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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

aibu to report my parents

133 replies

scentedgeranium · 01/08/2020 08:06

Have name changed. I'm going to try to describe a difficult and ongoing situation which even as I play it though in my head sounds unbelievable. My dad has a triple whammy - loss of mobility, continence and vascular dementia. He is 84, mum is a fit 79. He is being cared for at home by mum with the help more recently of some live in carers who in fact live in a neighbouring property (mum didn't want them in her home all the time). She has done this under pressure from me I think. In fact I found both carers. The first one (hired private through an ad) was sacked, the second one thankfully comes from a reputable company where notice has to be given on both sides. She will not assent to having the right equipment int he home to look after dad, who needs lifting and transferring, not hauling around. He cannot hold his own weight at all. The care company who have supplied the very capable carer are insisting that mum gets a hoist for upstairs for dad to get him from wheelchair to bed. She is refusing. The company will now (reasonably I think) in all likelihood withdraw the carer because conditions aren't safe.
Dad has been hauled around for months now. I hear him in pain and distress. Mum rules the roost and controls dad, and seems to be lying to the carer, saying oh yes we'll sort it. I feel this will come to a head over the next few days though when the carer finally says no, I'm not allowed to do this because its not safe to me or my client. Which will leave mum yet again on her own hauling dad around in distress.
So the question is beyond telling her (which I have, time and time again) that this isn't right, and my poor confused, distressed dad needs proper gentle care, what can I do? Can I call their GP and ask for anonymity. It would blow the family apart if it was revealed it was me who busted her. And while that doesn't bother me right now it would have wider ramifications.
And to be clear this isn't a job for me either. One I really don't want to, and two, I don't think I'd be able to. I would rather spend my time being a lovely daughter to dad than a frazzled carer.
I'm sorry if I end up drip feeding. I'm not sleeping for worrying about dad. Sage advice please from anyone who has been in a similar awful situation.

OP posts:
WaterOffADucksCrack · 02/08/2020 10:00

I'm a carer and think it's disgraceful the care company haven't reported this and that the carer has gone along with working without the needed equipment. Didn't the care company do an assessment?!

scentedgeranium · 02/08/2020 10:47

Victory.
Of sorts.
She has agreed to a sarasteady (which is the minimum asked for) on condition that 'other junk' ie an extra wheelchair and commode upstairs are removed. This is fine since they are only there because there is no sarasteady.
It's about control isn't it.
So as long as it's not too late when we speak to carer and comp au tomorrow all should be welll

OP posts:
CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 02/08/2020 11:11

Great news op, best wishes

scentedgeranium · 02/08/2020 11:16

Ha! Anything could go wrong in next 24 hours! Falling S out with carer and company, a change of mind....
But fir now I've averted disaster. Watch this space and thanks all. I hate that this is my longest ever thread! None of the fun and happy ones ever took off like this one.
Life, eh?

OP posts:
genteelwoman · 02/08/2020 11:50

I'm a carer and think it's disgraceful the care company haven't reported this and that the carer has gone along with working without the needed equipment. Didn't the care company do an assessment?!

You are absolutely right. My friend is a carer and often told me these stories and said after her training when she first started she would refuse to work with unsafe conditions (which this situation is), but it punished the client, got her labelled as problematic and lost her pay. Now she just gets on with it but knows she will he vilified by both the family and company if anything were to go wrong -the same people who would kick up a fuss if she removed.

I think it is disgusting how many people are failing your dad and the carer but aware of the situation.

genteelwoman · 02/08/2020 11:50

Shouldn't have been allowed to continue longer than a day

Shizzlestix · 02/08/2020 13:03

Shouldn't have been allowed to continue longer than a day

How do you propose the OP does more given her mum digs in her heels whenever the OP tries to help?

genteelwoman · 02/08/2020 13:12

Not OP. The company who is aware of the situation and shouldn't be putting her father or their client at risk. They have an obligation to keep both safe. OP is doing her absolute best in the circumstances.

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