Experience of residents, friends and family, and staff in Croydon's care homes during Covid 19
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Healthwatch Croydon undertook four surveys with residents, residents with learning disabilities, friends and family and staff of local care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. They spoke to 350 people.
Most residents had a good experience, before and during the pandemic. Seven in ten said that staffing changes hadn’t affected their experience. Most staff were able to cope and knew where to get help.
Over two in five residents weren’t permitted to socialise due to social distancing requirements.
Most residents felt that they had positive contact with their doctor and medication when they needed it.
Residents said that friends and family calls were key for keeping in touch. The only ones who did not make calls had no-one to call even if they had the opportunity. Most friends and family felt they had enough time to speak with a family member via phone or video.
Nearly all family and friends (98%) felt care homes kept them informed of their family. Most Care homes published regular newsletters with lots of activities of what residents were doing. Some respondents had received emails from the care homes with photos of their family members and friends.
One area of consideration was how staff are seen in comparison to those in NHS. There is a sense while NHS staff are being noticed, thanked, and rewarded, care home staff are not being recognised as well, and cannot access similar benefits and pay but are doing as important a job. While most had a good relationship with NHS partners, some did have difficult conversations.
Most staff could access PPE, but one in five could not access a COVID test: 89% could access PPE when they needed it and 80% could access a COVID test; 87% felt the self-isolation process was effective.
The report contains 18 recommendations