JUST A THOUGHT - ON THE ASHLEY CARE CENTRE'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS CARING FOR THE VULNERABLE ELDERLY. PART 3.

Which is why there is an increasing demand for care and nursing homes. 

Even though it is the case that residential and nursing homes for elderly people is a service which is under tremendous pressures. 

From the point of view of pressures to make the industry provide homes which are providing high quality services, with highly trained and skilled and compassionate and caring staff.  

But at low cost to the people and local authorities which are commissioning their services.

In other words, what is being asked of the residential care and nursing sector, is bordering on the miraculous, and not on how businesses normally operate. 

Especially, not in a labour intensive industry, with labour and training costs and individuallisation of services expected to be the majority of running costs.

Of course, the financial cost of providing residential and nursing homes, is only one of the pressures with their proprietors and staff must attend to. 

There is the matter of the expectations of the residents, their families and the authorities. 

For the families and the authorities, probably highest on their list of priorities, is the expectation that the staff will constantly be vigilant. 

In keeping their loved ones, their relatives, if you like, safe at all times, and be able to predict and attend to their individual needs in a carefully planned manner. 

The standardisation of care, if you will. A challenge which can sometimes be very difficult to manage, in a large home with a high number of residents. 

Since individualised care can conflict with the institution's preference for standardised or collectivised care routines, in those areas where it is unlikely to prove detrimental to the individual. 

To be continued!