Disgraceful care of our elderly

[John h]

That's why we are selling our toys ! to pay for Dad to live in the Veg patch ! It is so scary, and the silly season is upon us and we alllook at each other and take bets on who is next ! crazy isn't it My dad is physically fit but away with the fairies his twin brother is physicaly broken but has all his marbles ! I was born on their birthday so what chance do I have ?

anyway Shirl what I mean't to say was totally agree

rant over

[shirley53]

Sorry about your dad John....Even though it seems that they dont have any memory, there are moments where the person you knew and loved is there..My mum says that she wants to kill herself...what an awful reflection on the the care she is supposed to be getting. Make sure the nursing/care home have a variety of activities for your dad to do, as its so important...if you dont use it ..you lose it..

Apparently the home is being visited by Mental Health next week, so my sister is making sure she is there when they visit. Apparently the staff feel intimidated when my sister and I visit as we ask a lot of questions regarding mum's care. I really dont give a monkeys what they think, I just want my mum treated with some respect and dignity and be safe, after all if it was their relative I am sure they would not like it. I sometimes think the wrong people are in these jobs and not trained to look after dementia patients/clients.

Sorry....ranting again......

[Webbo]

Just thought I'd mention the plight of the elderly dementia folks who are unfortunate to be in one the the 'granny farms'.

It is a national disgrace that these senior citizens are left to 'vegetate' in care homes, with no time spent on their mental wellbeing. They are left to wander the corridors with no supervision, given a cocktail of anti psychotic drugs to keep them 'zombiefied' and easier to manage, although the staff would not admit to it. These 'chemical coshes can give side effects you are trying to treat. I think I would go insane if I was locked in a place that I didn't want to be in , be with people i didnt know, and not have much in the way of human interaction....Looking at it through the eyes of a dementia sufferer would be horrific... Must be a living death for most.

God help the future generations who happen to be struck down with this awful disease..the government can't sort out the problems with these places now, so what sort of chance have the future victims got.....

Me...I think I would take a ''little pill'' and end it before I ended up in one of those institutions.

My poor mother is in a 'nursing ' home in Edinburgh and I am apalled at the lack of care she is receiving. Fallen numerous times, fractured her collar bone, no x-ray done until a week later...various cuts, black eyes etc....

Unfortunately the cost for a private home is in excess of £980 a week!...who has that money to spare....

Just venting my frustration guys...

My Wife Pammie is a senior carer in a home for the Elderly in our village, I have shown her your thread an she is apalled by it, and its contents.

The Residents in her home are cared for 24 hours a day, never left to wander the corridors, or Vegetate in a state of Dementure. All of the Carer Staff are fully trained and qualified to cope with all issues, including dementure.
If the need arises she will spent quality one to one time with any residents that require that sort of attention.

If you feel that strongly about the obvios issues within that particular home there are channels to follow for official complaints.

There are two care homes owned by that particular family and they are equaly as good.

You just cannot tarnish all Homes in such a bad way. There are some good carering places out there.

[shirley53]

I didn't say all homes were like that, I know that there are well run nursing/care homes, but there are too many homes falling short of the specialised dementia care. It coincides with the media highlighting the over medicating of these patients and the business man Gerry Robinson who is currently investigating these homes.

My mother was transferred to this current home from hospital where she had been admitted and had been sectioned under the mental health act, so this is not a private or part funded home (apparently the ''flagship'' nursing home built in 1996).

It appears that most of the ''better'' homes are privately run and of course very expensive ( prices start from £980/week), obviously making them out of reach for the majority.

I have tried to find the annual inspection reports on this home via the care commission, but it seems as this home comes under the umbrella of NHS/ Hospital nursing home there seems to be no information available that I can access.

[John h]

Unfortunately it comes down to where you live and the size of the conurbation serviced by such home networks. Here in South Yorks we have a huge range of homes all with varying standards of care, but it remains that many fall below the minimum in regards to quality of care etc. The place where my Dad resides isn't all that bad but very very basic and we are left with paying for the things many of us take for granted.

staff turnover is high and training is minimal, a recipe for problems, but some of these carers really do take their job seriously and do a good job, others are not so diligent

I am going to go to a nursing home that will let me take my Surf there and then I can sit in it all day listening to the stereo and wetting myself on the plastic seat covers oh great joy