We have come a long way in terms of care home provision and in the design of facilities, says Philip Ross, a director of Safehinge and Primera Life, and businesses and individuals are making practical changes and developing new products that both protect and empower residents
Historically, in the provision of care home facilities, there has been a medical rather than a social focus. However, since the early 1960s, the standard of accommodation and care have improved enormously. Now, things like central heating are taken for granted and en-suite bathrooms are, if not universal, at least becoming the norm.
However, even though progress has been made, changes are ongoing. There are several reasons for this. For some care home residents, the move is a lifestyle choice that offers community and friendship instead of isolation. Financial considerations are also driving change. Squeezed budgets within the NHS have reduced the number of hospital beds, resulting in the increased medicalisation of care home provision.
An ageing population and an increased incidence of age-related conditions have also pushed the emphasis towards nursing rather than residential care. At the same time, the demand for improved standards and increased staffing costs are making economies of scale essential to financial survival. Smaller units are disappearing in favour of larger ones where appropriate care can be provided for residents with a wide range of medical and neurological conditions.
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