To think you can't just leave somebody without a carer?

[Mixedupworld]

I have a carer twice a day to help me with personal care. My carer was due 7.30am. If they are running late I get a phone call to say so. By 8 I'd not heard anything so I rang the company. I was told they couldn't find out what was going on until the office opened at 8.30. I rang again 8.30 and after a bit of back and forth it turns out my usual morning carer needs to self isolate due to possibly being in contact with somebody who has coronavirus. Ok so when will I expect somebody to come out to me? I was told there is nobody else, they are short staffed and nobody will be coming until my bedtime call at 8.30pm.

I'm paraplegic, can't move from my waist down. I can probably get myself out of bed but then I'm stuck in my night clothes all day. I can change and wash my top half but can't do my bottom half. I have chronic back pain in my upper back so it will take me a long time to get up and dressed. I work from home but have 3 zoom meetings today. I'm CEV so can't have anybody other than my carers in to my apartment. If I can't get out of bed then other than half a packet of biscuits and enough water in my flask for one more cup of tea, I have no food or drink all day.

I'm fuming

Phone them back and email as well. That isn't acceptable.

I agree with all previous posters re phoning back the office as well as local authorities and cqc. However I would also add that these should be followed up by email. This is a safeguarding issue and therefore ensure you have all concerns written down and a copy of all correspondence kept for yourself. I’m sorry, I’m aware that doesn’t solve your immediate problem and I hope that is resolved quickly but it may prevent a recurrence in the future.

I would definitely call back and demand your call asap. The manager and senior staff will be trained and as such will have to attend the call themselves if they have no other option. Your call is clearly a priority and as such if someone has to miss a call it should not be you!

Hope you get it sorted

How awful. Do you have a neighbour who can pop around and help with some basics today while you sort this out? x

I am so sorry for what you're going through, and I very much hope you get the help you need soon.

I think this is the kind of situation that needs to be highlighted when people are complaining about the lockdown etc. It's not just about whether they'll be okay themselves if they get it. Clearly your carer couldn't come to see you because they might pass it to you - but as a result, you're left in an unsafe situation without care.

The more people get covid, the more breaks in the care chain there are, not just in the NHS, but also at-home care and many other sectors of help that people rely on.

THIS is why we're doing what we're doing, and why we need to get this horrible virus under control. The people who complain about it might be fine if millions of people get it due to no restrictions, but there are knock-on effects that they're very lucky not to have to consider.

Thanks everyone. After phoning care company and social services I've had emergency care. Not entirely sure who it was that came out but she was lovely and I'm now washed dressed and had one of my meetings. I've never felt so disregarded as a human being as I have today and I will be looking for a new care company. I've had carers for 12 years and not once have I experienced this.

OP . I'm speechless with anger at what you went through.

@Floralnomad

Yes it’s unacceptable but they can’t just magic a spare carer out of thin air and if they send someone else’s to you what does that person do . This is not an unusual occurrence unfortunately.

Then they need to not overload their staff so much so that if one person or even 2 people go off sick everyone else has capacity to pick up one or 2 extra visits and share the sick person's workloads even if it means some appts are late.

Instead they will maximise profit by running everything to the wire.

I'm appalled for you, OP. I would kick up as much fuss as you can with as many people as possible. Wholly unacceptable and shameful.

As someone else said, if it's an urgent care need, the managers get in the car and come out themselves, or phone and tell you when someone will be available which is usually 30 min to 1 hour late if they have to find someone at short notice. Usually care agencies have roving staff who are prepared to work in different places as well as regular staff and they pull everyone and anyone in if care has to be provided.

So relieved for you, OP.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, it really is unacceptable.

Glad you got sorted OP, I think you definitely need to feed back how it all made you feel to the relevant people. The way it was all handled was appalling. But second to that at least you know what to do to resolve things if it happens again

Take care.

Unacceptable, but to be expected I guess.
Carers can have valid last minute reasons not to come to work, covid/isolation but also car accidents, childcare emergency, etc. The agency I imagine can then call a bank of temp workers but if none of them is available what are they supposed to do?
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it is fine, but that you should be prepared for it to happen, don't you have a family member of friend who could come by in such cases?

Ah just saw your update - I'm glad it is sorted :)

I'm surprised and overwhelmed at the response I've received from you all.

Yes, CEV is clinically extremely vulnerable to covid. If I got covid I'm at a higher risk of death as I have other medical problems (spleen removal, type 1 diabetes). I'm terrified of getting covid.

I pay for my care myself. I could get it free but I am in a position to pay for it myself so have chosen to as it gives me more options. I have been with this care company since September last year and have had no problems at all but I will be looking for another company. The company I used before went above and beyond and I was with them for 6 years until they sold up. I didn't like the company they sold to. Its horrible having to start again with a new care company but I have to know that my care will be given. As I have no feeling below my waist its essential I am washed twice daily to prevent any sores (I wouldn't be able to feel them starting). I'm only 33, I will need this sort of care for life. I need to be able to trust that the care I need will be given.

So sorry this happened to you today, OP. I hope you can find a company you can trust.

Glad you got the care you needed this morning OP. You sound amazing, so much going on and up and working today. I've been mooching all day and no excuse whatsoever!

Have you looked at independent lives? you can employ a small team of carers directly, it can work really well for some people.

@UmmH

I wonder at the 4% who think the OP is being unreasonable

Ah the pull yourself together brigade. Such wonderful specimens of humanity.

I am a community carer op and this is wholly unacceptable. They should have a plan B where the most vulnerable individuals are covered before say someone who can wait a bit longer who are not vulnerable. It is a safeguarding and they need to be reported for it .No way on earth would it ever happen with us .We can't find someone just doesn't cut it they have a contract to provide you with care and they didn't. Leaving you in bed in pain and with no food and water this isn't acceptable .I would be looking for a new agency and reporting them to safe guarding and cqc.

I’m a community carer.
Our company sometimes (especially at the moment) has to go into a thing called contingency planning.
When we sign people up they get given a number based on need. So a low need would be 5 and a high need would be 1.
If we are short staffed people in 1/2/3 get their calls, even if they get a little less time they will get a carer but will get a phone call with time changes.
People in 4/5 will get a call if a carer is available of if not no.
People in cat 1 are people who cannot get themselves out of bed, can’t get food themselves and can’t medicate themselves.
People in 4/5 can do pretty much everything, just need a little assistance! Or they can’t do anything but they live with family.
With our company if you live on your own you would defo be a cat 1, 2 at a push.

Ignoring all that tho someone should have phoned you. It’s just basic manners! Especially if your paying for your care and it’s not funded, they earn more off you!

Glad it is sorted OP. I was thinking about a friend helping Apart from being unacceptable as the care company should have stepped up i realise that apart from the food they would probably not have the skills or PPE beyond a mask.

This type of thing is the reason that makes it harder to keep a job if you have a disability.

My evening carer promised me that my morning care has been covered so I won't have any problems. However they are are an hour late so far. I have just rang up and been told "somebody will be with you soon".