CARE homes are almost full and facing a potential crisis due to staff shortages, one of the Island’s largest providers has warned.
The LV Care Group is urging Islanders to put plans in place before their needs become critical, as staff absences due to Covid and increased demand fuelled by an ageing population have started to limit the choice of care available.
The pandemic has caused an increase in the number of ‘welfare’ checks being requested by families, according to the business, possibly caused, they say, by relatives living away from Jersey, or working and being unable to check regularly on their loved ones.
Kalina Syvret, home care manager with LV Care Group, said she was receiving daily calls from social workers and Islanders seeking assistance.
She said: ‘With care homes virtually full, and many people wanting to stay in their homes, it’s putting increasing pressure on providers. There just isn’t enough care for the amount of people who need it.
‘We are hearing stories from people who have tried every service in the Island, but many of them are at capacity with clients and with staff absences because of Covid. It means people must stay in hospital while they wait for a care package to be put in place.’
The JEP reported last year that patients were waiting weeks to be released from hospital, with as many as 20 to 25 patients on any given day remaining in wards when they did not need to be there, according to a Scrutiny hearing in August.
Ms Syvret added: ‘We will always try to help people, but while it’s inevitable that there will be some cases that are as a result of an unexpected incident, many issues could have been prepared for if people had discussed their needs and put some contingency plans in place.’
Nick Bettany, chief executive and co-founder of LV Care Group, said: ‘We are all reluctant to admit that we might need help, but, in many cases, relatives should be able to see that their loved one is going to need some assistance in the not-too-distant future.’
He added: ‘We urge families to talk about this and put some plans in place. While it might seem like a difficult discussion, if you don’t make preparations and talk about their wishes and choices, then you are likely to make it a more traumatic and upsetting occasion when it is needed.’
