Home care providers criticise high level of 15-minute home care visits as 'alarming'

Home care provider Caring Hands wants to see legislation guaranteeing a minimum level of home care, in the wake of a report by Leonard Cheshire Disability calling for an end to ‘flying’ 15-minute home care visits.

The charity found 15-minute home care visits have risen by 15 per cent over the last five years and revealed nearly two-thirds of local authorities commission 15-minute visits.

Liz Walker, director of care at Lancashire-based Caring Hands, which prides itself on its highly-trained qualified staff, said: “You can’t put a time on this by nature, and all care in the home should be based on a case-by-case, personalised basis.

“The number of short visits highlighted in this report is alarming, and we need to ensure that through legislation there is a certain minimum level of care which can be guaranteed by all those delivering these services across the board. It may well be appropriate for a visit to be of fifteen minutes from time to time depending on circumstances but not as a rule.

“All of our clients receive a plan as part of their package based on an initial assessment so they know what to expect, and these needs are reviewed on a constant basis.”

The Caring Hands group has offices in Preston, Lytham, Penwortham - and plans to open in Southport.

Home care provider Family Mosaic believes 15-minute home care visits can have a detrimental impact on people’s wellbeing and health.

It is currently undertaking a housing and health research project taking a holistic approach to people’s care needs with the aim of promoting their independence and wellbeing.

A spokeswoman for Family Mosaic said: “As part of this project we visited a local resident who we found in a very poor state of health. He had not left his house for two years and had spent almost all of his time in bed. He was malnourished, had multiple debts building up, and was very depressed.

“He was receiving home care, with carers popping in three times a day often for 15 minute slots.

“Typically the carer would go in and rush to make lunch or wash him, but had no further time to see if he actually ate the food prepared, get out of bed, or to talk or reassure him about any other issues he was struggling with. He was left for the remaining 23 hours a day on his own.”

She added: “As part of our project we have been able to spend time with him, help him out of bed and he is now talking about going out of the house. We have linked him with a befriending service and have started to help him to tackle his debts.”

Family Mosaic revealed that following its intervention, the man is now taking a far greater interest in his health and has started to eat properly.

Its spokeswoman said: “He just needed someone who had the time to actually sit and talk to him to find out how he coping and advise on some simple ways to improve his life.

“This is no life for our older generation and we hope the Government are taking this emerging care crisis seriously.”

For more information on the Leonard Cheshire Disability report, go to www.homecare.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1561230/urgent-call-to-house-of-lords-to-end-cruel-15-minute-home-care-visits