Summer 2021 - experiences of care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic

Between July and September 2021, Healthwatch Liverpool ran a survey to collect feedback about people’s experiences of care homes during the pandemic. The survey was aimed at people who had a friend, relative, or other loved one living in a care home. Healthwatch Liverpool wanted to find out more about people’s experiences of communication with care homes, visiting care homes, and the impact of the pandemic on those living in care homes.

The survey was promoted online, via a membership newsletter, and on social media. 18 people took the time to share their views through this survey.

Feedback that gathered through the survey was mixed but tended to be more negative. We found that:

• People’s experiences of communication from care homes was mixed, although more people reported having a negative experience than a positive experience;
• People’s experiences of communicating with their loved one in a care home directly was mixed, although more people reported having a negative experience than a positive experience;
• People’s experiences of visiting their loved one in a care home was mixed, although more people reported having a negative experience than a positive experience;
• The majority of people felt that the pandemic had a significant impact on the activities their loved one in a care home was able to take part in;
• The majority of people felt the pandemic had a severe impact on the physical health of their loved one in a care home;
• The majority of people felt the pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health and general wellbeing of their loved one in a care home; and
• The majority of people had concerns about the quality of care and support their loved one in a care home received during the pandemic.

A number of issues raised through this survey are issues that Healthwatch Liverpool have previously identified in other work and reports on care homes during the pandemic.