Our finding that care homes operate on minimal staffing levels is not surprising as the
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 is open to
interpretation stating that care services must employ ‘‘sufficient numbers of suitably
qualified, skilled and experienced persons.’’ This should be replaced with definitive
recommendations on the optimal ratio of HCPs to residents in care homes to ensure good
care. In addition, good practice could be incentivised by rewarding care homes who adhere
to such recommendations as part of standard practice.