Hello, I am copying my reply following yesterdays long meeting below. The care home was a hive of activity with men and women in dark suits and black meeting folders, making notes going all over the place. Did not realise at first this was the CQC and SS!!! Am happy this has been taken seriously.
It was like trying to get blood out of a stone and in my opinion, care plans are utter **** and just pen pushing exercises. The deputy could not answer some of my pertinent questions from it and it was not addressing or dealing with effectively any of the issues raised:
Further to our meeting yesterday, thank you for informing Social Services and involving Care Quality Commission about the assault. Good to hear you will be arranging a visit with the GP who may wish to look at Mum's left wrist/arm as part of the examination. As mentioned Mum was subdued and very unusually remained in her room on Monday following the incident - she does not now seem to remember anything about it.
I do hope the suggested infra red alarm in place between 8pm and 11pm will be effective in alerting staff to Mum's movements during the evenings in future and keeping her safe.
I also wondered if Mum was given a cup of tea and breakfast in bed, her day would start earlier and she might settle earlier in the evening. Maybe if Mum was made ready in her pyjamas and dressing gown, tv on in bedroom and milky drink at say 9pm she would be less likely to wander the building? An earlier breakfast may even mean she would be more interested in lunch!
I am pleased you managed to find the hearing aid yesterday in the treatment room, I was surprised it had not been searched previously as it has been found there on at least one other occasion. It is a shame that she has been without it for the past 8 days as it must be very embarrassing for her and she did miss it. It may be a good idea to contact the hearing clinic as you suggested, to see if a spare one can be obtained?
I am glad we agreed the care plan is not at present helping to support Mum in safeguarding her essential belongings; hearing aid, dentures and glasses. A tick chart placed in the bedroom may well remind staff to remove these at night and ensure they are returned each morning after washing/showering. This will also help to realise when they are first missed and make finding them easier, as it was not possible for you to do this from Mum's notes. I believe dentures must be removed at night anyway, but please do check with the dentist when you are enquiring about having them marked indelibly.
I know you were concerned about Mum's dignity being affected by having the chart placed on the wall in her room but I feel her dignity and her social skills have been more badly affected by having no dentures and being unable to hear properly without the aid.
Again I would also like to express my abhorrence to references of Mum's 'pilfering'. This terminology is rude disrespectful as it implies theft.
It is a pity about the short notice regarding today's appointment with the fracture clinic, but I look forward to hearing how Mum gets on.
