Fuming

[Rachael81]

Within the last 2 weeks we've started having LA carers go round to mums twice a day and a passing comment from one made me realise they weren't aware if her dementia diagnosis despite it being part of her care pack.

I called their office and spoke to a manager about my concerns who said she'd mention it to the team and look at implementing a 'forget-me-nit' sticker on the folders to discretely sign post dementia patients (a system our local NHS trust use).

Anyway things seemed to have improved, tablets were going and mum was eating and drinking...

However the carer yesterday tea-time must have been absent on the day they did dementia training: asked mum what she wanted for tea to which mum replied crisps and that's all she had, bearing in mind she skipped breakfast and had only a sandwich for lunch (on top of this mum's being monitored by a dietitian and needs to gain weight); also her tablet wasn't taken.

I have left an open letter on top of the care pack advising them how to deal with my mum and that their 'care' is less than acceptable. To think in under 2 weeks I'm leaving her completely in their care for 10 days worries me.

Anyone got advise, wondering about looking into paying for private care..?

 

[DMac]

Within the last 2 weeks we've started having LA carers go round to mums twice a day and a passing comment from one made me realise they weren't aware if her dementia diagnosis despite it being part of her care pack.

I called their office and spoke to a manager about my concerns who said she'd mention it to the team and look at implementing a 'forget-me-nit' sticker on the folders to discretely sign post dementia patients (a system our local NHS trust use).

Anyway things seemed to have improved, tablets were going and mum was eating and drinking...

However the carer yesterday tea-time must have been absent on the day they did dementia training: asked mum what she wanted for tea to which mum replied crisps and that's all she had, bearing in mind she skipped breakfast and had only a sandwich for lunch (on top of this mum's being monitored by a dietitian and needs to gain weight); also her tablet wasn't taken.

I have left an open letter on top of the care pack advising them how to deal with my mum and that their 'care' is less than acceptable. To think in under 2 weeks I'm leaving her completely in their care for 10 days worries me.

Anyone got advise, wondering about looking into paying for private care..?

Take a deep breath. Then compose an e-mail or letter to the care home manager setting out your concerns. State clearly what you expect to happen in future. Keep a print of your e-mail or copy of your letter.

It might sound like an over-reaction, but it's important to keep a log of incidents like this, not only for yourself in case you feel the need to escalate in future, but the very fact it is in writing should trigger the care home to review their practices and put things right for the future.

Chances are your 'open letter' will be disregarded by the visiting carer, I'm sorry to say. She or he may well have resigned or even lost their job already, such is the difficulty in recruiting and keeping good care staff.

Paying for private care, in my experience, is unlikely to result in an improvement. All home care providers I have ever come across are subject to the same constraints and difficulties in recruiting, training, retaining of good people on minimal wages.

 

[Rachael81]

Then compose an e-mail or letter to the care home manager setting out your concerns.

These are carers going into mum's own home rather than her being in a care home, but thanks for the tip about making sure everything is in writing and keeping records - I verbally reported my concerns earlier this week and so writing will seem like escalation - and be cathartic for me!

 

[Marnie63]

Rachael - would you have time to research local care agencies? If mum has been allocated a care package via Social Services, then you could opt to have the package as a direct payment, and assign the care agency of your choice. This is what I have done - SS pay me a monthly amount (into a separate bank account) and I use those funds to pay the monthly bill from our care agency (plus mum has to contribute a small weekly amount following assessment). Sorry if you already know this, but this may be one way to find better carers. I'm not saying that all carers who work under LA contracts are bad, I'm sure there are many good ones out there, but this way would give you a chance to meet the agency owners/managers and suss out who is good. Plus, you could get some recommendations perhaps from a local carers group, if you have some around your area.

I speak from experience as we have a good agency locally, privately run, and actually, very strangely, cheaper than some of the larger chains around here. I remember when the owner first came to assess/register mum, she said they do one hour visits min as anything less is not worthwhile. I admit that I have probably been very lucky in having them locally, and also having them allocate the same lady each time (who also happens to speak one of mum's languages - English is not one of mum strongest ones!).

A long answer, but perhaps worth investigating, if mum's LA would be happy to set up direct payments?

 

[nae sporran]

Sorry you are having some of the problems we have had for the past 4 years, Rachael.

Putting everything in writing is something I would recommend too. I have also in the past copied the Social Worker responsible for setting up the care plan into emails. That lets them know what is happening and lets the care agency know you are serious. You should also be due to have a review after 2 months (or thereabouts, best check) and that's a good time to raise all your concerns.

From what my neighbours are saying, we are in supported housing, paying privately does not guarantee anything. It should give you more options of course, if the current provider does not improve.

Just a few ideas from experience. Good luck.

 

[Rosettastone57]

Hi I have no experience of local authority carers as my mother-in-law is self funding and both my husband and I organised private care ourselves .However even with a well-known agency there have been in the last two years some difficulties with carers. As other posters have mentioned it is imperative to keep accurate written records of your concerns and address these to a care manager . We have had various problems in the past with carers turning up and then leaving without actually doing anything meaningful .

I have found that you really need to get on top of problems at the earliest opportunity . The care agency my mother-in-law has also has an out of hours and weekend number to iron out any problems that may arise at that time and I have found that the on call supervisor has always being helpful. But to back it up I have always emailed the supervisor the following day to reiterate my complaints and concerns that I have that I brought up over the phone . These have usually been amicably resolved . The problem also that we have found is that mother-in-law who is at the early stages of dementia and who really doesn't want a carer will always say that she doesn't want anything done . As for the food problem the carer comes in at a lunchtime and puts a meal in the microwave to be heated up whether mother-in-law likes it or not . Then she will eat it if someone is there to talk to.

In my opinion an open letter to the carer is probably not going to result in anything meaningful. The only times I use that system is simply to remind a carer of a particular task for example to change a sheet . I'm afraid to say that even with a private agency carers are hard pressed to complete tasks in the allotted time and simply haven't got time to read through a long script left in a book.

The agency we use also has a review system every six months where I meet with a care manager and my mother-in-law to discuss any difficulties and tweak the care package. Generally speaking this has worked in the past and in addition this particular agency has signed up to a smartphone app which allows myself and my husband to view what what is happening at each visit and we can then express our concerns that same day. This makes it much easier and quicker to resolve any issues both with the carer and the supervisor. I can also leave messages on the app for the office to act on and contact me back.

It has taken me probably the best part of 6 months to get the usual carers to understand and appreciate my mother in law's needs . Fortunately she has the same 3 or 4 carers during the week so then they get to know what is required and what is happening with her .They all know she has dementia and my understanding is from the agency that they have received specialist training in this field. The supervisor has told me that in this particular area they have many dementia clients but with each person having a different dementia type symptoms it is difficult for each individual carer to make a "blanket type" assessment for everyone.

It's not easy and it can be a full time job to keep mother in laws best interests at heart and all I can say to you is good luck. You are on a steep learning curve.