The Telegraph & Argus has long campaigned on the importance of treating the most vulnerable members of our society with dignity and respect.

So it is sad for us to have to highlight three new reports which point out failings at care homes in the district that look after elderly and disabled residents.

In the worst case, the level of issues of hygiene and care standards led to one home being closed down under emergency measures immediately.

Issues discovered by included a smell of urine in a communal lounge, dirty toilets, stains on wall coverings, and poor standards of care.

The other homes mentioned were not as damningly criticised, but had issues which simply should not be arising in our care homes, including insufficient staffing levels, not listening to residents’ concerns, and issues with medicine stocks.

Our With Respect campaign was set up to highlight the importance of treating our elderly with the dignity they deserve.

For many, having to go into a home in the first place is difficult enough; we owe it to them to ensure that these homes are offering a safe and clean and hospitable environment.

The work of the Care Quality Commission in highlighting these issues is vital, and these reports show just how important it is that there are stringent checks on all privately-owned and local authority-run residential homes.

We are all likely to be affected by long-term care for elderly relatives in the not-too distant future, and we must all apply pressure to ensure the standard of that car is the highest it can possibly be.