The CMA must widen its investigation into care homes

My 25 year old step-granddaughter who had a learning disability was placed in a respite home in 2016 which was supposed to be a temporary measure but which lasted 12 months. This home’s website advertised that all rooms were en-suite. In fact, no rooms were en-suite. It had been inspected whilst our granddaughter lived there, by the CQC and was found to be “in need of improvement”, and in breach of its licence by having 7 residents when licenced for 5. In fact in the whole 12 months nothing improved. There was no lock on our granddaughters bedroom door and she had her possessions stolen on more than 1 occassion and she had no privacy. There were only 2 bathrooms which were shared by both sexes. I of the bathrooms was out of action for several weeks. Our granddaughter was poorly fed, dirty and unkempt and we had to remove her back to our care as we had no faith in the home’s ability to care for her adequately after her major surgery. I complained to the CQC but they said they only make recommendations and it was up to the Local Authority to take action. As far as I am aware, the local authority took no action and the home remained in breach of its licence for several months after the inspection. Thus flouting any recommendations by the Inspectors.

This story above doesn’t sound good. But I can only report good experiences when my mother lived in a home for the last 6 years of her life. Despite deteriorating quickly with dementia in her last 3 years (she died at 96) we thought the staff were excellent with her. No doubt there may have been times when not everything was 100% perfect but she became extremely challenging in her behaviour and on the whole we felt the staff did really well with her. And she wasn’t the most difficult! The staff had some very difficult old people to contend with.
The example given of payment of fees 2 weeks after a family member had died I thought was pedantic. Personally I would have accepted 2 weeks. I wouldn’t have accepted much longer and certainly no longer than a month. There must be a reasonable middle ground. I guess these periods must be defined in the original agreement but its often something that isn’t top of the list to clarify; I know we didn’t and we didn’t know what the final bill would be when Mum died. All I can remember is that it all seemed reasonable to us.

When my mother decided it was time for her to go into a retirement home, she was 90 at the time, we looked around at a few places. I would point out that this was in Australia. We looked at a few private places but found that their costs were inflated to the extreme and also that the homes that were closed down by the government were the privately run retirement homes.
Our local council ran a ‘ not for profit’ home provided for the local residents. My mother decided to enrol in this home. It is called Amaroo Gardens. It was taken over by another not for profit business and the care given literally doubled overnight. Excellent conditions and care.
The initial cost for this was A$ 175,000 which was put into trust for the upkeep of the home, i.e.: gardens, building maintenance. $7500 was taken on a yearly basis from the money in the trust fund. The costs for my mother on a weekly basis was taken from her pension. Her pension also included a living away from home allowance, so her pension on a fortnightly basis was a bit over A$840. Only a monthly basis, after all daily/ weekly costs were deducted, my mother still had approximately A$200 a month left in her pension account.
The care given at Amaroo was excellent and nothing was a problem. Their activities were all voluntary on a daily basis and this give the retirement home a brilliant ‘vibe’ that you could feel when you walked into the home. My mother was in the dementia ward even though she was not that badly affected, unlike some of them. The dementia section had 14 rooms for this type of resident. The main building had 80 rooms for the normal resident, and it also had 4 outside units for married couples. It was a large complex.
When my mother passed away after 4 years in Amaroo Gardens I received a rebate from the initial trust fund of A$ 155,000. Needless to say, there is a large waiting list for enrolment into this retirement home. The company that owns and runs the home has four other businesses built on the same methods and procedures. They are audited twice a year and get very good results from these audits. Many private homes do not get the results that Amaroo Gardens does.
It’s unfortunate that there is no similar setup here in the U.K. Amaroo Gardens is subsidised by the government to offset some operating costs. The private homes receive no government funding or subsidies because of the inflated costs of the business.
Perhaps this has been a bit long winded but it will give you an idea of how a respectable and recommended retirement home should be run.

Regards
G Norman Taylor.
Lasswade, Mid Lothian.

