Understanding residential home issues to meet health-care needs.

The needs of individuals in residential care homes have risen over time. Residential care homes were originally set up to provide accommodation for those requiring limited support, but today residents often have high levels of both health and social care needs, which often go unmet. The suggestion often made is that more staff training and improved support are needed. This is an oversimplification, as a number of other factors have a significant impact on care provision. It is suggested that residents will continue to receive suboptimal care until the issues are acknowledged and tackled.