Families could be basing care decisions on outdated information, according to a new survey.
New research reveals many people assume care home ratings are current when, in reality, some have not been updated for several years.
An independent survey of 1,000 UK adults, commissioned by OpenScore, showed 67 per cent believe care homes are inspected at least annually, despite Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines allowing inspections every three to five years for those rated Good or Outstanding.
Debbie Harris, founder of OpenScore and Autumna, said: “Choosing a care home is one of the most significant financial and emotional commitments a family will ever make, yet too many people are doing it with information that belongs to a different chapter in a home’s history.”
The research also found that 52 per cent of UK adults would feel uncomfortable signing a care contract based on an official rating more than three years old, rising to 83 per cent among 55 to 64-year-olds.
Asked about their biggest concerns if a care home had not been inspected in three years, 62 per cent cited slipping hygiene and cleanliness standards, while 48 per cent feared a serious safety incident could go undetected.
