Supported Living Complex stopped residents from leaving their flats

[LudoBear]

My godmother is 76 and lives in a Supported Living Complex. This means she has her own flat which she is responsible for. She pays rent, pays all the bills etc. The whole Complex is owned by a housing association. Originally it was just regular flats for anybody over the age of 55. An extension was built which added another 30 flats. The new flats are for people who require some form of care to help them to live independently. It is not a care home. It is no different to a care company visiting people in their homes to provide some care like to help to wash, cook meals, remind to take medication etc. There is an on site care company who provide care to those who need it.

My godmother lives in the old part part has done for 15 years. She receives no care whatsoever.

The manager of the care company decided to follow the rules of care homes and would not allow visitors in including would not allow anybody to leave their flats (none have any form of outside space). They couldn't go out and do any shopping. They were basically forced to stay in their flats. Once we came out of the first lockdown they were allowed to go out but were not allowed visitors in.

My godmother has no family so I would order her food online and somebody from the care company would take the delivery to her flat to her.

Access to the flats are through a set of doors which the manager kept locked. The only way out of the building other other that door is through fire doors which are alarmed.

Sorry this is long but wondering if this was acceptable or even legal? These people all have capacity to make their own decisions. During lockdowns we were allowed one hours exercise daily. These residents were not allowed to!

Godmothers health has gone downhill. She was an independent lady who was out and about every single day.

I met up with her today for the first time since last summer and was shocked by her appearance. She has lost loads of weight, her skin is sallow, she had no make up on (she wouldn't even put the bins out without make up on before), and she was a bit whiffy so her personal hygiene has gone downhill too.

[smallandimperfectlyformed]

I can't imagine that being legal but am not in any way legally qualified to answer. Morally though that is despicable! Your poor godmother and those other residents. I am so sorry that they all experienced that

[UnitedRoad]

I don’t know anything about the legal side, but this is disgusting!

I’ve got an active elderly uncle and his partner in one of these establishments, and I know this isn’t the case there as my cousin (his son) visited last week.

My mother in law moved into the same sort of thing yesterday, and husband is there right now helping her unpack and setting up her tv etc. When he gets gone I’ll ask him if anything was said.

[UnitedRoad]

I’m really horrified by this

[billy1966]

That is absolutely shocking.

[Blacktothepink]

That’s outrageous! Get on to Councillors and MP.

[Wishitsnows]

Totally unacceptable. You should go to the dailymail with this! What would this person who made up this rule have done if she did go out?

[Akire]

Please take this further. How is this different from me having to walk in communal areas to get to my own flat? No visitors would be mixing. Sure the media would be interested in this.

[Moondust001]

I'm waiting for someone to say that Covid trumps human rights.

I heard a similar thing from a friend in Yorkshire, about her aunts supported living going down the same route. But they complained at the time, and told the HA in no uncertain terms that they had no right to prevent someone leaving their own home, and that they would be taken to court if they attempted the impose the rule. So the rule disappeared.

[CurbsideProphet]

Organisational abuse?
Adult Social Care could also be a good avenue to go down.
What an upsetting thing to read, never mind witness first-hand.

[Tulips2019]

I would suggest speaking to the local council adult social care team and asking if this is a deprivation of Liberty (DoLs).

[FoolsAssassin]

That is awful. When my Mum was in a care home they got a Deprivation of Liberty (DOLs) and explained this was needed to be able to stop my Mum from wandering off which with her Dementia was important.

Really don’t think what has happened to your Godmother is legal. My ex neighbour is in assisted living and been free to come and go as you would expect.

[Akire]

Shelagh Forgarty on LBC radio talks about care home and residential & covid least twice a week. She could be worth an email or a tweet. She has strong voice against stupid rules and denying of basic rights.

[Toddlerteaplease]

A friend of mine was also not allowed to leave his retirement village. Even though he lives in a self contained flat. He got very depressed as he's very sociable.

[flower11]

It's not legal look up deprivation of liberties dols. You really need to take this further and complain. Raise it with adult social care as a safeguarding issue. They should take it very seriously

[HuaShan]

Raise a Safeguarding for her with Social Services, this is institutional abuse

[Cassandraprobs]

Definitely doesn't sound at all right or legal. Not allowing visitors in is fine imo (apart from emergencies) but the residents should be allowed to go in and out!

[Doveyouknow]

It's not legal, it's deprivation of liberty and it should not be happening. Aside from that it's horrific and I can't believe no one complained (or just used the fire escape)

[HemanOrSheRa]

It's not legal. They would need to apply for DoLs for every resident. I'm a sheltered housing warden, so sounds similar, though your Auntie's complex maybe very sheltered/extra care? We did lock any on site community rooms to prevent people gathering in large numbers. As per government and PHE advice. But otherwise we posted notices in communal areas like laundries, lifts etc advising one household at a time.

[LudoBear]

Thank you. I feel awful that I've only just found out the full extent of what's going on. I knew that she hadn't been allowed to visit her friend flats and all communal areas were locked but I hadn't realised she wasn't allowed out. She is hard of hearing and it's difficult to speak with her on the phone but she's good at texting but for some reason she didn't tell us what was going on. If I'd known I would have had her move in with me. I will email the manager to find out the exact rules and if they are as my godmother states then I will be raising it with the care company head office.

[CurbsideProphet]

@LudoBear I would go straight to the company head office and adult social care. If you tip off the manager of the complex they may make tracks to cover themselves.

[MercyBooth]

Jesus this is disgusting. Have you made any headway today?

[Toddlerteaplease]

I wondered how they got away with it under the DOL rules. Especially as my friend has patio doors so doesn't even need to go into any communal areas.

[SeaShoreGalore]

WTF?! Did some of them not try to go out and then call the police or something if not allowed?

[Embracelife]

There would have been DOLS assessment if was legitimate
Go to adult social care,aNd ask for the records

[dangermouseisace]

They had no right to do this. Call your grans local adult social services help desk, they need to know.