Those who have been on TP a while will know that I have a very high opinion of the care home where my Jan has lived since 2001.
It may be instructive to know that even very good homes make mistakes.
This morning I had a phone call to let me know that Jan was receiving treatment for severe sunburn.
Apparently yesterday all residents were taken into the gardens of the home in the afternoon.
Jan was not properly looked after during that time and was left in the sun, unprotected.
This is hugely distressing because she cannot communicate to tell her carers that she is hot/cold/uncomfortable/anything.
Further, she can't move herself at all and relies on her carers to do that for her.
So, please be aware that residents of care homes may accidentally be over-exposed to the sun during the summer. It may be that they are initially placed in shade and then the sun moves and they are exposed that way.
The home manager and staff were mortified that this had happened and I have spoken to all of them to ensure that Jan and the other residents will never be put in such danger again.
I have also taken a photograph of Jan's face, which looks like she has gone 3 rounds with Mike Tyson as it is very swollen. I am giving the pictures to the home to be used for training purposes so that staff can see the effects of carelessness on their part.
Jan was always able to take massive exposure to the sun. It may be that her medications have made her susceptible to damage these days, or maybe her dementias have weakened her system in that regard as well as in every other.
It may be instructive to know that even very good homes make mistakes.
This morning I had a phone call to let me know that Jan was receiving treatment for severe sunburn.
Apparently yesterday all residents were taken into the gardens of the home in the afternoon.
Jan was not properly looked after during that time and was left in the sun, unprotected.
This is hugely distressing because she cannot communicate to tell her carers that she is hot/cold/uncomfortable/anything.
Further, she can't move herself at all and relies on her carers to do that for her.
So, please be aware that residents of care homes may accidentally be over-exposed to the sun during the summer. It may be that they are initially placed in shade and then the sun moves and they are exposed that way.
The home manager and staff were mortified that this had happened and I have spoken to all of them to ensure that Jan and the other residents will never be put in such danger again.
I have also taken a photograph of Jan's face, which looks like she has gone 3 rounds with Mike Tyson as it is very swollen. I am giving the pictures to the home to be used for training purposes so that staff can see the effects of carelessness on their part.
Jan was always able to take massive exposure to the sun. It may be that her medications have made her susceptible to damage these days, or maybe her dementias have weakened her system in that regard as well as in every other.