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Original poster

What to do about future of care in the UK?

186 replies

Flawedperfection · 13/03/2022 12:24

I just wrote a v long post which I lost due to phone battery fading!

In a nutshell, what do we do when there are no longer any carers or anyone willing/able to care for our elderly and those in need of support?

I currently work for a care provider in a finance/admin role and it’s scary how: understaffed we and many other care providers in the area are; few people want to actually work in care and ;few younger people want to do it, and will only do so if threatened by sanctions etc.

In my company, most carers are aged between mid-40s and late 50s.

I previously worked in care on and off for much of my working life partly because (not going to lie) I couldn’t find anything else and was over or under qualified for other career paths. I know it’s crap in many ways: the pay, the hours and working conditions and the personal care is not for the squeamish (this was my issue!), but how do you get people to want to work in care?

Seriously, what do we do when the numbers fail to tally: many people in need, too few carers? Do people go off to hospitals long stay? But we also have a nursing recruitment crisis…

And before anyone suggests that I rejoin the carer ranks, as said I’ve done it before (for years), and it wasn’t for me. That’s kind of my point- no one really wants to do it!

OP posts:
D1ngledanglers · 14/03/2022 16:03

@Alexandra2001
Absolutely! They'll be recruited to fill a gap in the short term ( much like slaughter men for Xmas) without much thought to the longer term!
There's been a crisis in care for many years & will be for many more!

Polyanthus2 · 14/03/2022 16:20

We need this we need that but WE won't pay for it - that's the bottom line.
The dementia tax meant the Conservatives lost seats due to the electorate wanting to hang on to their money, and give it to their families not give it to the gov to fund care.

Alexandra2001 · 14/03/2022 17:51

[quote D1ngledanglers]@Alexandra2001
Absolutely! They'll be recruited to fill a gap in the short term ( much like slaughter men for Xmas) without much thought to the longer term!
There's been a crisis in care for many years & will be for many more![/quote]
mmmm not sure traumatised refugees are a great addition to the care workforce, many have family and partners fighting in Kyiv etc

It will be a tremendous worry for them but you re spot on, too much short term thinking.

Heartofglass12345 · 14/03/2022 18:27

It needs to be better paid with a higher standard of education required, at least an nvq or equivalent in health and social care as the bare minimum, and minimum staffing levels need to be increased. Probably never going to happen though Sad

Blossomtoes · 14/03/2022 18:30

@DockOTheBay

Also unpopular opinion but make assisted suicide legal and allow people to sign to say they want AS if they get to a certain stage of e.g. dementia
This. It’s the obvious thing to do.
Satsumaeater · 14/03/2022 19:53

We need the NI increase to go ahead to fund care and healthcare but it seems that reducing taxes is more important (and I do understand that the cost of living is increasing at a scary rate, but we need to fund care and healthcare too).

Satsumaeater · 14/03/2022 19:54

Also unpopular opinion but make assisted suicide legal and allow people to sign to say they want AS if they get to a certain stage of e.g. dementia

My mother is in her early 80s and totally agrees with you. Her biggest fear is dementia (I don't think she will get it, but you never know, the longer you live the more likely it is).

Original poster
Flawedperfection · 14/03/2022 21:38

You’re not wrong, @Satsumaeater

OP posts:
LethargeMarg · 14/03/2022 21:43

It's not just elderly care either. Learning disabilities care is also in dire straits and this is a very complex area where often there can be very challenging behaviour and needs a very specific skill set and a lot of resilience to work in .

Original poster
Flawedperfection · 14/03/2022 21:53

Hi @LethargeMarg, LDs is the main area I worked in when I worked delivering care. It was so rewarding at times, but got really fed up of being hit, spat at, kicked, head butted and scratched.

The funding can be hit and miss- it was pretty good where I worked (for a charity), but is indeed awful in some places. And they find it hard to retain staff, possibly more so than in elderly care.

OP posts:
Papertyger · 14/03/2022 21:56

Assisted dying for those that want it.too many terminal il elderly are being forced too die slow painful deaths without dignity. .. wake up! It's nasty!

