General Chat

I had attempted to watch the programme on BBC1 I ended up turning it off.....it was too much for me :-(

My Mum had a wonderful team of home carers for about six years, they were initally part of social services and then were contracted to a care agency.

They provided care, dignity and a kind word not only to Mum but my Sister and I and our children who were younger at the time. One even loaned me a christening gown for my youngest Son.

Mum died seven years ago but i still think fondly of her care team.

Teresa

This latest is in the paper today, the person doing the abusing has gone to prison, The elderly lady's daughter installed a digital clock that was actually a camera which took videos. She was appalled to see him hitting her mother. He should not even have been in her room as she requested female carers only and that was what they said was happening. Four female carers were sacked as well.

Sometimes, when the carers come to my old dad in the mornings, I wake up and wonder why I wasn't invited to the party.

I have nothing but praise for our carers and they have done me one or two favours too.

Because I do like to show my appreciation and because the old man likes to look like Lord Bountiful looking after his women,we have a basket of chocolate on the side for them. We always give them Christmas presents too, not big ones. It seems we are the only ones who bother.

It is a grim job for lousy pay and must be very frustrating when you don't feel appreciated.

Another episode on TV (Panorama) this evening of a Care Home elderly resident being abused by so-called carers.

Lessons learnt? Doesn't seem so!

I'm not looking forward to growing old.

I find the carers that come out to mum in the mornings are great alwys chatty and nice BUT They do wake me up sometimes lol

I agree with a lot of what has already been said on here. It's disgusting to hear of elderly or handicapped people being abused. Another point which I realised about care homes recently, is that some carers are being paid such low wages. I'm not saying that people should be lured into such jobs by tip-top wages and, of course, most of the people who work with the elderly or mentally ill do have a vocation and therefore aren't out to make a profit - but let's have a bit of FAIR DO'S please! These carers are doing responsibile jobs after all. I honestly think that if these kind, devoted, carers were paid a more decent wage, there would be more carers to go round. At present carers (like nurses) are really over-worked and are not being fairly paid for all the marvellous work they do. There! Now I'm sure some of you will agree with what I've said, but who should we be addressing our complaints to instead of discussing it among ourselves?

I think this kind of abuse is dreadfully sad. A lot of elderly people are afraid to say anything, in case they are considered a nuisance, and how awful it must be for those who have no one to visit, whether because they have no relatives or because their relatives don't care. These people must feel totally abandoned. What a terrible way to end your days. I hope I never end up like that.

Jim, I think you have a very good point there.

I work in sheltered housing so i am not a carer.I know all the carerers that come into our building and they are dedicated.If i have an elderly person that come cant out for coffee morning,i take the coffee to them. If anyone is not up to scratch and cant come into the dinning area for dinner i will take them, there dinner or collect them and return them in a wheelchair.The ones that cant get out at all i always go into for a 10 minute chat as i may be all they will see that day.They all tell me this is careing.I find this to be human.I have worked on a neuro centre where the majority was agency staff and i think that is where the problem lies. Annie

I am a Trustee of a Charity down here which looks after vulnerable people. We look after young people, people with learning disabilities, mental health problems and dual diagnosis, all in domestic environments. We have a refuge for women fleeing domestic violence, and we do home repairs for the elderly. As a Board we are committed to helping each individual to move forward, at their own pace, and all our Staff are fully trained and well supervised. We have a whistle-blowing policy, and an easy-access complaints and grievances procedure. I can guarantee that anyone abusing one of our service users will be dealt with swiftly and firmly. If only all Care Homes etc were Charitable instead of Commercial.

Hi everyone it's a sick old world out there, it is going on all over the world!!! here in Australia there has been a case in Victoria of a 93 year old with dementia being raped in a nursing home by a male nurse, two co workers saw him but didn't report it.It was only found out when it was shown on the internet. My grandmother was in that nursing home during those years 1990's but she would have given them a whack with her walking stick (she didn't have dementia) very sick people, won't call them animals.

Did you see the secret footage on the News this evening? I was near to tears for that little old lady. How dare they, the b*stards.

I was a care assistant in a nursing home for over 7 years and there were some good carers there, there are so many wonderful cares but the old few give them all a bad reputation. I have seen the case on the news and find the case disturbing and disgusting.

David, Very true! To be honest it really was a huge strain on my Mother, It was a very bad part of her life, very trying. I really dont know if I could have done it, I hope I could if it was needed , but never say never I say.

It's so sad when people in the caring profession abuse or neglect people in their care but this is a minority & shouldn't put people off placing family in care if that's what's needed. the best thing we can do is to visit often and keep an eye on our relative's well-being. Not many of us want to put relatives in homes but there isn't always a choice - the level of care needed is often beyond the family and so many of the children of the oldest generation themselves aren't young and able enough to look after their loved ones full time, especially when they're suffering from the sorts of dementias that cause them to be violent or aggressive.

Hi Harry, Its so very sad, who knows what they will be like,I for one dont know, I hope i dont have to suffer at the hands of people like this. My grandmother had Alzheimers but luckily my mother took care of her until she died, it really upsets me when I hear of this. Roxanne x

Julie, The test is would he be happy to put you in the home where he works if the need arose? My aunt and cousin both said they would never put my nan in the home they work at, instead they said they would move in with her rather than see nan lose her dignatty in a home. Sadly we lost nan last year so it will not become an issue now. LT

Quoted this before Roxanne but it depressed me an awful lot, although pretty much a nothing in a wider world. When my mother was in a nursing home an old man kept ringing the bell to go to the toilet. No-one came and eventually a puddle appeared. This produced a 'carer' 'you dirty old bugger' she said. Probably worse went on in the days of Bedlam, but the above was a disgusting little episode from which fate I will hopefully be spared. Happy days

I know there are alot of very good carers, with compassion and lots of patience,I just find it so very sad that some of these people can be in these jobs that should not. Roxanne