Communicating with Care Homes and Care Agencies

[Lynn-Osborne]

When a loved one moves into receiving formal care it can often feel like the a family member is being sidelined. How do you open and maintain the lines of communication with care homes and care agencies caring for your loved ones so you continue to be involved?

[Hidden]

It is easier said than than done. So many care homes run mostly with agency staff so there is little continuity. My mother's care home is one of the best in the area but so often I go in and find that obvious things haven't been done. A friend visits her husband daily but often finds him still in bed even in the afternoon. Because he is 'peg fed' they don't usually bother to take him to the dining room at mealtimes even though he really enjoys having real meals. She went in the other day, he was in bed, his curtains were still drawn, no tv or radio. The staff said he hadn't wanted to get up. He called me to ask if he could get up and told his wife the same. She complained to the manager who said it would be sorted out. It has happened again since and he had been in to no meals today. You can talk to them all you want, they pretend that they are listening but nothing changes.

[Lynn-Osborne in reply to Hidden]

This saddens me to hear such stories and frustrating.

Do they have residents family meetings as a group ? This can at times be another way to get the message across and you don't feel so isolated raising issues

Fill in feedback forms they may have around the home. You can also give anonymous feedback on CQC website

Regarding the gentlemen being Peg fed I would encourage a full review with the care home and possibly social worker if one is involved.

Either way it is a constant battle and takes enormous energy when having to keep on reminding people.