to expect a care home to change a dirty bed

[guffaw]

visited someone in a 'care' home today, at 9am. day staff come on duty at 7.30am. person I was visiting was in the lounge, staff took me and her to her own room for private visit, her bed was wet and soiled , her en-suite loo was also smeared in excrement. the staff covered her soiled sheets over with the duvet - when I challenged this they said if I didn't see them clean up her mess in front of her it would protect her dignity, they would clean up when I left - I'm aghast.

That's awful and really really sad . I don't blame you - I am a domicilliary carer and if found that would clean it up straight away! Why wouldn't you? Can you make a complaint?

9am is still early, and as there is alot of other residence that probably need washing feeding changing ect that would be the priority.

No doubt the bed would have been changed when the staff had the time.

Hmm.

I worked in care for 14 years (had a nervous breakdown due to how shit it was).

They're talking crap. Report it to the manager.

I can only assume they were busy cleaning up the person you were visiting and then serving breakfast. Mornings are terribly busy in these places. So many people to get up in time for breakfast, get meds, get showered, get dressed etc. But still quite odd that they covered it with a duvet instead of just asking you to leave the room while they made it fit for visitors.

Were you aware (because it might not have been immediately obvious) if she also needed cleaning and bathing, herself?

the home is a very small one, (9 other short term residents, all in step-down beds after leaving hospital, and before returning home) it is not fully occupied, all the others are more independent, make their own beds, and help themselves to breakfast buffet, - breakfast was over at 9am when I got there. The person I was visiting is the only one who is incontinent, who needs extra support, and who was admitted there for this extra support, on a respite basis. I know this because when the person's admission was planned,,the manager explained they would have to order a clinical waste bin for the incontinence pads

I have reported to the manager, and she knows I'm expecting feedback when she has 'looked in to it'

A lot of nursing homes will get everyone up, washed, dressed, give breakfast & meds then possibly staff break before they go round stripping & making beds.

yes, 9am is perhaps still early, but to cover over a soiled bed to 'protect someone's dignity', rather than just ask me to wait while they removed the soiled sheets? I dont find that acceptable.

it is not a nursing home, the people there dont have to be washed,dressed, and given breakfast, they are more independent.

maybe I abu, but I would not expect a staff break to be taken before 9am, when they only come on duty at 7.30am, and someone's care (in this case changing a soiled bed) has not been completed.

Of course YANBU. A soiled bed should be changed the MOMENT it is noticed. I would complain heavily.