A care home has been rated as inadequate after a watchdog said people were not always safe or treated with dignity.
St Margarets Care Home in Peterborough provides support for people living with dementia over 65. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted an unannounced inspection in April.
The CQC found that the staff referred to residents as children while speaking to inspectors and the report said “this was not dignified”.
Stuart Dunn, CQC deputy director of operations in the East of England, said: “When we inspected St Margarets, we were deeply concerned to find people’s care wasn’t always safe, dignified, or centred on their needs.”
Inspectors also found that there was one working shower which was being used by 15 people.
There were two baths but staff said the lifting equipment in one bathroom was not working, while the other bath did not have lifting equipment at all and was not used.
People who needed a soft diet were not provided with “dignified support” and all food items were mixed and served in a bowl. “This did not look appetising,” the report said.
“This did not demonstrate a compassionate or dignified approach to care as people were not able to taste nor distinguish between individual foods,” continued the report.
However, people living there and their family members who visited said they were happy with the food provided at the care home.
One resident said: “The food is good, there’s usually something I like”.
Another person told inspectors: “We get a choice of two mains, if I don’t like either there are alternatives.”
People living at the care home used to enjoy writing, poetry and colouring. However, inspectors said they did not see people taking part in these activities over the four times they visited in April.
“People sat for long periods in the lounges, some people ate their meals in the same chairs and most only moved when using the bathroom,” the report said.
Hygiene concerns had also been raised after inspectors saw one staff member complete medicines administration for people while wearing the same pair of disposable gloves.
The report said the individual did not wash their hands which had placed people at risk of cross infection.
The care home has been contacted for comment.