huge supporter of it. It would be a really sad thing to lose in the future, but there is always that worry that it will cost too much money.’
Mrs Davidson said finding staff for residential and nursing homes was becoming increasingly difficult.
‘It’s very hard to get the staff and then it’s very difficult to keep them if you’re lucky enough to get good ones.
‘Housing is part of the issue because you get staff coming in and being trained for nine months, then having to leave. The high turnover is a real problem because you lose the continuity which is so important for the residents.’
She also said that Guernsey needed more nursing homes to cope with the ageing population.
‘There is definitely a need. There are sufficient residential homes, but the island is short of nursing home beds.
‘I think there are people who could finance nursing homes on the island at the moment, but they cannot find the staff to run them.’
Mrs Davidson added that the elderly people at her homes were like a big family.
‘People come into care homes thinking they are going to die but we tell them that this is the time when they should enjoy themselves the most,’ she said.
‘They would not have such a good social life if they were still at home and after a little while they realise they can have a much better standard of living here.’
Article posted on 30th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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