Care home praised by residents in national survey

Staff at Anchor’s Borrage House in Borrage Lane were rated highly in the independent Your Care Rating survey run by Ipsos MORI.

The home performed above the national average in feedback from residents and relatives in four areas: staff and care, home comforts, choice and having a say, and quality of life.

Borrage House was given an overall rating of 903 out of 1,000 and 904 out of 1,000 by the residents, and their families and friends respectively. Both scores were above the national averages of 893 for the residents’ survey and 852 for the family and friends’ survey.

The survey results come as Ipsos MORI publishes a poll which showed that Britons perceive care much more negatively than the residents living in care homes.

Only 26 per cent of Britons thought care homes were a happy place to live while 86 per cent of residents said they were happy living at Borrage House.

There was also a mismatch between public perception of how staff treated residents compared with the older people’s actual experiences: only 45 per cent of Britons thought care home residents were treated with dignity and respect when, in fact, all of the residents living at Borrage House said carers treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.

Sarah Aitken, Manager of Borrage House, which was rated Good by regulator The Care Quality Commission in February, said: “Our residents have really positive experiences in our care home, as this independent survey shows. We’re proud to have been praised for our care.

“While we’re really pleased with our scores, the survey helps us further improve our services by giving us direct feedback from residents and their loved ones.”

She added: “Families can see at a glance which care homes are committed to raising standards by taking part in this survey.”

Carol John, 72, who has lived at Borrage House since June last year, said she is not surprised by the good survey results.

She said: “I’m very happy living here and the carers treat me well. I feel really pleased for the staff because they are a dedicated team who make Borrage House feel like home from home. 

“The staff are very accommodating and helpful. Nothing seems too much for them and if we want anything, staff will do their utmost to get it for us.

“I like the quizzes and love it when the schoolchildren visit to do different activities, especially when we go on treasure hunts in the garden with them.”