Care worker crisis explored in The Conversation

Marianna Fotaki and Derya Ozdemir Kaya examine the growing struggles of care workers, and the institutions that depend upon them

FICCH academics have argued that the UK care sector is in "deep trouble", in an article published on the academic-orientated news analysis platform 'The Conversation'.

Drawing on 'Bailed out and burned out', the FICCH project's landmark report into the financial impact of COVID-19 on care homes for older people and their workforce, Professor Fotaki and Dr Kaya point out that 42% of the care workers spoken to as part of their research are in financial distress. They also highlight the fact that six in ten of the Britain's care-home beds are operated by companies that could go bankrupt should they experience even a mild economic shock.

"Care workers cite exhaustion, disillusionment, illness and more as reasons for quitting," warn the authors. "Care homes have been chronically understaffed for two years, asking more of their remaining staff than they should... When care homes are at risk of collapse, or unable to fulfil their key tasks, elderly people will not receive the services that they urgently need."

The full article is available here.