My sister was in a care home from October 2015 to April 2016 when she died suddenly and unexpectedly. We were not told her condition had deteriorated until I received a call saying she had died. Her care was unacceptable – she was a big lady with severe mobility issues. She did not have toilet facilities in her room and often didn’t manage to get to the toilet without having an accident. Staff were told to monitor her hourly but this was never done and she ended up with unexplained bruising to her head. She deteriorated rapidly in the home and if we had had a choice she would never have been placed there. Quality of staff left a lot to be desired but I understand that wages are low so maybe won’t attract the best available which should definitely be addressed. Other staff were exemplary but only worked on alternate days so care was hit and miss

i used to work in care homes as a proper carer i loved the service users but some of the staff really did not care it would really upset me someting drastically needs to be done if it wasnt for their generation our generation would not be here

My little Poodle is a Pets As Therapy dog. This means that we go into care homes for the elderly. In North Devon we went into five. Now we live in Plymouth we go into one large one which is enough for the dog as she herself is elderly. I have only seen good practice by the care staff in all of these homes and the majority of residents all seem happy. These homes are open to suggestions and are happy places.

I have had experience of a care home in Watford, Herts. about 15 years ago where my mother-in-law went that unfortunately was not so good. Some care staff practiced bedroom bullying as well as admin staff not notifying relatives when a resident become very ill. I knew one very good staff member at this home who left because of the poor practices there. This home was taken over by BUPA and although there were improvements, care for the dying was not so good. The staff did not seem to have proper knowledge in this area. (I have qualifications in Social Care and Death and Dying so feel able to make objective comments)

My aunt had a fall broke her collarbone was in hospital a week then moved to a step down bed in a Bupa care home the NHS used.
From day one I had to complain about the care they gave her she was very unsteady on her feet broken collarbone and she was supposed to be taken to the bathroom by two carers that was ignored and I caught them trying to make her get there unaided by using a Zimmer frame in terrible pain.
She started wetting the bed which was so out of character I pointed all this out to staff who weren’t interested I requested a doctor saw her but was told he was on holiday back next week so I asked if medical needs stopped if a doctor on leave and was told it was not my concern, three days later I went with the intention of taking her to A and E myself when miraculously a doctor appeared took one look at her and called the ambulance within 48 hours she died. I feel so much like I let her down. The system is failing and needs funding now to sort the problem private companies are only interested in profit for owners/shareholders I’m sure we could bring it all back in public ownership even if it means a penny on income tax let’s give proper humane care to all.

My partner works in a private care home. The poor pay, excessive hours and understaffing mean a high turnover of staff. The residents suffer because of this. Managers are not willing to address staffing problems as it would affect their bottom line. Until there is legislation in place to secure a minimum level of staffing, nothing will change.

People who need to be in care are still people not just objects that pay care workers wages . They all have needs, sometimes just a chat , sometimes intensive medical care but whatever they need it should be given with respect , dignity and a caring manner. In most cases they will have worked all their lives, paid their taxes for the benefit of all, it is now their turn to benefit and I am sure that given the choice they would much rather be at home and independent but sometimes life does not work out that way. Please respect and care for them

Care for people with dementia demonstrates an unjust society. Not only are they the victims of such a terrible disease which they and their families have to live with but they are taxed 3 times for the privilege; firstly through their tax and NI contributions (which is fair for everyone) but secondly through having to pay for their disease though astronomic care home costs, and thirdly the higher charges people with over £23K have to pay compared to ‘council paid for’ people. Cancer sufferers do not have to pay to cover their illness but dementia sufferers do (I had a parent die of each). People are being taxed on their type of illness. I would happily pay more tax in the pound to ensure that everyone gets full societal support.

I looked after my Dad for 14 years. Waltham Forest was inadequate and I took them to court. I’m glad I looked after Dad but appreciate not everyone was in my position to do so.
I had the backing of the brilliant Dr E Singer and Barbara out fantastic district nurse so without them I would not have had any back up.
Change it now care for those who can’t care for themselves.
Stop the abuse and neglect of vulnerable people.
Best of luck for this campaign but I doubt this government will listen, they are leaving vulnerable people without money for6 weeks regarding Universal Credit change over so how can they pay carers ?
With you all the way.

