Apologies for cutting and pasting my last post but I have contacted my MP, writing the following and await a response. I can only suggest to everyone to write to their MP and get the elderly back in the news.
I have been told today that it is being considered for the care home and council to put up a portacabin to use for the winter months. As I pointed out to the manager this creates even more work for the carers. Who will clean it after each use? It must be easier for them to escort one or two named family members to their loved ones flat for an hour after necessary precautions. I know this doesn't account for grandchildren but at least they would be in a familiar place with familiar faces.
It seems that once again the elderly in care homes have been put on the back-burner, if not totally forgotten.
My Mum is in assisted living with dementia. The scheme has been locked down since March 17th. I wasn't able to see my Mum until she was admitted to hospital, severely anaemic and needing 5 units of blood. When I saw her in hospital for the first time I was shocked. She was poorly but aside from that her hair was long, nails were much too long and frankly unhealthy
(carers are not allowed to cut nails because of diabetes and blood thinners) she was in short much worse for not having seen me.
When she returned home, she was back in isolation for 14 days having been in hospital. I finally saw her in a garden visit at the end of July. She did recognise me (at least she said there's my daughter) I don't know if that was prompted or of her own accord. When I asked her if there was anything she wanted she just said "To go home" and when I asked why she wasn't talking she replied "What’s there to say". It broke my heart to see her broken.
Unfortunately there are now a lot of new young staff whom I don't know and hats off to them for doing the job, but I question if they are doing it because they want to or if they have to. I have every faith in the way my Mums scheme is run and have to believe the (new) carers are good. (I had to bring to the attention of the manager my mum being wheeled into the garden on a commode because the new young carer ‘couldn’t find’ her wheelchair behind the bedroom door?) I know mistakes happen, but at this time, with no access, we have no way of knowing what mistakes are happening.
Yes I am afraid I am cynical, I am charged for the cleaning of my Mums flat and honestly have no idea if it gets done.
I deliver shopping and wonder if she gets it all.
I have no idea if she is prompted to leave her flat and go to the communal lounge which has been opened now but is practising social distancing so can only accommodate a couple at a time. (Let's face it a carers job is easier if no-one moves around)
There are now agency staff whom I am told are only visiting that scheme.
If carers are allowed to. go in and out, what is the difference with relatives going directly to their loved ones flat / room.
For the unfortunate relatives that have lost their loved ones they are instructed to clear the flat, how does that work, if there is supposed to be no access to the building.
I think it is underestimated just how much time relatives invest in their loved ones. Prior to lockdown I visited my mum EVERY day for at least two hours, enabling me to clean her flat properly, do her washing properly every day. Cut her nails, brush her hair and on and on.
I have every respect for those caring for our loved ones and am truly grateful but without being there to oversee what is happening, can only question what is or isn’t being done.
We have all seen the sometimes awful reports about treatment of people in care homes, and whilst I have faith in where my mum is, we should never be complacent or blind.
The Government guidelines need to be clearer, (the suggestion for visiting, ‘Don’t wear a hat’ REALLY!) and allow relatives access to homes. I appreciate there is a risk but quite honestly I know, I and My mum will take that risk rather than the prospect of her living her final days alone and for me, feeling a sense of betrayal forever more.
Something needs to be done, we have to move forward, there is no guarantee there will be a vaccine any time soon and all the time our loved ones are suffering a solitary existence. They didn’t sign up for a prison sentence.
With proper management this can be achievable,
1. Masks / visors
2. Temperature taken on entry
3. Limited numbers of visitors, a booking system, as is used for garden visits
4. No interaction with other residents