Two Homes Closed For Every One Opening, With Smaller Residential Facilities Lost

Expert medical negligence lawyers with experience representing people affected by poor standards in residential care homes have expressed concern for elderly patients after new research revealed recent care home closures have seen an increasing number of older people living in ‘industrial-sized’ care homes.

A report from Healthcare Property Consultants (HPC) found that, since 2011, 204 care homes have closed each year, while only 103 have opened. However, the total number of beds has remained largely unchanged, as the focus has moved from smaller residential homes to much larger institutions.

Condemned by many charities as "factory-style" homes or "care warehouses", these larger homes are largely run by a smaller group of larger providers, many of whom have taken over smaller homes.

Charities have raised concerns about whether these larger homes can adequately meet the needs of vulnerable residents, and whether larger providers are cutting corners to keep down costs.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, from the National Pensioners Convention, said: "It is a really worrying picture. We are talking here about someone’s home, their four walls until the end of their life.

"A lot of elderly people can feel 'lost in the crowd' at these large homes, and want somewhere more intimate to live."

George McNamara, head of policy and public affairs at the Alzheimer's Society said: "It is deeply concerning at a time of increasing demand that many smaller, specialist providers often embedded in the community are being forced to close.

"Years of neglect and underfunding of the market is forcing older people to crisis point, not able to access the specific care and support they need."

Expert Opinion

The number of closures of care homes has been alarming in recent years and does call into question the standard of care elderly people will receive as they are moved to larger facilities where resources may be stretched even further. <br/> <br/>“Patient care should always be a top priority and it is vital that elderly people are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve, which means ensuring the best possible standards of care are upheld. <br/> <br/>“We have seen the impact neglect in care homes can have, most notably in relation to the Orchid View care home, where we represented the loved ones of people whose deaths were contributed to by the poor care they received. <br/> <br/>“We understand how crucial it is that residents are given the care and attention they require and it is concerning to see reports that suggest some people are not being provided with the kind of care they want or need.