Care companies handing back contracts

In fact she used to call me as she couldnt get supervisors to respond or if she did they would get snotty with her for keep ringing..she would ask my advice fortunately I have trained in dispensing and pharmacy for many years and could help explain MAR charts and Dosette boxes.

downtoearth, words actually fail me, particularly as I guess this is not an isolated case. I feel so sorry for your niece(?) What a horrible experience for her. Medication for us was always administered from a blister pack made up by the Chemist or from a pill box, the pills having been put into appropriate days/times by the District Nurse on a weekly basis. Later, we did have medication training but again, a senior care worker sorted any pill boxes so that the care worker could administer pills at the appropriate time with confidence.
15 mins is hardly time to write your notes, never mind make a light snack, and wash up, and do any other small jobs. How ridiculous to expect anyone to perform any task apart from checking a clients security, and maybe remind about pills or supervise, and perhaps turn the bed down!
I couldn't have worked like this as it would have been a completely unacceptable way to treat the elderly and carers alike

We are all obviously agreed that the current situation is not working and is going to get worse, but blaming the private care providers is not the answer. As I pointed out previously, they are handing back contracts as they just don't add up financially, and I would be very surprised indeed if any are making a huge profit from this necessary service. Training is essential, not just for the staff, but for the clients receiving the care, but training costs money. Even a couple of weeks of training is wages paid to a new staff member which cannot be charge, and there is no guarantee that after expensive training, sorting out references, DBS checks etc., that the newly trained staff member will not just quit and go to another employer who will be delighted to employ a ready to go staff member. The blame is being laid at the wrong doors, it is not the fault of the overworked, harassed carers, it is not the fault of the care agency trying to provide a service and not make a loss, and it is not even the fault of the local authority who have had to outsource the provision of care. It is without any doubt in my mind, the fault of central government with their race to the bottom, their desperate slashing of budgets. Maybe if more care agencies fail, or refuse to take on local authority contracts, maybe, just maybe, notice will be taken.

It is without any doubt in my mind, the fault of central government with their race to the bottom

Totally agree with you GillT57 it should be the responsibility of central government to pay for elderly care. It definitely shouldn't be down to Local Governments who are forced to put council taxes up in order to pay for the increases necessary. More and more companies will refuse (or be forced to hand back) contracts if they are unable to cover their ever increasing costs.

My Grandaughter * niggly* am her legal guardian since age of 4

Apologies dte. I totally agree with what's been said, and the future for home care does look bleak indeed. Heaven only knows where it will all end, I dread to think!

dd this is a bit of a late reply, but not for profit charities are run like a business. They employ careers etc, and pay them the going rate. The difference is that the shareholders do not take the cream off the top the money is entirely used for the charitable activities.

ww I know most of them do, but I do know of some charities which employ volunteers. I wasn't sure which sort you meant.

I think that the growing care industry ( horrid word, sorry) is far too important, far too embroiled in legislation regarding training, drug dispensing, client handling etc., to be left to charities or even to not for profit organisations. The point is that the carer providers cannot charge enough to cover their costs, it is not a matter of not paying shareholders. I admit there is a place for volunteers providing companionship, lunch clubs etc., but this is a very different area of provision from hands on caring and getting people toileted, ready for bed, meals prepared. The bottom line is that there is an ever increasing need for care services, and it needs to be properly funded.