Rsearch by the Good Care Guide has revealed that over half of people with family in a care home say they feel staff are overstretched and struggling to find time to provide adequate care.

The Good Care Guide launched in February 2012 is home to thousands of reviews of nurseries, care homes and home care agencies across the country. The latest findings from the independent TripAdvisor style websitey, says that 1 in 5 of people with an elderly loved one in care have to be there on a regular basis to do some of the caring themselves because the care they receive just isn’t enough – with staff being described as “ambivalent” and “over-stretched”.

The survey also found that 28% of people say their elderly loved one has experienced poor treatment while in someone else’s care with examples of harm including the incorrect medication being given and carers stealing from their room.

Stephen Burke, Director of GoodCareGuide.co.uk says: “These results show that there is a real need to invest time and energy in elderly care. While 40% of people asked said they were happy with the care they received, this stat just isn’t high enough to warrant complacency. Britain has an ageing population that needs more support and our elderly deserve to be looked after, no matter how much or how little money they have.”

When asked who should pay for elderly care, more than a third of people said they believe it should be the responsibility of the state, rather than the individual or their family, and 25% of people don’t understand how care is currently funded.

While the Government has announced a series of reforms where the cost of care will be capped at £72k from 2016; these reforms will not solve the problem that there is no extra funding to cover the cost of the growing number of elderly needing care. Many people don’t fully appreciate that adult social care is a means-tested benefit and that 58% of those requiring care will need to part or fully fund it themselves.*

In real terms only 1 in 8 people will benefit. Stephen Burke of goodcareguide.co.uk says: “The cap doesn’t solve the fact that the care system can be difficult to navigate, and a significant number of UK families will still be left confused and without assistance.”