Terminal ill people who don't even know who they are, vulnerable, bodies breaking down on them, impossible to move because they don't understand, no hope of memory returning or body? Why??

It's horrid for them, it's painful and emotional for all the family, it's a massive monumental drain on our services.
. who is benefitting?

Who?
Allow people have the knowledge of what may become of them and allows them to chose When they want to go!!

Papertyger · 14/03/2022 21:59

I've worked in this area I've never met anyone who thinks keeping an elderly vulnerable person alive in those states is kind.

It's barbarism.

They are so vulnerable!

LethargeMarg · 14/03/2022 22:05

@Flawedperfection

Hi *@LethargeMarg*, LDs is the main area I worked in when I worked delivering care. It was so rewarding at times, but got really fed up of being hit, spat at, kicked, head butted and scratched.

The funding can be hit and miss- it was pretty good where I worked (for a charity), but is indeed awful in some places. And they find it hard to retain staff, possibly more so than in elderly care.

Yes it's quite relentless at times and also where I work. I think definitely more challenging than elderly care in terms of needing to cope with aggression and injury.
ralanne · 15/03/2022 09:29

Improve pay and conditions. We're going to have to.

ralanne · 15/03/2022 09:32

I wouldn't want anyone doing personal care for me under duress. They have to want to be there. But there are so many barriers for people that are willing and able to do this amazing, beautiful work. You only get paid for the hours you are at a house, not paid for travel in between etc etc. if it was well-remunerated and respected then people would do it.

ralanne · 15/03/2022 09:36

And I don't agree with slaughtering people because they require help. We should be able to care for people, keep them comfortable, preserve their dignity in the last days of their lives, and not hurry them up because it's inconvenience for us.

Blossomtoes · 15/03/2022 09:53

@ralanne

And I don't agree with slaughtering people because they require help. We should be able to care for people, keep them comfortable, preserve their dignity in the last days of their lives, and not hurry them up because it's inconvenience for us.
A huge number of us would choose to be “hurried up” and are taking steps to try and set it up. Not for anyone’s convenience but because we value quality of life over quantity. I don’t want to be kept alive just because it’s possible.
ralanne · 15/03/2022 10:08

There's a difference between refusing interventions and allowing nature to take its course, which is possible just now, and assisted suicide, which was being presented as an answer to the staff shortages in elderly care.

Blossomtoes · 15/03/2022 10:12

@ralanne

There's a difference between refusing interventions and allowing nature to take its course, which is possible just now, and assisted suicide, which was being presented as an answer to the staff shortages in elderly care.
I know. That’s why I want assisted suicide made legal.
ralanne · 15/03/2022 10:15

Because you fear that you will not be cared for kindly? Because of fear of pain?

Blossomtoes · 15/03/2022 10:16

@ralanne

Because you fear that you will not be cared for kindly? Because of fear of pain?
No. Because I don’t want a life with no quality. Life’s more than just having a heartbeat.
ralanne · 15/03/2022 10:24

Nonetheless, I'm sure you wouldn't want this to be carried out because of staff shortages. There are other solutions.

LethargeMarg · 15/03/2022 10:29

@ralanne

There's a difference between refusing interventions and allowing nature to take its course, which is possible just now, and assisted suicide, which was being presented as an answer to the staff shortages in elderly care.
Yes and doesn't solve the issues of staff shortages in LD care. Plus you could argue quality of life for some LD children and adults isn't fantastic but you wouldn't suggest solving this with assisted suicide.
ralanne · 15/03/2022 10:39

Exactly. Let us do what we can to improve quality of life for all our vulnerable members of society. Who decides what constitutes an acceptable "quality of life"? If a person is cared for with love, as far as possible given opportunities for stimulation, kept physically comfortable, well fed, and free from distress, then why would we think that such a life is not worth living? Our lives and abilities are different, but we all have a right to life, which should be respected.

Blossomtoes · 15/03/2022 10:49

@ralanne

Nonetheless, I'm sure you wouldn't want this to be carried out because of staff shortages. There are other solutions.
The end result would be the same regardless of the reason. Please don’t presume to “be sure” of what I want. People like you are the reason we still don’t have legal assisted suicide.
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