What's it like to live in a care home? Findings from the Healthwatch network

Summary

Between January 2016 and April 2017, local Healthwatch staff and volunteers across England visited 197 care homes across 63 different local authority areas to find out what day to day life is really like for many of those living in care homes.

These homes collectively provide care for almost 3,500 residents ranging from elderly people with dementia to those with severe learning disabilities.

During these visits local Healthwatch spoke with residents, their families and staff, compiling people’s experiences with their own observations to produce 140 reports. These have all been shared with the providers, the public, CQC and Healthwatch England.

We have reviewed what people told local Healthwatch and published a briefing on the common issues that need to improve.