Residents not showered for months at home - CQC

The care home has been placed into special measures

A care home has been rated as inadequate by a regulator after one resident said they only had "a shower every couple of months" due to a lack of staff.

The Oaks Care Home in Colchester, Essex, is run by Aurem Care and was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September and October after concerns were raised about its leadership and safeguarding.

The facility provides accommodation for up to 61 people who have a disability, are living with dementia or need end-of-life care.

A CQC spokesperson said: "The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it."

A staff member told inspectors: "People are not getting enough baths or showers. It is mainly a bed wash they receive."

At the time of the assessment there were 53 residents at the care home, which has now been put into special measures.

The report said people did not always believe staff would respond to their needs promptly, especially if they were in pain, discomfort or distress.

One resident told inspectors that their catheter bag was full to bursting after they had waited a long time for support

Lowered rating

The report stated the care home only had three mobility chairs for eight people and people told inspectors that they were taken to the community areas in their beds, which impacted their privacy and dignity.

The CQC lowered the home's overall rating from requires improvement to inadequate since its last inspection.

Inspectors also spoke to the staff and one person said "staffing on the lower floor can be difficult" due to shortages and sick days.

Another member of staff said there is always seven people working, even on weekends "we have the same staffing levels".

Hazel Roberts, the CQC deputy director of operations in the East of England, said: "This standard of care is not acceptable. This is people's home, and they deserve the same dignity and safety many of us take for granted.

"One person said they only got a shower every couple of months because there weren't enough staff to support them, and another person's relative said they had to push staff to help their loved one shower."

The BBC has approached the care home for comment.