Is a Care Home in Scotland the Right Choice for You?
Statistics that have been published about care homes in Scotland showed that a resident of a care home dies every two days from either a fall or a serious accident.
This post aims to inform families and people considering moving to a care home of the real, potential risks associated with living in a care home. There is a widely accepted narrative that care homes are safer than someone living at home and receiving domiciliary care, but as the statistics show, this is not always the case.
Safety in Care Homes
The organisation in Scotland that regulates care homes and care companies is the Care Inspectorate, which reported a significant increase in accident-related deaths in care homes.
They revealed that care home deaths from accidents rose 50% from 882 in 2015 to 1325 in 2018.
Now, of course, that is older data, but we have seen these numbers continue to rise even six years later. Why is this the case, and what can be done to change these sad statistics?
Reducing Falls in a Care Home
One of the main causes of death for seniors is caused by fatal falls. As a paramedic, I regularly see patients who have to be admitted to hospital due to falls in care homes. This is not to say that falls do not happen at home, but it does highlight that the risk of falls is not mitigated by moving into a care home.
What needs to be understood is that a person moving into a care home is going to be unfamiliar with their new settings. Evidence shows that a person living with dementia or any cognitive impairment only has to be away from their normal setting for a period as short as 72 hours to have a negative effect on their physical and mental health. Combine this new unfamiliar setting with increased confusion, and disorientation only contributes to a higher risk of falls.
Falls Statistics
There have been many studies about measuring and preventing falls and below you can see some of the more concerning ones.
Care home residents are 3 times more likely to have a fall than people living at home.
Care home residents are 10 times more likely to have a serious injury from a fall
1 in 3 people over the age of 65 fall at least once each year
40% of hospital admissions from care homes are due to residents falling
Care Home Life Expectancy
Before reading into the numbers here in this section, it is important to note that these figures do not take into account underlying health conditions and frailty, and of course, in some cases the absolute necessity for a senior to be placed in a care home if there is no viable alternative.
However, the statistics for the life expectancy of those living in a care home compared to those being able to receive care at home should be taken into consideration when thinking about care homes.
65 - 69 year-old female care home residents - Life expectancy 7 years
65 - 69 year-old female care at home residents - Life expectancy 23.3 years
65 - 69 year-old male care home residents - Life expectancy 5.5 years
65 - 69 year-old male care at home residents - Life expectancy 20.2 years
As you will see from the image above. The data and numbers paint a clear picture of seniors living in a care home vs living at home and receiving quality private care, or council care.
This information is from the government Office for National Statistics and shows a real case for people to receive any care at home.
The dark blue in the image above is life expectancy by age for people in a care home, and the light blue in the image is life expectancy by age for people receiving their care at home.
Care Home Mortality Rates
Another statistic that should be considered when thinking about the move to a care home is the overall mortality rate when compared to someone living at home with domiciliary care.
Again the evidence points to living at home as being the safer option.
The table above clearly shows that people receiving care in their own homes are more likely to live longer. The question is why is that?
Society as a whole perceives care homes to be a safer option than care at home, but as you have just read, the evidence suggests that this is not the case for many people.
What we should be asking is “why” a care home is required. If a decision is being made solely on a care home being “safer” then the consideration for a larger domiciliary care package should also be considered.
There is a considerable amount of research that indicates that moving a person with any form of cognitive impairment to a new unfamiliar setting has a detrimental effect on their mental and physical health, so is it really safer for them in a care home?
Conclusion
As a care provider in Edinburgh who supports many seniors to live their lives in the best way possible, we only want what is best for you or your family. Care homes for some are without doubt the best option, but there are other options which may suit you or a loved one better.
What should also be considered is that the Office of National Statistics published data which stated that 97% of people over the age of 65 stated they never wanted to move into a care home.
It is always a difficult time when a family member comes to a point where they have to reach out for help or a family feels they cannot cope with the strain of full-time caring.
Here at 1st Focus Homecare, we are always available to answer questions about what an in-home care life looks like. Feel free to give us a call at 0131-510-7878.
FAQ’s
Q1. One of my family members is suffering from falls. Is there any advice you can give?
A1. A recent study was undertaken on the effects of caffeine in relation to falls, that guide may provide some useful information.
Q2. Does diet affect a seniors well being?
A2. Of course, diet is important for all of us, but many seniors lack appetite. If you would like to try some specific recipes for seniors, then our healthy eating guide provides tasty and nutritious meal plans.
Q3. Is 1st Focus Homecare a trusted care provider in Scotland?
A3. Yes, we are registered with the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and recently were voted in the Top 20 Edinburgh care companies for the second year running by homecare.co.uk
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