Carer Neglect

[magic1309]

Feeling really frustrated and angry , my mum spent 4 months in hospital had a bleed in the brain , but is now at home and gets carers in 4 times a day. Her meds a in a dosset and the carers deal with the meds. The problem is it was arranged every 4 hours to fit in with the meds but are turning up at the wrong times , sometimes I have to give them or she doesn't get them . I've spoken to managers to try and resolve but wasting my time. I am now going to inform her g.p. about my concerns. Even although it's mainly paracetamol apparently should only be given 4 - 6 hourly.

[sassy59]

Hello magic, you just want the best for your mum especially after all she’s been through. Paracetamol can be given 4 hourly but no more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

It’s difficult having to rely on others to administer medication so l would reiterate your concerns to the manager.

I wish your dear mum well and hope things improve soon. Xxxx

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Magic1309 and thank you for your post. As Sassy has mentioned, you just want the best for your mum. It would be a good idea to discuss your concerns again with the manager and see if you can all agree on times when carers can visit. It is a good idea to discuss your concerns with your mum's GP.

The following website maybe helpful to you:

moneyadviceservice.org.uk/e...

Are any other members able to help Magic1309, please?

Thank you and best wishes.

[Hidden]

Hi magic1309,

I also agree with sassy59 that all you want is the best for your mum, and understandably you get frustrated and upset when services fall short of her needs and your expectations. It’s an annoyance to have to keep reiterating your concerns to her Carers’ managers, but that’s what I recommend doing. Make yourself a nuisance to them so that it’s easier for them to comply with her schedule than having to keep dealing with you!

It shouldn’t be that way, but often it’s the only thing that gets the result you’re looking for.

But regardless, I hope that your mum will be comfortable and will feel a little better soon. Very best wishes to you both.

[Lynd]

They are well aware they are falling short. They have staffing problems and you suffer for it. Good luck with it all. X

[Hellebelle]

Hi, we had similar problems with dad's care. The carers would turn up at different times to the ones they had agreed and did not do the duties they had agreed. In the end, we had to get in touch with Adult Social Care who found us another agency. We had to make a fuss I am afraid. If seems the only way to get things done nowadays unfortunately. There is a crisis in home care, it isn't being properly monitored and there is a shortage of good carers

Again, I am afraid if is another example of a failed privatisation. The private companies take money from the public purse and quite often do not provide a good service. There is also an ombudsman you can.complain to.if you don't get any joy.

I am so sorry you and your poor mum are having to endure this situation and hope you get it resolved.

[Shirley474]

I am a Carer and the Company I work for is giving us special training in Medication....in all fairness for the wages we get and the responsibilities we have to undertake is getting ridiculous more and more Carers are leaving the profession leaving Companies short staffed and then that's when all the problems start ...I have great sympathy for you but it is not easy when Carers phone in sick and calls have to be covered at the last minute . More money needs to be pumped into the Industry then things might begin to look up .....

[Hidden]

Hi Shirley474,

It must be really frustrating for you, working in this arena, to hear so much negativity about the levels of care that are provided by professional carers.

I completely agree about the financial side of things being an issue, including the poorness of pay, given what a responsible and demanding job you all have to do.

The whole thing is in a serious mess, as there seems to have been no forward planning on the part of governments to a rising older population which needs much more care, and right now, very little time being given to how to solve the problem because it definitely needs much more than just money.

But I hope that you don't feel too downhearted and defeated when you read the comments here. It's a very hard situations on both sides, and it's often the only relief some home carers have, to vent here at the shortcomings.

We know it's not your personal fault and that so many professional carers are stretched beyond belief. I just hope that one of these days soon, someone in the higher echelons of government will waken up and realise that we can't leave things grinding along as they are.

But until they do, very best wishes to you, and I hope you'll keep on doing what you do, as you are, of course, desperately needed.

[lell1]

Hi magic

As I was saying to a friend the other day, the service providers don't seem to take on board the details of the care plan! Any medications have a half life. This means that with e.g. Paracetamol, when you take the second dose, the first dose is halfway through the system and will therefore be less effective. For this reason, we take more paracetamol after 4 hours to 'top up'. So, if we take tablets too early we are reducing long term effectiveness. If we take tablets later than the half life, the first dose is no longer effective, so the second dose becomes the first dose? I hope this hasn't confused you magic? Basically, a 4 or 6 hour dose is when the first dose is at peak performance and will need the top up.

[magic1309]

Hi again everyone , thanks for all your replys it's good to speak to others and get their opinions. After digesting some of it here is some more information. I was a warden in sheltered housing so I do have some experience in this field . I have no issues with the carers who do a great job , it's the service I'm disappointed with mainly with the medication. Don't get me wrong as pointed out it must be a logistical nightmare for them , but where meds are concerned at certain times , obviously the system isn't working , then they need to look at it more , bearing in mind the National Care Standards.