Lifeline for care homes

WHEN we look back at the handling of the coronavirus catastrophe, the care home debacle will be seen as particularly shocking. We were too quick to let elderly residents return to their care homes from hospital and too slow to implement safeguards to protect both staff and residents, with an almost total absence of any testing for several weeks.

So, it comes as no great surprise that many care homes have been boycotted by residents and their families. Based on a study in June of nearly 10,000 beds, a quarter were standing empty, according to the National Care Association.

Trust and confidence in our care homes has evaporated, plunging the sector into a further crisis and leaving many elderly people scared and bewildered. This newspaper is proud of the way it champions the cause of senior citizens and we call upon the Government to join us in supporting care homes, not just with platitudes but real action.