CARE homes in Scotland are dealing with an increasingly dependent population of older people with disabilities and dementia but lack the resources to cope, it has been claimed.
New figures show that while the numbers of people living in care homes have fallen during the last 10 years, residents are increasingly elderly and in need of end of life care.
Between 2006 and 2016, the number of care home places available fell four per cent from 43,311 to 41,461 and the number of residents dropped from 37,885 to 36,621.
However there was a 12 per cent increase in the number of residents aged 85 or over and a 30 per cent increase in the number of those residents who suffer the symptoms of dementia (from 15,303 to 19,905).
The figures from the Government’s Information Services Division also showed that while less than 70 per cent of residents stayed until they died in 2006, by this year, 85 per cent of all discharges from care homes were due to the resident dying.
Donald MacAskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said the figures showed care homes were dealing with a highly needy population of increasingly frail older people.
He said: “Ten years ago most people coming through the entrance of a care home for the first time would walk. Now the majority of people do not have the physical ability to walk in.”
He says many more need palliative care, and called for more investment to help staff gain skills to cope and balance the medical needs of residents with creating a home environment.
He said: “These aren’t hospitals, hotels or GP surgeries, but people’s homes. The nature of care homes is changing and this demands a complete re-examination of what we need to make them fit for purpose.”
Mr MacAskilll said care homes were also increasingly catering for people with learning disabilities who are surviving into adulthood and outliving their carers.
He said the number of places in care homes was probably about right, but places on offer were not always in the right place or of the right type.
Brian Sloan, Age Scotland chief executive, said the figures showed more support was needed in the community:
He said: “Though the number of older people is rising, the reduction in care home places suggests more people are choosing to stay in their own homes longer.”
However he argued resources were also needed to offer the right support to those who do need residential care:
He added: “It is vital there is the right support in place to ensure older people who require care can be supported properly in their own homes, and also the right resources for residential care which is increasingly required to support older people with more acute care needs.”
Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Government was committed to supporting more people to live independently.
She said: “We recognise that an increasingly elderly population with more complex needs will need a health and social care system that responds differently to their needs.
“That is why we have integrated health and social care services, helping people move between services more easily.
“Care home providers are working with us, as well as our partners in local government and the health service, to design cost- effective and flexible models of specialist residential care, which support people in the short term, with the long term aim of returning to independent living.”
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