Care homes are being forced to grade patients

Worryingly, one care home boss has stated that they are being forced to grade patients because of the staffing problems facing the industry at the moment. Managing director of Cairllum Care, Mike Collier, has warned that the staffing shortages across the care home sector in the UK are set to decline before it improves, as the current staff are faced with a workload that is unsustainable at present. Of course, this is worrying news for anyone living in a care home or with family members looking for care. Read on to discover more about the situation we find ourselves in at the moment in the healthcare sector and how care at home has never seemed like a more preferable solution as it is now.

Staff members are facing burnout due to the excessive workload

A lot of staff members are the moment are not able to take annual leave, otherwise, their elderly patients would not be able to get the around-the-clock care that they need. Plus, a lot of staff members are working on their days off, meaning consecutive seven-day weeks. This is no good for anyone, as strain is placed on current care home workers, which could result in them experiencing burnout and needing further time off work.

Patients are being turned away from care homes at the moment

As Mr Collier has confirmed, a lot of patients are being turned away from care homes now due to the staffing crisis within the industry. Care homes simply are not able to take on new patients at the moment, which leaves elderly patients needing care with a true dilemma. We like to think that if we are in a position whereby we need help and assistance, we will receive it, but Mr Collier has confirmed that there is a true crisis in the social care market at the moment.

This is something that has been confirmed in industry reports. This week, the vacancies within this job market exceeded the million mark for the first time ever. There have been lots of reports and new stories about staff shortages in this area. And, there does not seem to be an end in sight, with bosses worried that this is only going to continue to get worse and worse before we see any sort of improvements.

Care home shortages are seeing patients move toward a home care approach

As Live-In Care Hub discovered in their Better At Home 2021 report, people prefer the dignity and level of care that comes with living in their own home, and the option of home care services or 24/7 live-in care is something that is only set to strengthen based on the current state of the care home industry.

Final words on care homes being forced to grade patients

The care home staff shortages at the moment mean that workers are being forced to grade patients so that they can prioritise care. This is something that no one wants to hear when it comes to their loved ones and the attention they receive from their care home staff members.