“People do not live in a home which is clean, pleasant and free from offensive odours.”
That is the damning verdict of inspectors to a valleys care home.
Valley View Care Centre, in Hengoed, was inspected by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) earlier this year.
In its subsequent report, published recently, inspectors were told by residents’ relatives that they had to wash their clothes after visits to get the smell out.
Inspectors also criticised resident’s bathing facilities and the centre’s general upkeep.
The home’s owners, Four Seasons Health Care, said it is investing in the centre, which has space for 65 residents, to bring it up to standard.
The CSSIW report said: “People cannot be satisfied that the home is run with due care and attention to minimum standards and regulations. The home has been without a registered manager since December 2013. A manager has been appointed who has yet to apply to CSSIW for registration. We notified the registered person that the service was therefore not compliant with the regulations.
“People cannot be confident that the registered persons have an ongoing approach to the review and improvement of the services it provides.”
It continued: “People do not live in a home which is clean, pleasant and free from offensive odours.
“We visited Primrose unit which accommodates people with dementia. We found the unit to be malodorous upon entry.
“There was a noticeable smell throughout the whole unit even though there was increased air flow as the patio doors were open in the communal lounge (it was a very warm day).”
The report also criticises a lack of activities for residents and the quality of the centre’s food was also called into question.
The attitude of the centre’s staff though was highlighted as positive with relatives praising them for their assistance.
However, CSSIW raised concerns over the number of staff in the centre and the quality of their training with records duplicated for individuals and left unsigned.
Plaid Cymru AM Lindsay Whittle, who represents the South Wales East region, said: “As the inspectors state in their report, people should expect to live in a clean, pleasant environment and free from smells. So it cannot be acceptable that a unit looking after people suffering from dementia is permeated by offensive odours.
“It was disappointing to read that this home failed to provide enough baths for the number of residents and improvements need to be made in the maintenance and decoration of the property.
“I trust the home’s owners will take on board the concerns raised by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate and improvements are made to the quality of life of residents.”
A spokeswoman for owners Four Seasons Health Care said: “We have planned significant investment in refurbishment and improvements to Valley View and these include an upgrade of bathing facilities.
“The first phase of this work is already nearing completion.
“We have responded to the inspection report and also held a meeting with the local authority whom we believe have accepted our investment plan.
“We have been working with an on-going investment programme since we acquired Valley View, together with a number of homes from the former Southern Cross, as they had not benefited from any investment in the later years of Southern Cross ownership.
“Our programme of investment in these former Southern Cross homes, including Valley View, runs into several millions of pounds.
“It is a disappointment to have noted the comments made by relatives to inspectors, as we have always encouraged relatives to bring forward any concerns to our management team.”
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “We are aware of the inspection report and welcome this investment to improve facilities and raise standards at the home.”