Social Care News

Think About Me: Good care guide pilot website launched

A pilot project offering a new web guide to care homes where relatives can leave reviews online has been launched today (March 9).

The 'Think About Me: Good Care Guide' aims to make it easy for care home residents and their families to research the quality of homes and review them online in a way familiar to users of travel review website Trip Advisor.

The guide will initially be piloted across Gwent and could be rolled out across Wales if it proves to be a success.

The scheme, in association with the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) and the South East Wales Academic Health Science Partnership, has already seen 78 local nursing and residential homes sign up.

Partners include Care Forum Wales, Age Cymru Gwent and the 1000 Lives initiative.

Care Forum Wales' policy adviser Melanie Minty attended the launch today (March 9). Melanie Minty Said: "Care Forum Wales is delighted to be involved in the Think About Me initiative.

This is a great tool to help people make informed choices about their future home at what is often a very distressing time.  It is also an important opportunity to celebrate the excellent care found in most care homes that is so often over shadowed by the minority".

Tanya Strange, ABUHB's divisional nurse of primary care and networks, said: “Residents and relatives will be able to leave feedback about the home and this will enable providers to respond quickly to that feedback.

“Lots of organisations with an interest in care homes have come together to develop this initiative where people can review care through the eyes of those living there and make informed decisions.”