To think that one rotten care home is not the only one ...

[Wuldric]

Story about Orchid View here.

My Great Aunt is in a care home. It is her third, and the best one. The other two were dreadful. Her clothes get muddled, they don't come when she rings to go to the loo, the food is diabolical, one of the nurses is born again and insists on trying to convert her, her room is pokey ... Fortunately at the age of 97 she is still compos mentis, is continent and doesn't need medication. But if she were incontinent, she would be left wet/dirty. For sure. If she needed medicating, they would get the dosage wrong. If she had dementia, no-one would even know ...

This stuff goes on day after day. It's not just one care home. It's all of them. It is a scandal and a disgrace.

The trouble is that even asking around/reviews can be inaccurate. For example, I could contemplate friends and relatives going into Mill House Care Home in Witney, and Hope House in Cambridge. But in the latter, my good experience was years ago, and in the first, my opinion is only really based on one half day. Both could have changed.

I had one aunt in a care home, cousin visited and asked how long had her face been dropped, she had had a stroke and nobody noticed

Second aunt I visited and asked nurse if she had checked her as her breathing seemed ragged to me. Nurse said she was fine when she checked . Ambulance called, aunt died in hospital shortly after. Now that might have happened anyway but I'd have felt reassured if the qualified nurse in charge had noticed her illness rather than me

My Mum spent a couple of months in a CH though has gained capacity and is home with live in carers. She has said that when the time comes she wants to go back.

It is run by a charitable trust and the manager has been there for 20 years. I looked at 9 and felt relief when we went there. It is a bit shabby round the edges but doesn't smell. We were shown a few rooms when we looked. We were also offered to talk to the families of residents if we wanted to . There is a 'Friends of' association for people to join.

Mum went in quite a bad state. She improved a lot with proper medication, food and hydration and admits she really enjoyed the social aspect whilst there so her SW is referring her to the Day Center to make sure she doesn't become socially isolated. Obviously I can't know for certain what goes on behind closed doors but I think the fact she does want to go back at some point is very encouraging.

This really worries me. I am thinking of applying for a job in a care home but how much caring to you get to do?