Good isn’t Enough
‘Good’ care homes are fine when things run smoothly. It’s ‘outstanding’ care that holds steady on the hard days, when staff are stretched and challenges keep rising.
Theme: The Beauty, Broken and Burnout
Quick Take:
Outstanding dementia care exists - but only for a tiny few.
If funding won’t change, maybe how we care has to.
Less hotel, more heart: what really makes care work?
Campaigning and Learning
I think I’ll be waiting the rest of Milly’s life - and then quite a bit more of my own - before I see a treatment for dementia. The same amount of time applies to any chance of seeing the funding we so badly need in our care systems.
In the meantime, and Last and Found is very much about this, there are things we can do to help make a difference. By learning more about dementia, we can better support our loved ones and help lift standards of care. Plus, we can campaign for simple, realistic reforms - including better status, training, and pay for professional carers.
Realistic Reforms
I’m inspired to write this after hearing about a newly published book called What Would Maggie Do? Michael Maslinski spent fifteen years caring for his wife Maggie after she was diagnosed with dementia, nine of those years living together in a care home. From this extraordinary experience, he’s written his story and wants others to benefit from his insights - he’s fighting for reform.
I’m keen to learn more about his reform ideas - I want to be part of something that truly makes a difference, and to feel more optimistic.
Michael himself admits it took confidence, connections, experience, and money to help Maggie receive the care she deserved. Most of us fight hard to achieve two of these, never mind all four!
Ironic Twist
Reforming care homes won’t be easy because many in England are part of investment portfolios, sometimes funded through our pension schemes. That means overstretched, poorly paid professional carers and our vulnerable loved ones, are supporting pensions. Unless a pension company prioritizes quality over profit - when pigs might fly - there will always be limits to investment in care homes.
Measuring Care
The CQC - Care Quality Commission - is an independent judge of health and adult social care in England. They measure safety, effectiveness, compassion, responsiveness, and leadership and only around 4% of care homes are rated ‘Outstanding’ on a regular basis. That’s roughly 600 homes out of 14-15,000 that meet Milly’s standards! Four of them are fairly local to me, but three were last inspected in 2019, so I’ve no idea if they’ve maintained that level of care.
The homes rated as ‘Good’ are the majority at 75–80%, but I don’t have much faith in good. I know it’s not enough for Milly. I’ve worked in care homes, have friends with family in care homes and notice related news stories. I know how good can too easily become just okay, or needing improvement.
Less Hotel, More Heart
Our carers should feel and act like the professionals we want looking after our loved ones. It’s not only about spending more money, although that helps, but about spending it differently.
Care homes don’t need to look like hotels or serve fancy meals. What really counts is staff who are happy, well supported and confident about how to care for people with dementia. That’s where dignity, safety, and peace of mind come from.
Investing in fair pay and more staff would make a far bigger difference than luxury surroundings ever could.
The Clue is in the Name
Perhaps we need more small, independently run homes, where both carers and residents are genuinely valued. With around six to eight residents, carers could enjoy a balanced life - some days cooking meals alongside more able residents, other days providing the extra support needed.
In these homes, carers would see the real impact of their work, with everyone sharing in the life of the home, including families. It creates exactly what it’s meant to be: a home, with reliable, loving, high standards of care.
It’s interesting to think about family carers forming co-operatives and creating small, wonderful homes.
We Can Bring Change
I hope on Last and Found I’ll be able to share some campaign ideas - to help with the broken and the burnout that I refer to regularly. In the meantime, the more we can learn about dementia, the more we can lift standards and enhance the lives of our loved ones living with this disease.