Care homes fine, says Age Concern

By Aimee Le Cocq

Age Concern meets for its AGM

GUERNSEY’S care homes are of a good standard, according to Age Concern.

On BBC Guernsey’s phone-in, a woman in her 90s said she was outraged by some of the things she had seen in such places.

But Joan James of Age Concern said she had not heard any adverse comments. ‘People in States-owned homes seem to be very happy. The only thing I would say is people are often not very stimulated because there are simply not enough staff. But that’s why we encourage them to come to Age Concern.

‘Care work is not a job that appeals to everybody and not just anybody can do it.’

The Health and Social Services Department said homes were thoroughly regulated and that any not meeting standards faced intense scrutiny and the prospect of closure.

‘All homes have complaints procedures and, in the first instance, the appropriate action would be to raise the matter with the home itself,’ said a spokeswoman.

‘If the matter could not be resolved through the home’s internal complaints procedure, then it would be appropriate to consider making a complaint to the department, which would investigate if the matter appeared to breach regulatory standards.’

A minimum of one announced and one unannounced visit must be made to each home every year. Unannounced visits are made almost daily.

The inspection regulation used to apply only to the 22 private homes and not those owned by the States, but last year that was amended and the new system is expected to come into effect soon.