If you ever thought care homes were a Cinderella property sector, or at least a sector operating on another planet, you would have had your eyes opened by attending “Network 2009” in Piccadilly London last Thursday, 17 September. Attending were the great and the good in the care homes world and all who service and advise them.

You will have learnt:-

1. There are very exceptional businesses and dedicated individuals out there contributing solid achievements, initiatives and innovations. Whilst award ceremonies can be tedious, where it is a first in the industry, the audience sit up and take note. There was even an award to a local authority (Birmingham City Council) and its particularly helpful and pro-active care homes liaison officer.
   
   
2. Care home operators are working hard to secure a higher priority for funding of the care for the elderly from the Government. One of their arguments runs that a decade ago many of today’s residents would have been in geriatric hospital wards at considerably greater cost to the NHS. Associations of care homes are forming, gathering strength and lobbying.
   
   
3. Funding options for investment and development are becoming more sophisticated, and less traditional sources are being explored. The mood of finance directors in care homes has moved beyond merely accepting their  existing bank’s demands for extended facilities, but the trick is still to identify lenders who are truly open for business and on realistic terms.
   
   
4. The star rating system introduced two years ago is not standardising and categorising care homes as effectively or as fairly as was intended. Anomalies and inadequate assessments abound and the consequences for individual care homes are serious. This is another mission being undertaken by those associations.
   
   
5. Life goes on. It is true the underlying economic drivers for care homes differ from the wider residential property market. It is the priorities and needs of the elderly that should dictate the function of care homes so if the model is right, the punters are there.
   
   
6. Finally, a feature to criticise. The industry talks about itself as “over 50’s housing”. How many people in their 50’s do you know who expect to settle down where they will live out their days, (whilst presumably ignoring the kids still at home)? A more refined approach to self marketing is called for!