A report on the standard of Borders care homes has said there are fears within the council about the quality of care for older people.
The study, due to go before SBC’s social work and housing committee today (Thursday), follows a review of care homes by the council’s community care reviewing team.
It states: “We continue to monitor the quality of care and support within the care homes, and there remains some concern that 42 per cent of grades obtained by the care homes remain in the “unsatisfactory” to “adequate” range, as highlighted in an analysis of the Care Inspectorate quality gradings for the last two inspections for all of the 22 care homes.”
The report also raises the ongoing concern that many of the Borders’ private-sector care homes are former country homes which are difficult to adapt to accommodate single rooms with en-suite facilities.
It adds: “They are often not particularly suited for older people with physical disabilities, or who may have some significant degree of dementia.”
Members of the committee are being recommended to call for the council’s chief social work officer to provide an update on the situation in six months.
The report also reveals that tenders for three dementia units, each for eight residents, will go out in September.