Caring for elderly loved ones in Haringey

This is a report by Healthwatch Haringey. The report looks at care of elderly people in Haringey.

The aim of this research was to bring light to the different forms and models of caring for elderly loved ones in Haringey. This work was prompted in part by recent care home closures in Haringey, and the wider national pressures on care services. The project sought to hear people’s experiences and then help partners and stakeholders in Haringey to think about specific approaches and models of care that would best suit the needs of the local community.

Key findings include:

• The importance of the family home as a care setting.

• Family members taking on unpaid caring roles to ensure an appropriate standard of care is provided.

• The prevalence of younger carers in families caring for elderly loved ones.

• Residents’ thoughts on care home provision in Haringey.

• The psycho-social impact of isolation on the elderly within care homes.

• The role of relocation and its effects on wellbeing.

• Motivations for providing care in the home. 

• The need for information about what support is available to older people and families and how to access care. 

• The need for greater clarity on future adult care provision, including the prospects for the development a large modern care home. 

There are recommendations in this report:

• Increase financial support for independent carers in Haringey.

• Raise greater awareness of pathways for caring for the elderly in Haringey.

• Increase joint working between care service providers and families.

• Enhance holistic support networks in Haringey aligned with care services.

• Provide tailored support for vulnerable service users in Haringey.

• Improve current care home services based on feedback.

There are no follow up actions in this report.