A care home has been criticised for showing a lack of respect for its elderly residents.

Cedars Residential Care Home, in Sudbury Road, Halstead, caters for up to 63 people living with dementia.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have demanded the home takes action to address weaknesses outlined in its report, published last month.

After observing a lunchtime session, inspectors ruled residents “were not assisted in a way which maintained their dignity and independence”.

The report said: “We heard a staff member using infantile language such as ‘yummy yummy’ and ‘good girl’ which was not respectful of the person's age.

Training records showed that only 20 of the 44 staff employed at the home had received training in safeguarding people from abuse.

The home was deemed to have met standards in three of the seven inspected categories.

Cedars was praised for providing care and treatment “in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare”.

Proprietor Ajay Patel said: “We are addressing concerns raised by the CQC inspectors after their visit."

Mr Patel said the home had also increased its training programme for staff in light of the report’s findings.