Gills Top care home is praised by residents and relatives in a national survey

A care home in Skipton has been praised by its residents and their relatives and friends in a national survey on care standards.

Staff at Anchor’s Gills Top in Scar Street were rated highly in the independent Your Care Rating survey run by Ipsos MORI.

The home performed above the national average in feedback from residents and relatives in four areas: Staff and Care, Home Comforts, Choice and Having a Say, and Quality of Life. 

Gills Top was given an overall rating of 904 out of 1,000 and 903 out of 1,000 by the residents, and their families and friends respectively. Both scores were above the national averages of 893 for the residents’ survey and 852 for the family and friends’ survey.

The survey results come as Ipsos MORI publishes a poll which showed that Britons perceive care much more negatively than the residents living in care homes.

Only 26% of Britons thought care homes were a happy place to live while every resident said they were happy living at Gills Top.

There was also a mismatch between public perception of how staff treated residents compared with the older people’s actual experiences: only 45% of Britons thought care home residents were treated with dignity and respect when, in fact, all of the residents living at Gills Top said carers treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.

Kirsty Francis, Manager of Gills Top, which is rated Good by regulator The Care Quality Commission, said: “Our residents have really positive experiences in our care home, as this independent survey shows. We’re proud to have been praised for our care.

“While we’re really pleased with our scores, the survey helps us further improve our services by giving us direct feedback from residents and their loved ones.

“Families can see at a glance which care homes are committed to raising standards by taking part in this survey.”

Brenda Lodge, who has lived at Gills Top for two years, said she is not surprised by the good survey results.

She said: “I’m very happy living here and the carers treat me well. I have fun chatting with staff and residents. There’s always lots to do.”

Jean Cook, who moved into the home in January this year, said she has made many new friends.

She said: “I like the activities organised by staff here. I really enjoyed the visits from children from Threshfield School and the Louise Gibbons Dance group.”

For more information on Anchor’s Gills Top phone 0800 731 2020.