I have been to see three EMI units in my area this week (all private and charging the earth!!) I had a visit from the Admiral nurese who suggested that Ken's consultant would only allow him out if he went into an EMI unit so I thought it best to check them out.
Each had an impressive entrance hallway, warm, welcoming and clean with a staffed reception area. Each boasted in the glossy brochure of en suite bedrooms, varied menues, rogramme of weekly activities, excellent standards of nursing care & devotion to quality - in short just exactly where you could put your loved one with confidence. Each EMI unit I visited I had checked out on the government inspection site and each had passed inspections well.
Once I was allowed past the impressive facades and through the locked doors, my utopian dream abruptly ended. They are all disgusting and should be closed down immediately. The stench of urine was unbearable; in each one, the furniture was generally very poor - torn and often filthy - the carpets were sticky underfoot and the patients all herded into one single room and judging from their general appearance, left sitting staring into space for many long hours. If Ken cannot go the EMI NURSING (not Unit) home of my choice - then I will insist that I have him back home. It was all so dreadful, sad and distressing to go round such horrid, horrid places and to think that each of those poor, poor souls was someone's beloved relative at some point in their lives. Never, never will I let Ken go to what I consider to be such poor quality conditions in which to live the rest of your life! When I think of the amount of money each week which is charged in fees, it is absolutely appalling, a scandal which I am sure must be repeated in many other towns in England. Two of the EMI units were run by well known medical companies.
I have a ten minute 'slot' tomorrow lunchtime as an 'emergency' appointment with Ken's consultant. I doubt I will move her to get things going the way I want them to go but at least I can start to sew the seeds of my deep disatisfaction with it all. Better close now.
xxxx TinaT
Each had an impressive entrance hallway, warm, welcoming and clean with a staffed reception area. Each boasted in the glossy brochure of en suite bedrooms, varied menues, rogramme of weekly activities, excellent standards of nursing care & devotion to quality - in short just exactly where you could put your loved one with confidence. Each EMI unit I visited I had checked out on the government inspection site and each had passed inspections well.
Once I was allowed past the impressive facades and through the locked doors, my utopian dream abruptly ended. They are all disgusting and should be closed down immediately. The stench of urine was unbearable; in each one, the furniture was generally very poor - torn and often filthy - the carpets were sticky underfoot and the patients all herded into one single room and judging from their general appearance, left sitting staring into space for many long hours. If Ken cannot go the EMI NURSING (not Unit) home of my choice - then I will insist that I have him back home. It was all so dreadful, sad and distressing to go round such horrid, horrid places and to think that each of those poor, poor souls was someone's beloved relative at some point in their lives. Never, never will I let Ken go to what I consider to be such poor quality conditions in which to live the rest of your life! When I think of the amount of money each week which is charged in fees, it is absolutely appalling, a scandal which I am sure must be repeated in many other towns in England. Two of the EMI units were run by well known medical companies.
I have a ten minute 'slot' tomorrow lunchtime as an 'emergency' appointment with Ken's consultant. I doubt I will move her to get things going the way I want them to go but at least I can start to sew the seeds of my deep disatisfaction with it all. Better close now.
xxxx TinaT