Quality of care homes to be investigated by Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Care homes across Wales and the service they provide are to be put under the spotlight in an investigation by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.

Commissioner Sarah Rochira said the review will gather evidence from older people living in care homes across Wales, their families and carers, as well as from Local Authorities, Local Health Boards, Care Home Providers, Regulators and Inspectors.

Ms Rochira said: “Since I took up post, I have spoken extensively about the need to ensure that older people living in care homes in Wales are safe, well cared for and have a good quality of life.

“I have visited many care homes and have seen for myself much good practice across Wales, but I have spoken many times about my concerns that this is not consistent and that we are not getting it right for everyone. We must remember that a person’s home is so much more than bricks and mortar, it is where you should feel and be safe, well cared for and happy.”

Evidence gathered during the review will be used to highlight the best and worst care and Ms Rocira has promised to make robust recommendations.

She added: “Care home residents, wherever they live in Wales, have a right to a good quality of life and to have their voices heard. My review will give voice directly back to older people living in care homes and their voices will be at the heart of my recommendations.

“Let us remember that older people are not a group apart, they are our mums, our dads, our families, our friends, those we care for and love. All have a right to the very best of care, but more than that, to the very best of lives.”

Last week Caerphilly MP Wayne David repeated his call to the Welsh Government to hold an inquiry into care home abuse in Wales following the collapse of Operation Jasmine.

Dr Prana Das, the owner of care homes where abuse was alleged to have taken place, was to face charges after an £11.6 million investigation. However Dr Das is unable to stand trial after suffering brain damage in a violent burglary.

The £11.6m Operation Jasmine was funded by the Home Office and began in 2005 after serious concerns were expressed about the treatment of a number of residents in South Wales care homes.

Two of the care homes were Bryngwyn Mountleigh nursing home in Newbridge and Holly House care home in Fleur-De-Lys.

Following the decision by a Cardiff Crown Court judge for Dr Das not to stand trial, Mr David is called for a Public Inquiry into care standards of nursing homes for the elderly in Wales.

Mr David said: “It is important that residents in care homes and their relatives are reassured that the deplorable examples of abuse which Operation Jasmine exposed, can never be repeated.

“It is also essential that the relatives of those elderly people who suffered abuse, many of whom have now died, are reassured that after seven years of police inquiries there can be some kind of closure.”