Mum mum went into a care home 7 years ago. She had a visual impairment, was diabetic and at that time, angina attacks. She had previously lived in a warden control home. Carers came in several times a day as mum could not see what she was cooking / eating, and was not taking her medications, but this was not enough.
The first five years were fine. Mum developed compression fractures in her spine, and has had morphine patches for some time, which masked other conditions which were not picked up.
The care home manager said if we were not happy with her care to move her, but Social Services would not allow this, and wanted us to work with the care home, despite several alerts to Safeguarding. I could have red flagged the home last year in a meeting with Sageguarding ( which was as a result of a referral from the Social Worker after mum incurred a serious head injury, that they were not aware of) but the care was improving slightly and we knew mum would not survive a move.
So seven years care home costs costing several hundred thousand pounds, and just over a week ago she was admitted to hospital with jaundice. A scan highlighted a mass which they say is cancer. She is now in a hospice and we can’t rate their care highly enough, but we looking at mum passing away sooner rather than later.
I could quote a whole list of failings about the care home, however it gets good reviews and people think it is one of the better care home!
You should not have to visit daily to check on things, but we have been doing this for some time.
Comments from the seniors have included “so that is why she is yellow” when we told them about the jaundice. Another “her urine is dark because she does nor drink enough” but we now know it was the cancerous mass preventing the toxins from the liver not draining.
My experience is don’t put someone in a care home. You are far better to give up work and care for them yourself, and get support in the community. At least that way you will be happy that they are being looked after.