It is long overdue a Government faced up to the task of properly funding the social care world. Millions pay their taxes all their lives, only to have their homes taken and all their savings ransacked by local council’s social care departments to pay money hungry care homes, many of which do everything but care.
Our elderly deserve dignity, respect and above all proper, high quality care.
It is time covering care costs was taken out of the political realm and funded at source by national insurance, so everyone can receive the same level of care regardless of wealth or status.

Hello All, apart from bringing up a large family, I worked in nursing homes of all kinds during my years of 31 to 55. I enjoyed it so very much, felt it was a privilege, I was trained thoroughly and everything was immaculate for patients and staff. I then trained in Complementary practices and now at the age of 77 years, I still take an interest in the needs of others. I am appalled at the conditions and apathy I hear of. Sincerely, Margaret.

Not so long ago, and forever etched in my memory, the family decided to care for my mother-in-law in her own home and it just about broke us! (She suffered from dementia.) Care/nursing homes play a vital role in caring for the wellbeing of those who can no longer care for themselves or whose families cannot do so. Devon has recently suffered the closure of local community hospitals. This fact has put extra pressure on the large A&E Dept hospitals – our nearest is just over 30 miles away – and on all our local care homes. More are needed and they need to be real places of care staffed by well trained, compassionate, well paid professional staff! There are many first rate homes in the area, thank goodness, but there are not enough for an ageing population like ours. Yes, action is most definitely required – as it is to reverse these dreadful decisions to axe local Westcountry community hospitals!

My dear late Mum was transferred to respite care following a spell in hospital being treated for a urine infection. On one occasion when I visited, she was downstairs in the lounge and I wanted to leave but the staff had to open the door. I rang the bell and because the staff were upstairs, they did not come for at least 15 minutes. Imagine if this had been an emergency.
In the same place, my Mum had a fall on a Saturday evening, the night the clocks went back. The staff asked if she could wiggle her toes and she did so they told her she hadn’t broken her hip. The next morning, they made her get out of bed and walk to the sink to wash. I was not informed and only found out when I went to visit her the next day in the evening and was surprised to find her in bed. It was unlike her to complain but she had had a dreadful night and had requested pain killers. With the clocks going back she had to endure a further hour of pain. The staff said they wouldn’t call an ambulance or doctor as ‘her case was not familiar’ and would get the doctor on the Monday morning. How I wish I had called for an ambulance on the Sunday night but Mum was never one to ‘rock the boat’ and said let them get the doctor on the Monday as she didn’t want to cause any fuss.
I rang her social worker first thing on the Monday morning and asked her to make sure the doctor was called. He came at 1pm and immediately called for an ambulance. It turned out she had broken her pelvis.
We made an official complaint to the Local Authority who ran the home and this was upheld. 9 years later, I still feel angry at how she was treated and am glad the place has shut down to be replaced with housing.
I have shared this story for her sake. She was 84 years old at the time and died peacefully 4 months later in another Local Authority home where the care was fantastic, completely opposite to the other place.

My mother recently passed away after 3 weeks in a local nursing care home. The care and attention she received was outstanding and the staff were very kind, helpful and supportive to her and to our family, and explained everything to us clearly. They were backed up by weekly visits from her local GP, the community nurses, and a Macmillan nurse. It made the whole process of her death a gentle and natural experience. Id like to see all care homes match these standards, and for this to be the rule rather than the exception.

I think that the family should get paid to look after a relative who needs care at home because the best place in my opinion is with the family. This is the best option. Honestly, many families would be able to look after their sick relatives at home if they were paid half of the price charged by care homes.

The second best option is to give a subsidy to pay for a carer to look after the patient in their own homes, in cases where a relative is not able to do so.

Going into care is the worst option, but is unfortunately sometimes unavoidable.

The care should be part of the NHS and provided free of charge. No ones chooses to get ill, in the same way no one chooses to be disabled and in need of care. We might all need to pay a little bit more tax or national insurance contributions to achieve this and reach old age with dignity. However, fewer people would need to go into care if more herbalists, naturopathic doctors, and homeopaths, were employed in the NHS as a first line of approach before people are put on pharmaceutical medications, often for life, with serious side effects.