Carers didnt turn up for morning call till 12.55pm.

[patsy999]

Is it worth complaining to social services about this? I have a 30 min care call in the morning and today I couldn't even have a shower as they were so late and i had an appointment at home at 1pm.
Not a single one of the carers can drive which is hopeless, as they use public transport to get to each call.
Plus, they only speak very basic English, so it's hard to communicate with them.
I'm only 55 and disabled. so goodness knows how the elderly are left.

There is complaining and complaining! I'm sure OP doesn't want to have people getting into trouble, but the difficulties and reasons for them are not her problem.

Presumably complaints must be logged, they can then be used as evidence to take to the next stage up to try and improve things. If no service user ever complains, any government is going to ask why are social care staff complaining and asking for more resources.

There is no reason to be rude or demanding, but lodging a legitimate complaint could help everyone in the long run. As PPs have pointed out, the social care crisis is only going to get worse.

Have a look at direct payments from your local council op. They pay you direct so you can then source and hire your own private carer.

I clean for a disabled lady who is having the same problem. The carers turn up at 8pm to put her to bed then don't come back until 10am the next morning. She is not incontinent, but is unable to get herself in and out of bed so is having to hold it for 14 hours or more. When she complained to the carers they told her to just wear a pad. It's heart breaking.

For the money being paid, this is the level of care available. If you want better care then you can try and source your own carers using direct payments but you may have to top them up to get the level of care you want.

As for your current carers, try being grateful that people from overseas are willing to move here and carry out crappy jobs for a pittance.

Complain to the office. If u r unable to communicate effectively with the carers this is an issue. I agree it is grossly underfunded. Often the carers are not given enough time to complete tasks either.

replies are shocking actually - complain to the government? Be grateful? wtf?

of course social care needs a massive overhaul but OP is a person who has not had her care this morning and there's posters here implying she should be grateful
anyone even wants to deal with her at all - it's disgraceful. We should all raise our expectations and complain every single time something is unacceptable and accept no less. This is how we will achieve change.

OP yes complain - there's supposed to be an open door policy between care provider so you can raise a concern and see if they can reassure you. Was it a one off, will it happen again etc.

The care agency has agreed to take your care hours so they have a responsibility to make sure they fulfill the contract

Certainly no one should be grateful

Absolutely no one who needs carers is lucky.

The system is broken. The OP matters. Her carer's also matter and right now they are all being treated appallingly. OP - I'm sorry you are in this situation.

It is awful. You should be able to have the support you need to lead your life in dignity, but the current cater situation is desperate.

Thanks everyone. I think i will ring the office, as one of them doesn't even change her gloves after doing personal care and making my lunch.
When i had the emergency care team for 5 weeks there care was fantastic.

Firstly There just aren't enough people p repaired to work in care fir the level of demand for them.
Secondly- it is not a science. Carers never know what they are going to find when they arrive.If there is an emergency they can't just walk out to get to the next person on time!

Oh, the ableism is alive and kicking on this thread.

I am willing to bet OP would have got a different reaction if any other service has failed her in this way. Ocado delivery messed up- complain and ask for compensation! Carers don't turn up? Suck it up and be grateful, at least you have a shower once in a blue moon.

I was so pleased to read your reply.

These companies quite happily take the money to supply a service. They only get away with this type of care if people don't complain. Write it all down in an email. Look to having direct payments.

Agree too. Surprised at some of the replies to this particular situation

I work for a care company. I've had a lovely client waiting for his care to start once we have carers in post. It is just social support so he can go to bowling/leisure centre etc, food and transport is paid for the carer. Not a single applicant and he has waited 3 years.
I am genuinely of the opinion that many people just don't want to work, I never thought I'd say that.

Posted too soon Op. You should not have been left unattended without so much as a phone call, please contact whoever your care manager is as it is not on at all.

What
That's a long time for no applicants!!

Why shouldn't she complain? If she can't be understood or can't understand them then that's an issue! Perhaps the bloody council should be employing better people who can do the job properly.

It’s crap… but standard unfortunately.
still complain though

As I said - do you think there are queues of people hoping to get a job as a carer??

The difference is Ocado is a profit making organisation, whilst care is a grossly underfunded service.

I don't think it right to complain about the carers really. They can't make it work.

That is sad to read. I think if I was in a position to work, that is something I would like to do. I know of a few people who work in a similar role and they love their job. People read 'care' and automatically assume there is personal stuff involved.

OP - absolutely complain. It is not right to just be grateful you get a shoddy standard of care to start with. The client your carer saw before you could have had their visit run on for whatever reason. And like a few PP have said, no one is queuing up to work in care.

The Council can't get the staff. End of. The state of care in this country for older and disabled people is truly diabolical - but most people simply can't comprehend just how bad it is, unless they have had dealings with them. Carers are paid a pittance, don't get paid for their travel time and are constantly asked pressurised to work extra shifts. It was bad before Brexit - it is now 100 times worse.

@RicherThanYews ..how much are carers being offered by your company that are having difficulty employing new staff?

I'm absolutely horrified at the lack of empathy and sympathy for a disabled person who could potentially be stuck in bed, without breakfast, without toileting, without a drink, from the night before until past 1pm.

What's the matter with you all?

Complaining to the government isn't going to get a carer out to her in time tomorrow.

Ffs, why on earth are the vast majority of posters on this thread responding as if OP is totally unreasonable to expect her care to happen in a reasonably timely manner?

Just for a minute, imagine that you're bedbound, soiled, hungry and thirsty from the moment you wake, until after 1pm.
I don't know that this is OP's situation exactly, but it could be. And if not hers it could be someone else's. Of course she should call and complain. You'd complain of your Tesco delivery was an hour late, for goodness sake.

You can complain but won't get far as not much can be done with a shortage of carers. And I'm a carer/support worker and seen so many staff come and go it's ridiculous. Care company's are discharging people off there books now as cannot get carers in.