Care Home News
Former care home resident returns to home as a volunteer
25 Feb 2022
A 76-year old who moved into a care home for respite care, after spiralling into a deep depression after losing her husband, has now returned to the home to help out as a volunteer. Margaret McDougall stayed.....
Government urged to rethink 'pay to test' for care home visitors
24 Feb 2022
Care bosses are urging the government to “rethink” its decision to ditch free lateral flow testing for care home visitors, calling the "tax on care" as "unfair" and "unjust". The Prime Minister's announcement.....
Care home throws 'moo-ving' birthday party for retired farmer, who knew all his cows by name
21 Feb 2022
A 90-year-old retired farmer, who knew all of his 44 cows by name, was treated to a cow-themed birthday party at his care home. Clifford Norris was a dairy farmer for his entire working life. He worked on.....
Spring booster jab to be offered to care home residents, over 75s and immunosuppressed
21 Feb 2022
Care home residents, the over 75s and individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed will be invited to receive an additional COVID booster vaccine to maintain their protection against severe COVID-19. The.....
East Sussex care home facing closure due to low occupancy levels and staff recruitment issues
21 Feb 2022
A care home in Bexhill on Sea is facing closure due to difficulties in attracting staff and low occupancy rates. MHA Richmond care home run by Methodist Homes (MHA) is giving residents the opportunity to.....
Care home roof crashes into house as Storm Eunice batters Britain
18 Feb 2022
The roof of a care home has been ripped off the building and has crashed into a nearby house and garden as Storm Eunice shook Britain, but miraculously no one has been hurt. At 10am today (18 February),.....
Care homes and home care firms warned to protect themselves after Russian cyber attack
18 Feb 2022
Care providers across the UK are being warned to watch out for Russian cyber attacks and check their security arrangements in response to malicious cyber incidents in and around Ukraine. The Ukrainian government.....
Free tampons made available by care home group to all female staff
17 Feb 2022
Free tampons and sanitary towels will be given to all female staff working in care homes run by Renaissance Care, to stop them being “caught off guard” when they are busy working day or night. Renaissance.....
Care home group to pay mortgage and household bills of new recruits to tackle shortages
17 Feb 2022
A care home operator is offering to pay newly-recruited care workers’ household bills to tackle staff shortages by helping employees cope with the rising cost of living. Saint Cecilia’s Care Group will.....
Boris Johnson takes time out from 'partygate' to see care home residents
16 Feb 2022
Taking a break from the ‘partygate’ scandal, Prime Minister Boris Johnson went to a care home in his Uxbridge constituency to find out how residents have been post-lockdown. During his visit to Parkfield.....
Health secretary Sajid Javid spends Valentine's Day visiting care home residents
15 Feb 2022
Care home residents got a visit from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid on Valentine’s Day, who told them he was passionate about the need to “reform services”. During a visit.....
Rules relaxed for hiring foreign care staff but bosses says it's costly and tied up in red tape
15 Feb 2022
Care workers have been put on the government’s list of occupations with a shortage of skilled workers from today – a change supposed to make it easier for the care sector to recruit from abroad but bosses say the application process.....
Love in a care home: Care home residents prove 'it's never too late to find love'
14 Feb 2022
When Beryl Harman moved into a Gravesend care home as a resident last May, love was the last thing on her mind, but when fellow resident Peter Ambler moved in a few months later, they "gelled instantly". When.....
Care watchdog receives 82 allegations of blanket bans on care home visiting
11 Feb 2022
As visiting restrictions are lifted in care homes in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has revealed it has received complaints concerning 82 alleged blanket bans on visiting since 1 December 2021. On.....
Care home chief urges Welsh government not to exclude caterers and cleaners from £1,000 bonus
11 Feb 2022
The chief of Care Forum Wales is calling for the Welsh government not to “overlook” caterers, support workers and cleaning staff when a bonus payment of £1,000 is paid out to the social care sector from April. Earlier.....
Government consultation into revoking COVID vaccine for all social care staff now open
10 Feb 2022
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched its consultation on revoking the requirement for health and social care staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of their employment. Under.....
Care home resident recalls escorting King George VI’s coffin to Windsor chapel
09 Feb 2022
When news came through King George VI had died on 6 February 1952 at his Sandringham estate, John Walmsley who was a former Grenadier Guard recalls how he “escorted” the King’s coffin to his final resting place in Windsor. Aged.....
Social care and NHS to unite under government's new Integration White Paper
09 Feb 2022
The government has laid out plans to join social care and NHS together to stop people from "falling through the gaps" with a new Integrated White Paper. The government’s announcement will ensure patients.....
Proposed government cap puts more people at risk of 'catastrophic' social care costs, reveals report
08 Feb 2022
Elderly people living in the North East, Yorkshire and the Midlands with modest levels of wealth will be hardest hit with 'catastrophic' care costs when the government brings in the new social care cap, analysis reveals. A.....
Care home resident looks back on times Prince Phillip visited clubhouse during Cowes week
07 Feb 2022
A 94-year-old care home resident said it was "brilliant to be back” when he visited the clubhouse of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes where he worked as head chef and reminisced about meeting Prince Phillip during Cowes week......
MHA announces five per cent pay rise for all care home staff
07 Feb 2022
Recognising the “skill and dedication” of its workforce, Methodist Homes (MHA) has announced a five per cent pay rise for all its staff meaning all employees will be paid above £10 an hour. For a number of.....
Intergenerational initiative that helped residents through pandemic now supports 2,000 care homes
04 Feb 2022
A charity which helped boost care home residents’ spirits during the pandemic, by getting young people to send letters, art and videos, is now running the initiative with 2,000 care homes. It even has a global.....
Ninety-six-year-old volunteer at care home 'utterly shocked' after being awarded MBE
03 Feb 2022
A 96-year-old volunteer at a care home in Leicester has said he is “utterly shocked” after he was awarded an MBE for the support he gives to care home residents. Tom Bradley started helping out at the home.....
'See the person, not the disability' says Welsh campaigner who has been awarded MBE
02 Feb 2022
Disability activist Josh Reeves who lives in Cardiff has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for his campaigns both locally and globally to change people’s perceptions of disability. Mr.....
Almost £9bn spent on useless or overpriced PPE for care homes and hospitals is written off
02 Feb 2022
The government has written off £8.7bn spend on useless or overpriced face masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) which was meant for care homes and the NHS in the first year of the pandemic. The.....
Government U-turn on mandatory Covid vaccine branded 'a joke' and 'too late' by care homes
01 Feb 2022
A care home boss, which lost highly experienced care staff due to the mandatory vaccine policy that came into force last November, has branded the government’s U-turn on the mandate “a joke” and says it shows “a complete lack of foresight.....