I do not know where the idea that care homes are cash cows comes from. I have had various members of my family and friends in care homes since the 1970s and the discussion in the media has always been of homes closing down because the owners cannot make a living.
Yes, some owners in the news have seem to have made a lot of money, but they are usually in the news because the home has just been shut down because standards are so low, the money has been made at the price of severe neglect of residents and it is not surprising that the sharks involved want to stay in an industry they know and go on to run other homes badly.
I think anyone associated with running a care home that is shut down because standards are so low should be banned from owning or working in care homes for life.
Supporting people in care is expensive. A care home a relation was in had a fire practice once when we were there and on the count of staff alone DH and I calculated that the home must employ 2 staff for every resident, by the time you allowed for 24 hour coverage. In day time as well as carers there were administrators, a gardener, a maintenance man, laundry staff, kitchen staff, cleaners and activity organisers. so as well as salaries there are utility bills, council tax, insurance, food, consumables major maintenance and repair work and a host of other bills.
Many residents are dependent on social funding and the rates Local authorities will pay are sometimes only half the cost of actually providing a good standard of care and as we all know care staff are woefully underpayed and under valued.
We need to face up to the real cost of keeping someone in care and not constantly complain about how high it is.
Lets face it some 3 star hotels charge upwards of £100 a night for bed and breakfast, yet we expect a care home to provide full board, laundry,a high level of personal care, occupation and medical care for much the same price aand compalin if it costs more.