Care homes spend as little as £2.27 a day on food per resident

Monday, 13 February 2012

Care homes who spend as little as £2.27 a day on food for each resident have been slammed as a "national disgrace".

An independent report into more than 50 care homes in Sefton, Merseyside, found that the average institution spent an average of £27.50 a week on food - or £3.93 a day.

But one unnamed home spends just £15.86 a week - or £2.27 a day on food for each resident.

This amount would have to cover the cost of up to three meals a day - meaning each plate of food costs just 76p.

The report, by consultants Laing & Buisson, was compiled after the High Court ruled that a two-year cap on care home fees by Sefton Council was unlawful in November.

It found that the council pays £389 each week towards the cost of a frail older person, but that the true cost is at least £100 a week more.

Some elderly residents have to make up the shortfall by asking their families for help, according to campaigners.

Keith Wright, owner of small care home Avarest in Southport, said: "You should be spending 10 per cent of your weekly fees on food. That means no less than £38.90 a week.

"We've just served lunch with a choice of plaice or haddock, steamed or battered, and some of our residents have had visitors who we've given tea, coffee and a biscuit.

"You can't do that for £2.27 a day."

In October it was revealed that one in seven nursing home are breaking the law by failing to give elderly residents enough food and drink.

One example was an underweight patient who was being fed just two pieces of toast a day.

In another home, one patient who had lost 10lb in a month was denied a biscuit even when he asked for one - despite the fact he was supposed to be given snacks.

Liz Kendall, Labour spokesman for care and old people, said: "Older people in care homes need decent, nutritious food. This can't be done on a shoestring.

"More than £1billion has been cut from council budgets for older people since the Coalition government came to power. This is having a serious impact."

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "This challenge is not unique to Sefton but is faced by authorities across the country."