Mum hurt in Care Home
Hi J.J.
Firstly,let me say how sorry I am that your Mum is in a Care Home because of Alzheimers. You haven`t said how old she is, but I am guessing she is probably over 70?
My mother is in a nursing home. She has been there for about 4 months, following her assessment in a mental hospital for the elderly for about 6 months.
When she was in hospital and since she has been in the nursing home, she has had more than one "scrape". Very often, the staff cant (or wont?) say how it happened. She had only been there a week when she had a big plaster on her knee and they told me they found her with a strip of skin hanging down from her leg. Their explanation was that it can happen easily from just a knock when their skin is so thin because of their age. I found it rather hard to believe because it had never happened when she was in hospital.
I am sure that you are right that a lot of "residents" are left un-attended at various lengths of time. As you say, they are understaffed and unfortunately, I am convinced this is the case with all care and nursing homes and hospitals.
Everyone knows (or maybe not?!) what a hard job the staff have to do and that they probably get paid peanuts for it, which is why there are never enough staff and also why you will see an increase in foreign workers, because they will work for less.
To coin a cliche`, I`m afraid I have to blame the government for not providing 1) enough care homes (though most are privately run these days) and 2) don't have enough regulations and inspections for the same.
This means that any care home is overpopulated, understaffed and many grotty places that you wouldn`t wish to put your worst enemy in.!
I also think that there are not enough care homes that are in-between a care home and nursing home - ie if you need constant care, but are only in the first stages of alzheimers, you shouldnt have to share your home with people who are in the more progressed or last stages - which can not only be stressful for the resident but very depressing for the relative/visitor to see how their loved one is going to end up.!
If I had the money, I would buy several properties in the UK and have them staffed sufficiently and make them lovely places to live - whether or not you are aware of your surroundings.! Sadly it is not to be....
Sorry, will get off my soapbox now......... I wish you and your Mum all the best and I am just glad to see that my lovely old Mum is still underneath the illness, and cherish each moment I spend with her until she has no need for me at all anymore....
Try and stay positive and anytime you need a chat, contact me on this site...........
Take care.
Jilly