New owners vow to turn round care home where elderly residents were left in rooms and ‘forgotten about’

A care home where elderly residents were left in their rooms and ‘forgotten’ has been ordered to improve by a watchdog.

Marland Court, in Rochdale, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after concerns were raised over staffing issues, the condition of the home and the quality of care being provided.

Based in Marland Old Road, the home is set up to provide residential care for up to 24 older people, including those living with dementia. 

But officials rated it as ‘requires improvement’ across all areas – including safety, responsiveness and effectiveness – following a two day inspection in September.

The home says it only came fully under new management on the first day of the inspection and is ‘very keen to improve and maintain the standard of the home in order to create an excellent living place for the residents’.

A new CQC report makes clear the challenge Elizabeth House (Oldham) Ltd now faces in order to turn things around – noting shortfalls in the management of medicines, planning people’s care and record keeping.

Officials also found that ‘people’s rights to dignity, independence and respect were not always supported and maintained’.

The report adds: “People were afforded privacy in their own bedrooms; however, the bedroom doors were fitted with a specific type of lock.

“Whilst people could open their door from inside the room without a key, the door had to be opened with a key on the outside. People were not given keys for their bedrooms which meant they could not regain access if they left the room without staff support.”

One person told inspectors: “We get locked in our rooms. It doesn’t bother me now although it did at first. I suppose that I’m used to it now.” Another added: “The doors are all locked here. The staff have keys around their necks.”

Officials also found that people living on the first floor had their independence limited by the home’s unreliable lift. One person told the watchdog: “I have lived here for a few months, but they keep me in this room because the lift isn’t working.

“I want to be outside mixing with others not stuck up here on my own. I think they forget about me.”

People were also found to be at risk from inconsistent and unsafe care. The report notes that  risks – including those around choking –  had not always been identified and effective strategies were not always in place to guide staff on how best to mitigate them.

Residents’ mental and physical health needs were sometimes not recorded in their care plans and their medicines were not always managed and stored safely. 

An assessment of the condition of the home had been carried out – but the risks posed by raised toilets on the ground floor, the broken lift and the type of locks on bedroom doors had not been considered.

Inspectors also noted there were also no plans seen to mitigate the risk of social isolation when the lift was out of order.

A spokesperson for the home said that nearly all the issues raised in the report were historical and the inspection came before the new management had a chance to implement their plans. 

They told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that all bathrooms at the home had undergone a full refurbishment and a new shower room and bath lift were now installed.  A stair lift has been fitted for the safety of first-floor residents.

A local pharmacy is also working alongside staff at the home to offer support and ensure full training is given where needed.

A spokesperson said: “We at Marland Court are working hard to provide the best care we can to our residents with choice and independence being promoted daily. Weekly activities from outside resources and daily activities with staff are taking place which is all documented within each resident’s care plan.

“All care plans have been updated to ensure they are person centred and spiritual and wellbeing needs have been met.

“All staff at Marland Court have undergone intensive training. The new owner and the manager are very keen to improve and maintain the standard of the home in order to create an excellent living place for the residents and a great working environment for the staff.”

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter