Carehomes

[Carol19578]

Would like to know how people find care homes as from my experience some people who work in care are just not nice people,and elderly people are being either put at risk or neglected, Although I know there are some good carers ,care homes seem very clicky and bullying from staff members point of view,Thanks in advance look forward to seeing others perspectives.

My gran was in a care home for around 10 years. It was a fantastic place, she really fell on her feet. The staff were lovely and nothing was too much trouble. When she was falling ill before she died the chef would come in every morning and offer to cook her anything she liked if she'd eat it.

When I used to go and visit us they'd set us up our own room to have lunch together. The chef used to make me jam roly poly as I was her granddaughter even though I was a married adult 😂

When she was admitted to hospital and it was obv she was going to die, even though she needed to go into a nursing home, w care home offered to have her back and do whatever needed so she could die there. Sadly the doctor wouldn't allow it.

The care home staff came to her funeral.

Care homes get bad press but I can't speak highly enough of my grans. Any issues were always quickly resolved, it is truly a lovely place

Look at the cqc rating you can look this up online
Go there to see it at a busy time such as meals and visiting. Speak to other visitors and relatives to see what they think.
You will get a good feel for it over a few visits, ask for activities, how they do care plans and any other questions which may feel important.

Who are you looking for a care home for op?

There are lovely care homes, alright care homes and less good care homes just as there are lovely cafes, alright cafes and less good cafes.
There are care homes for different groups of people, different preferences in terms of environment and different budgets.
You can’t simply say all care homes are bad. Most aren’t. Some have French conversation classes and book clubs with piano recitals whilst others have trips to the garden centre and have fish and chips on the beach.

They vary wildly, from excellent to dreadful.
Are you looking to place a relative, or work in one?

I have worked in care for many years and have worked in homes that are rated good or outstanding but that rating is based on when they are doing the inspections as staff we are told they are due and are very prepared and bad loud staff will often go and do laundry for example instead of care,I have worked with staff who are very nice to families faces and attend every funeral but they sent all doing for the right reason they know that more often than not families will praise them via letter email to management,but you won't see them put in the effort with resident who has no family friends the good carers do that job.

I have had first hand experience of what you are describing op. A lot of care homes do have staff that are not caring. I worked in one particular home that the staff were so neglectful and bullying I left, they even bullied me. Residents were supposed to be toileted before lunch and dinner and then again afterwards, but they were mostly left sitting with wet pads on in soaking clothes while they had their lunch because the staff pretended they'd done it. After evening meal it was a conveyor belt of putting residents to bed and some were honestly put to bed at 6pm. That's not how I want to end my days. It makes me so sad.

I briefly worked in one many years ago and I made my choice there and then that I could never allow my parents to go into those places.
Some may not have an option.
But from my own personal experience the caring profession is certainly not what it used to be

My MIL is in a wonderful care home. Her previous carer that looked after in her own home hated care homes (she'd worked in a few) but thought this one was brilliant when I took her to visit. I visit at various times on various days and they've always got activities or guests performing. I can take my dog to visit without letting them know. They're just so relaxed and friendly.

I worked in a care home for 2 years and was horribly bullied lies were spread about me and staff blamed their mistakes on me even when I wasn’t working! Generally the staff were great with the residents although they had there favorites and were very annoyed and tired when it involved the aggressive or pressistant bell ringers.

We had one constant bell ringer who was at risk of falls that sort of fell into a boy who cried wolf situation who fell and her eye popped out and wasn’t seen to for 15 min or possibly longer...tbh we did have way too many residents who required two staff members.

The staff who worked the longest were the worst you had to do things their way even though you had more recent training, the seniors at my place were just as bad and it was super clickey. The two seniors were related to the to other staff on night and day it was horrible.

Really ruined my mental health working there, after going in after a mc one staff member put one born ever minute on I almost wanted to die it was so upsetting. I was constantly told how I was so Terrible at my job despite my tutor saying I did really well and followed correct procedures. I think she contacted Cqc about them.

I worked in care for a few years, nights, days, EMI, nursing and residential. One very good home run by an ex forces nurse, and two poor ones run by big companies.
I had to get out in the end, even from the good place. There's so much that the average person doesn't see or know about the system. Social services under so much pressure to find placement for hospital 'bed blockers' that people are often placed inappropriately, not getting the care they need and impacting on other residents care. Care staff that don't have the appropriate training, resources or support to do the job they're supposed to, and yes some staff that don't care. The cqc needs to stop arsing about with looking at the paperwork and the box ticking exercises and start looking at the care. One place I worked had the best paperwork I've ever seen - excellent and thorough care plans - all complete fiction, but it kept the cqc happy. Staff are too scared to tell the truth most of the time because they'll be out of a job, residents worried they'll be 'punished' and families that their loved one will be homeless if they complain/tell the truth.
I was sacked for whistleblowing on a manager, luckily I had absolute proof and that one went right to an NMC hearing. But that's rare in the care business - and that word is another big issue of mine 'business'.
Business is run to make a profit, owners and companies push for higher profits at the expense of the people who are paying for care, staff aren't trained, supported or paid properly. Short staffing is rife, lack of equipment a problem and quality of food. Care shouldn't be a money making scheme because it shifts the focus to how much profit is to be had instead of the people. Care should be non profit.

All of above are mirror of my experiences it is so heart breaking especially when you are a good carer bad staff always come out on top even families don't appear to see it .Thank you all for sharing.