Bury care homes to benefit from £275,000 boost

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 31 May 2007

The quality of life for older people in Bury care homes will improve as a result of a £275,000 refurbishment fund, care services minister Ivan Lewis announced this week.

Seven thousand care homes, including 35 in Bury, will receive money as part of the Government’s dignity campaign which aims to place dignity and respect at the heart of caring for older people.

Improvements will directly benefit residents, such as

·       replacing worn-out carpeting or floor coverings to reduce the risk of falls
·       upgrading dining rooms
·       upgrading residents’ bedrooms and bathrooms
·       improving gardens or outside spaces used by residents, to encourage outdoor exercise
·       alterations to give residents greater privacy

Care services minister Ivan Lewis said: "Through the Department of Health’s Dignity in Care campaign I have heard how much dignity matters.  I know how important it is for people living in care homes to have an environment they are happy in and that they are proud to call home."

"By distributing this funding to 35 care homes in Bury, and to 7,000 throughout England, we are able to improve the lives of tens of thousands of people and their families.

"This supports the excellent work of health and social care professionals, the voluntary and independent sectors and carers – both family and paid – who work passionately together every day to continually improve the lives of older people."

Annie Stevenson, senior policy adviser at Help the Aged, said: "We welcome this initial injection of funding, which shows the Government recognises that dignity in Bury’s care homes is crucial to maintaining health and well being.

"We are glad to see that this money will be spent with due consideration of the views of care home residents and best practice in design.

"However, improving the physical environment is only one piece of the jigsaw that delivers dignity and respect for the care of older people.  It is just as crucial to recognise that investment in the care home sector workforce is also vital to lift its status and to improve morale and potential to meet future needs. Without this, the dignity agenda in this area will wither on the vine."