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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: pscocoa on 21 December 2012, 18:11:45

Title: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: pscocoa on 21 December 2012, 18:11:45
My parents are now both in care homes. I live 220 miles away. I took the step of paying for visitors - former carers of my parents - to keep an eye on them for us.

One of them paid a late visit to my dad yesterday after 8pm and rang me to say that there was no member of care home staff at all in the residents lounge - my dad was desperate for the toilet (he needs to be hoisted) , someone else trying to plug in a kettle and almost scalding herself - I ended up on phone to manager to find them all in a "handover meeting" on another floor. I suspect this maybe a regular performance - this is not supposed to happen and someone should always be in attendance as most of the residents cannot walk and so no access to alarm cord if not in their rooms.

Anyway it is now being investigated - I hope it is a blip and that my intervention will lead to improvements.

Title: Re: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: Varche on 21 December 2012, 20:31:19
That is very sad. It bears out my suspicions to. Even when we visit there doesn't seem to be a lot of assistants around.

Hope you manage to improve things.

Maybe there ought to be (if there isn't already) some form of inspections but of course even if unnanounced they wouldn't pick up too much.

The care home my uncle is in was inspected by ,I think, the council for safety. His room was deemed unsafe as he couldn't get out in the event of a fire . The end result was french doors installed to replace the window.
Title: Re: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: omegod on 21 December 2012, 20:34:28
Have a chat with the CQC( Care quality commission) they don't mess about!!
Title: Re: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: Vamps on 21 December 2012, 21:40:31
Have a chat with the CQC( Care quality commission) they don't mess about!!

And they will do unannounced inspections.......... ;) ;)
Title: Re: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: Michael2.6 on 22 December 2012, 01:19:39
Mrs Michael here,
that used to happen to me when i visited my mam in a home, no one around,
lady next to my mam asking would I take her to the toilet, i spent many a time
looking for staff. one time my niece went to visit unexpected and she rang me to say
her nanna was distressed and sitting hunched forward without any cushions, while staff
were putting nail varnish on! my mum was dying, i was angry and blasted them when i went up
i told them she shouldnt have been in the lounge area,and should have been more relaxed in her own room.
and in bed. needless to say i stayed their with her after that, wanted to see her comfortable and in private
in her own room. It difficult, you feel guilty when you cant be their for them.  My mother in law just moved
in with us, she not well, and i wouldnt like to see her in a home. you just try to do your best for them. hope
everything goes ok , its a worry. :(
Title: Re: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: ozzycat on 22 December 2012, 04:41:09
i would  get them sorted because if they get away with it once they will take it as the norm till somthing bad happens and somgody gets hurt and it could be your mum god forbid
Title: Re: What the eye doesn't see - care homes
Post by: cleggy on 22 December 2012, 12:04:05
This is all very close to home and we found the same thing with mum in law. We found the more we visited the more attention she got, so came up with a semi rota of family and friends visits to keep then on their toes. We also made a point of talking to the other residents and pointing out to the staff their requirements. All in all the home was good and keeping a presence certainly helped, they may have considered us a pain in the arse but I didn't care these are people in their twilight years who need the respect, love and care they deserve. :y

It was a good move to have people keep an eye on them :y