Report: Cracks In The Pathway – CQC dementia report

A major review of dementia care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) says the unacceptable gap in the quality of care means it is likely that someone living with dementia will experience poor care as they move between care homes and hospitals.

CQC inspected care in 129 care homes and 20 hospitals across England, looking at four areas: how people’s care needs were assessed; how care was planned and delivered; how providers worked together and how the quality of care was monitored.

In about 29% of care homes and 56% of hospitals we inspected, we found assessments were not comprehensive in identifying all of a person’s care needs. In about 34% of care homes and 42% of hospitals, we found aspects of variable or poor care regarding how the care met people’s mental health, emotional and social needs.

The report says the variation in how care is assessed, planned, delivered and monitored by hospitals and care homes puts people living with dementia at risk of experiencing poor care.

It found when people are admitted to hospital via A&E there is too much focus on a person’s physical health needs. There is also poor sharing of information between health professionals, people living with dementia in care homes and hospitals may not be able to tell staff about their pain and there is a lack of understanding and knowledge of dementia care by staff.

The report adds that supporting both the physical health and mental wellbeing of a person – as well as managing known risks such as falls and urinary tract infections– can help reduce avoidable admissions to hospital and unnecessary long stays in hospital.