Actually it was eleven when I started typing, but i thought the title might get your attention.
I was just updating my news stories, when it occurred to me that there are a limited amount of subjects that are reported on, when it comes to care.
I monitor the news on a daily basis for stories about care, that will inform my work, and help to advise people looking for good care.
Stories tend to fall into a few categories-
1-Care scandals, these are the ones that make national news, and usually involve criminal behaviour. Orchid View being the lastest example.
2-Failing care service. Usually reported in local papers with the a headline like-“Care Watchdog slams poor care” These are the stories about CQC inspections of services.
3-Stories promoting services. Again usually promoted in local press, but occasionally national when there is a special event on, such as National Care Home Open Day. Local stories tend to be of the Garden party/100th birthday variety.
4-Good care stories. These are the hens teeth ones, and are so few and far between that it’s not possible to spot a trend.
5- Finally there are the Government Policy type stories, such as the recent Care Act/Care cost Cap.
So what can we conclude from this?
Is the lack of good news stories a result of media bias, or a drought of good news in care?
I would like to think it’s media bias, but sadly I think the Bad news stories outweigh the Good.
There is clearly a need for the providers of care to pull their fingers out and focus on care quality and promoting the benefits of good care.
Listening to The Archers last night, I wonder if part of Peggy’s current unhappiness isn’t the worry about going into a care home.
Many people in later life that I speak to worry about care. Part of this worry is well founded, but part is also due to the media delight in reporting bad care.
As always I would say get some sound advice before buying any care service.
www.scotting.org/free_advice.html
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