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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why thatcher was at the ritz

146 replies

Lockedout434 · 09/04/2013 07:38

I understood that she was very ill with alzimers and had been suffering since 2000 ish. Was she living there or had she been taken out by someone.

Anyone any ideas?

OP posts:
LadyKinbote · 09/04/2013 07:44

Sky News said she'd been there since Jan. Very interesting place to be in these times of austerity!

twofingerstoGideon · 09/04/2013 07:45

Because her Belgravia home was too downmarket for her?

Meglet · 09/04/2013 07:53

I wondered that too.

Probably because there was no way she could go into a regular nursing home due to security issues but it could all be set up at The Ritz.

Snazzynewyear · 09/04/2013 07:53

Little said to explain this but one of the news channels yesterday referred to her staying there long term 'because it was easier to care for her there' whatever that means.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 09/04/2013 08:08

Hmm

The only thing I feel any warmth towards her is regarding her illness.

But how lucky for her to be cared for at the Ritz with a private nurse.

Original poster
Lockedout434 · 09/04/2013 08:13

Strange though

OP posts:
Feminine · 09/04/2013 08:17

I'm sure she is not the only one who has done this. Confused

She was ill in her last days.

Yes, she could afford it. Like plenty of others I presume?

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 09/04/2013 08:22

Lots of rich people do it....the Savoy and the Ritz are favourite places for people to spend their twilight years.

They have a suite of room, lots of staff...perfect for the elderly and infirm. It's in town...close to the action.

hf128219 · 09/04/2013 08:23

Her choice. It may not that been more costly than a private care home.

NotTreadingGrapes · 09/04/2013 08:24

I expect if she'd died on an NHS geriatric ward everyone would be moaning about her using state resources....

somethingscary · 09/04/2013 08:25

According to one report, the owners invited her, so presumably it was free of charge.

SophiaTheFirst · 09/04/2013 08:25

They said that when she last came out of hospital her carers felt her 4 storey town house was no longer practical and they went to the Ritz. Management said they were happy for her to stay long term so she made her suite her home.

yousankmybattleship · 09/04/2013 08:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

melika · 09/04/2013 08:26

I heard the Barclay brothers own the Ritz and they allowed her to stay. I think it is sad that she probably didn't get many family visitors because of her alzheimers.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 09/04/2013 08:26

NotTreading

no - I'd like her to experience that. Hope she would be lucky enough to be cared for by people with enough time and empathy to treat her as an individual

You know, all the things she was so good at

sandyballs · 09/04/2013 08:28

Would be interesting to know what the weekly cost was. My mum pays £900 per week in a private care home. She also has Alzheimer's.

charlieandlola · 09/04/2013 08:31

Because she needed 24 hr nursing care, and she was too much of a security risk to place her in a nursing home. Her bedrooms at home were too small for a hospital bed and medical accoutrements, plus needed bedrooms for her carers. £20-30k a month hotel bills plus 24 hr nursing would have been small change to her

BMW6 · 09/04/2013 08:47

My DH heard on Radio that she had been invited to stay at Ritz by owners as their guest (for free)

Tiredandhot · 09/04/2013 08:51

She was staying free as a friend of the owners, the Barclays brothers, who are mired in controversy over their ongoing tax status. Indeed the Ritz itself has paid no corporation tax for almost 20 years via (legal) tax avoidance schemes.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 09/04/2013 08:52

Tired

It gets better.

ajandjjmum · 09/04/2013 08:53

Her home was impractical as she was so ill. I've only heard/read gossip that she stayed for free, not sure that it's true. She didn't have masses of money as she didn't personally capitalise on her position - quite a rarity in politicians today! However, Dennis had a successful career, so she was probably 'comfortable'.

Moominsarehippos · 09/04/2013 08:58

Radio said it was because it was more 'practical'. I suppose she was quite frail but she did seem to be having guests and meetings so I suppose a suite would be easier in that situation.

So she couldn't manage the stairs? She should have sold up and got a granny flat and paid out of her own pocket for full time care. Like my mum had to. My mum who had until recently paid for my grandmother to be in a nursing home

BlackAffronted · 09/04/2013 09:00

A suite at the Ritz is £810 a night.

thebody · 09/04/2013 09:01

I imagine security issues.

ChocsAwayInMyGob · 09/04/2013 09:27

I think it is sad that she probably didn't get many family visitors because of her alzheimers.

Lots of guessing here. We don't know that she didn't get many visitors. Apparently her daughter is devoted to her.