AIBU to put complaint in about carers? Aunt now in hospital with 50% chance.

[PhoebeFluffingtonFyffe]

I started this thread last week

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5508722-caring-for-elderly-aunt-who-hides-health-problems-and-wont-speak-up?reply=151320727

There has been a very upsetting development.

I just got home 2.40 am after being at the hospital with my aunt from 9pm when she was taken in whilst I was at work. She has necrotising fasciitis and has just had an operation to take away a hell of a lot of basically rotting flesh. She's had this for over two weeks but we didn't find out what it was until now, thinking it was a pressure sore until Saturday morning.

The day after I posted this I went to intercept the district nurse who was visiting her that morning to make sure she told her about the 'pressure sore'. I arrived when the morning carer was there. Neither my brother nor I have been there at the same time as the carer. I noticed the carer was giving her a strip wash using the same bowl that has been used for washing up. This has been going on since September, every morning. The same flannel used over and over and left on the radiator (which isn't switched on). I only just found this out.

She injects herself in her side with insulin, and if mucky water and scruffy flannels are used then the infection and bacteria could have got into her system through an injection site.

The carer told me that she was concerned about the pressure sore and I said that is why I was there. The district nurse came and I made my aunt show her. She cleaned it, took a swab, took some photos and dressed it saying she would send the swab to the clinic and we would get results by Monday.

Saturday morning my aunt texted my brother saying the dressing had come off, the wound was weeping and it smelled horrible. The carer had already contacted the district nurse. The nurse didn't turn up, my brother cleaned it and put on a new dressing.

He went to her house today. I got a message at work (I'd planned to go to see her on the way home) to say he had called 111 and they had taken her in and he was following. Just before I finished work he messaged to say that the surgeon had said what it was and she was going into theatre that evening. I managed to get there before she did, and we waited around for the outcome. It seemed to have gone as well as possible. Still a long way to go and things can still go very wrong though.

She had a hospital check up two weeks ago and she said she had a swelling on her hip. They just looked at it and measured it. Wouldn't you think they would have raised concerns then?

We are very upset and very furious.

WWYD? The carers have been strip washing and dressing her for months. Nobody has noticed this - I cannot believe it.

The care sounds horrific, I would definitely complain about the use of what must be a very smelly flannel and dirty bowl.

It sounds like your aunts quality of life is very poor, what lifestyle will she be able to have on discharge? Will she still be at home alone?

Please don’t have her sat on an electric blanket - she needs proper pressure relieving equipment

Thanks for that I will look at that. @FasterMichelin My brother has been at her house over the Easter break (as well as visiting her in hospital) making the house more appropriate for her needs. She won't be home for two or three weeks we don't think - we will have time to put care in place. We will NOT be returning to the original agency.

Any suggestions or ideas much welcome.

She's due an operation on her eyes for cataracts on 20th April but that might have to be postponed. She was found to also have a very bad infection in both ears and a burst eardrum that she's being treated for and her hearing is improving.

She'll be having physio starting this week to get her mobile again. She is adamant she wants to be at home and not in a care home. If the operation improves her sight to be able to prepare food then she will have a better quality of life - but we can't judge that just yet.

Forticreme protein yoghurts are pricy and better to be got on prescription for that reason, but can be a lifesaver.

We always used Lipton's Peach Tea for hydration - 300ml every morning, oh, if you can get her to sip from a plastic straw that is a big deal, very helpful, I found it a lifesaver with my mum.

If she is walking (I can't remember the details) then soft furnishings are helpful in case of a fall, it's better to use the arm of a sofa etc for support to move around rather than a hard table etc or anything which if you fall on can do damage in terms of hitting your head. Even a soft rather than hard waste basket can help.

Commode by bed, again it's the nocturnal walk to the loo that can be treacherous.

Someone on this site recommends those sensor lights that can edge around a skirting board or something, they come on when you need to go somewhere. We never used them but they seem okay.

A hospital bag for any next visits, with useful items inc framed photo of the patient, preferably recent to make a point.