Staff to patient ratio - advice please!

[CollegeGirl]

Hi all

Dad and I have just looked round what seems to be a lovely care home, because we would like to change which home my mam goes to for respite.

It's an EMI care home specialising in dementia care but has no nursing staff on the premises.

I asked what the staff to patient ratio was, and was told that there are three carers to 18 residents during the day, with two members of staff on a night.

The staff were all very pleasant, from the manager through to the cleaners that we met, the home had a nice atmosphere, with comfortable, warm lounges, lovely dining rooms, very nice airy bedrooms, an activities co-ordinator, and the residents seemed content, but I thought only three carers seemed a bit low. Apart from this one niggle, I really liked the home.

I've no idea what guidelines might say, or what the norm is, regarding staff to patient ratios. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Butter]

I agree it seems low. But actually I think it is more than many have in the UK. And far far more than in some other countries.

 

[nitram]

http://www.rqia.org.uk/cms_resources/Staffing Guidelines for Residential Care Homes.pdf

Also 1.11 in
http://www.pssru.ac.uk/pdf/chop1.pdf

 

[CollegeGirl]

Thank you Butter and Nitram. I've looked at the links Nitram but find the statistics a bit difficult to understand so am still not sure from these if this home has reasonable ratios.

I've also found some other threads on TP talking about the same subject, and it seems that there are no "laws" only "guidelines" and that this home may be an average.

In my naivety I just thought that with dementia patients, there would/should be something like one carer for every three patients, so this home seemed to be lacking in staff numbers, but it doesn't seem that way!

I know a lot of you have relatives in homes - I'd love to know what the staff/patient ratio is in your personal experience, and whether you are happy with it?

 

[Saffie]

There aren't definite rules about numbers but they have to satisfy the CQC. My husband is in a nursing home and most of the residents on his wing (20) have to be helped with feeding and being hoisted to and from chairs and beds - but I doubt that even they have a ratio of 1 carer to 3 residents. I don't actually know what the ratio is but it seems to work whatever it is.

 

[jaymor]

It probably depends on the amount of care needed. Your ratio of 3:18 or 1:6 would be fine in a residential home with dementia residents in the early stages but seems a little on the light side for an EMI unit. My husband is in a nursing home specialising in challenging behaviour and seven of the nine men there have 1:1 care. There really should be something set in stone as to the ratio of staff to patient with the standard of care required.

 

[Amble]

On the other hand, a good atmosphere speaks volumes. If the Staff, Cleaners included are happy, then something very positive must be going on.
Near us there is a Nursing Home (private) where one scarcely ever sees any Staff and the Residents' rooms are like rabbit hutches.
It sounds as though you have found something really good.

 

[jan.s]

My husband has 1:5 carers and a RMN (nurse) on his unit.

His last care home had 1:7 plus a nurse, but to be honest it does depend on the staff management. His new home, does have a higher ratio, and there is always a staff member close at hand.

The previous home I spend ages looking for someone to help, particularly if the staff were at lunch!

 

[Shash7677]

I was told by mums 1st residential home that specialised in dementia that they were only required to have 2 staff at night, 3 during the day and I'm sure only 2 day and night at the weekend, don't quote me on the weekend bit though!

I questioned it with the home and they said 'that's all the staff we have to have!' And they were quite indignant. Mum is now in an EMI nursing home and the staff to resident ratio is far far higher. At least 2:1 if not more!

I don't think there are hard and fast rules but most, if they can get away with the minimum number of staff they will.

Take care
Sharon

 

[Butter]

And one skilled carer is better than more less skilled carers

 

[Michaelaspeek]

Hi CollegeGirl

There are approx 6 carers and one nurse on at all times in my mums CH - there are around 30 patients - they all do a wonderful job.

I would think 3 carers to 18 patients does not sound a lot - but is probably right.

I moved my mum from her CH she is staying now to another on the advice of the wonderful MHT - there were probably only 3 carers for 25 patients and all they did was sit in the dining room chatting amongst themselves, so we moved her back to the original CH.

sometimes it is quality over quantity.
Having more carers does not alway mean more care for the patient.

It sounds like you have found a wonderful CH - Good Luck
Mickie

 

[CollegeGirl]

Thank you all. Trouble is, I don't trust my own judgement because I have very limited experience of care homes. The previous one seemed very nice at first but we became a bit disillusioned for various reasons, so obviously my judgement wasn't too good that time!

 

[jan.s]

I know that feeling. I had a very bad experience when i thought i had chosen well. Second time around i did make the best choice!

Sometimes, it's not just the number of carers, but the quality of care they give. On the other side though, it needs 2 carers to hoist a resident, which would only leave 1 for 17 residents. Just a thought.

 

[Mannie]

We visited a home for light to moderate dementia, and were told 1:8 was the norm for in the day ,wonder if the cqc has any guidelines or whether they check when they review a home

 

[Canadian Joanne]

My information obviously only applies for Ontario but it is 1:10, yes, that's right. That doesn't include nurses, just the personal service workers, as they are called here. Overall I have been very satisfied with the care my mother has received. She has been in a wheelchair since the fall of 2006 and has never developed a pressure sore, which I think speaks volumes on its own.

 

[love.dad.but..]

My Dad's specialist nursing home...Dad is one of probably 10 mobile residents on his floor....has 32 residents on each of two floors...... day staff 6 carers 2 nurses...night staff 3 carers 1 nurse. 2 full time activity ladies Mon to Fri. If all the carers are doing personal care it does seem sometimes no one is around but then it could take them half an hour each resident. If working well and visible to relatives seems a reasonable staff ratio. I looked round 17 care homes the average staff ratio seemed to be 1-8.