More Tears Of Sadness And Joy

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Did anyone see the TV Panorama -Elderly Care programme this evening, telling how an elderly lady was placed in a supposedly good care home in Kentish Town London by her daughter, who after several weeks of her Mother being in this home became very concerned at seeing bruising on her Mothers arms and body, and set up a video camera in the room that revealed the uncaring staff, and in particular the physical assault by one male staff member who was caught manhandling this Dementia Arthritic 81 yr old, pushing and dragging this lady about in her bed and slapping her at least Six times.
The good news is that this man was jailed for Eighteen months and, Four other female staff were sacked, and the best news of all is this lady concerned is now much happier in a new home.
Let's hope there are some good homes around, although we are not preparing to put our names down for any.
It was stated by some idiot on the programme that setting up video cameras is not a good idea. ... I don't think I dream't that bit

[ROBERT M.]

I didn't see the programme L&H, but they did show a preview on the 6 o'clock news .............I think the world is going mad

It was stated by some idiot on the programme that setting up video cameras is not a good idea. ... I don't think I dream't that bit

Yes L&H that person is an utter idiot..............after all the purpose of CCTV cameras are to catch other idiots in society, so having a video camera in the room to catch wrong doing is just the same as having CCTV cameras to catch wrong doing outside.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes it is Robert, and that lady's daughter is to be congratulated for having the guts to set that camera up and saved her Mother from any further abuse.
Maybe other potential abusers in homes will think twice before they act now.

[karl]

I did not see the programme L & H but the woman was quite right to set up a video camera.

The people who work in these homes should have the temperament to deal with difficult patients. Eighteen months is not long enough for the cowardly
b*****d, someone should have slapped him around for awhile and see how he liked it!

As it is, these homes don't forget to charge.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

That describes him perfectly Kal. Key in ...Panorama Elderly Care and you will see Fiona Phillips' reaction and a video of this vile abuser.

[karl]

L & H I just watched this online, what harrowing viewing it made.

Without sounding racist, not one of the carers and I use that term loosely were British. All they did was complain about their wages, if they don't want to do the job nobody is forcing them but you do not take out your frustrations on the patients.

The lady in question was pushed and pulled like a slab of meat, there was not one ounce of compassion for her and typical of the care home to whitewash the problem. The manager should also have been given the sack.

People put their trust in these homes to have their loved one's looked after properly, you could see the difference when the lady was in a new home she did look much happier.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

I agree with what you say Karl, and I have read pages of comments on this programme, and the disgust that people feel about the so called care in some of these homes has resulted in one lady who has worked for 26 years in this profession is so disillusioned with staff around her who cant speak the language, can't utter a word of good morning or hello to the residents, have no obvious skills in caring, but will clock up hours under the sun with no feelings of shame when they take their wages. She is about to resign.
There are also comments from some Philipinos workers who consider themselves caring people and are equally disgusted with what has happened and like us believe that this case is the tip of the iceberg.

[karl]

What amazes me L&H is how do they get the jobs when they can't speak English. Would we get jobs in their countries without speaking their language? I don't think so.

It's a shame for the decent care workers who DO care. I know it's not an easy job but it's the one they chose!

[john]

I didn't see the programme, but I did see something mentioned on the news at lunchtime. Just awful.

[Marian]

I didn't see the programme either, just the news clips.
At Peter's nursing home for his mother there were different staff each time we visited, twice a week. even those in charge. Many were not able to speak English though the Philippine nurses were always caring and did what they could for the residents. This meant there was no continuity for the patients and their relatives were unable to ask about their relatives as there was never who knew anything about them.
Peter mum ended up with a broken thigh which we never were unable who has caused.
On the other hand, I have worked in a care home and I have been spit full in the face by in resident for no reason, and have been attacked by a resident weilding a walking frame, among others!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes, I'm sure working in these care homes can often be far from easy Marian with residents who can often be difficult due to their mental state, and not just frailty and old age, that's why families have placed them in a home when they can't continue to cope with them themselves. This help comes at a cost, this is what the residents and their families are paying for, and with the astronomical costs they are having to pay they should not hope, but should know that the carers are fully trained to do this job and deal with any situation that occurs and remembering respect at the same time.

[hpooch]

What you have stated about Rest Homes above are the reasons my 102 year old Mom stays at home with 24 hour caregivers that we
carefully screen. The Extended Care Facilities and Boarding Homes here in California are very expensive and very poorly run even though
they are supposedly inspected regularly. She just had a mild stroke last week and cannot use a walker & is confined to a wheelchair and
needs to have all her food pureed and has to be hand-fed. We feel it is better for my Mom to live at home in her last few years on earth.

[Marian]

I guess like everything, if you can afford to pay for the better homes then you get better treatment, but that shouldn't be. Peter's 93 year old aunt is in a good home but her house has had to be sold to pay the fees that are over £1000 a week, plus extras like hairdressing on top!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Well done to you Eman. Your Mom is a lucky lady to have a family who are so genuinely concerned about her care. If only this were possible for all the elderley.
My Aunt passed away 13 years ago at the age of 94. She was in a Royal British Legion home in Taunton Somerset, the home they call their flagship.
She was standard bearer for many years at her local branch and helped to raise money for the charity in so many ways, but money is the bottom line when it comes to care, and she was paying £700 a week, and like Peters aunt, was paying for all extras like hairdressing, chiropody etc, but the home was newly built in beautiful grounds and the staff were wonderful, and they never knew when we were going to visit, but everything was always to our satisfaction, and to add to all that thankfully we, and my Aunt could understand everything that the staff were saying

[karl]

A relatiive of mine had to put her mother in a home and sell her mum's home to pay for it, the house was to have been her legacy - by the time her mother passed away there was nothing left.

Imagine paying £7000 a week then having to pay for extras.