In the past few weeks the whole world has been told Scotland is a compassionate nation. If that is the case, why did almost half of care homes inspected not meet national standards for nutrition?
The Care Commission said it was "concerned" at the high number of complaints it received on this issue. Only concerned? They should be outraged and insisting upon immediate improvements now.
The study analysed inspections of 303 care homes for older people in Scotland in 2006/7 and found that 49% did not meet the National Care Standards in all the five areas regarding nutrition. The researchers found that 85% of care homes had a written food and nutrition policy and 94% said they had access to an NHS dietician.
Some did not provide enough soft, easily chewed food or food with enough energy to stop older people losing weight. 29% did not screen people for the risk of under-nutrition, while 34% did not screen people for dehydration when they came to live in a care home.
Dehydration was the biggest issue, with complaints that people were not encouraged to drink regularly or drinks were out of reach.
It's my belief that complaints would be much higher but many friends and relatives don't see what their elderly relative eats or drinks because visitors are not encouraged around mealtimes and, should their family member have a memory problem, then they won't be capable of telling their visitors about any food or drink worries.
Once upon a time I worked in a care home as part of a healthcare course I was studying. My hours were two evenings after work and the care home was local, set in beautiful grounds and the reception rooms were decorated in the fashion of the day with matching curtains and scatter cushions - I'm sure you know the style.
When I arrived for work (6pm-10pm) I would help with laundry, ironing and anything required of me. My first evening a resident asked me for a cup of coffee so I found the kitchen, spotlessly clean I have to say, and sitting on the corner of a completely empty large stainless steel table was a litre of milk, a packet of digestive biscuits and 6 teabags. In my ignorance I thought this offering was for staff breaks so I asked a colleague if she knew where the coffee was hidden. "Everything's locked up until breakfast when the kitchen staff start," she said. I explained the resident's desire for a coffee and she just laughed and told me to tell him he'll get a cup of tea around 9pm. The items on the kitchen table were left by kitchen staff for that purpose.
So, between 34 residents they had 6 teabags, one litre of milk and one small packet of digestives to last well over 12 hours since the evening meal at 4.30pm.
I complained to the staff that I thought it poor no tea and coffee was available on demand and was told the cost would be excessive, staff didn't have time to be waitresses, plus the elderly shouldn't drink in the evenings as many had continence problems.
Reading this report shows me little seems to have changed in 15 years although the fees will have risen steeply.
Is it any wonder I have no intention of ending my days in one of these places? My arrangement with an M & S carrier bag and a top quality bottle of malt seems even more attractive.
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