Council chiefs have promised that an underachieving Mearns care home is on the way up after a year of poor performance.
The Care Inspectorate made a series of requirements of Edenholme in Stonehaven after a visit in August last year, following another poor assessment in January.
While new visitors in December “could not be confident” that these requirements over medication regimes, risk assessment, record keeping, training, and assessments for residents with behavioural changes have all been met, inspectors found some progress has been made.
The £7.6 million, 60-bed home was purpose-built by Aberdeenshire Council in 2013.
Comments over record-keeping on service user plans found that pain management “was not consistently” evaluated, while another resident’s plan had a “lack of guidance” regarding the safe management of diabetes.
One person’s medication was to be given prescribed medication “as required” but was being given the drugs twice a day without clear guidance as to the intended regime.
“Records indicated a resident prescribed a nutritional drink each day had only been given this once over a two-week period,” the inspector added.
Not all residents who were prescribed pain relief, including multiple pain relieving medicines, had pain care plans, protocols or assessments in place.
There were instances in which no record of the outcome had been recorded where pain relief had been used.
Aberdeenshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership chief said grades had improved since the last inspection.
Chief officer Adam Coldwells said: “Following the previous inspection, focus has been on staffing, medication, management of falls, greater engagement with residents and an increase in activities on offer.
“Although some of the requirements have still to be fully met, we and the Care Inspectorate remain confident that given the continued improvement at the home this will be achieved shortly.
“I hope the report and the fact that grades have improved in each area reassures residents and relatives of the progress that has been made in a short space of time.
“We will continue to support staff at the home and remain happy to meet relatives and residents to discuss any concerns they may have.”