To think we all need to start worrying about what's going to happen to us when we're old (trigger warning in article)

[DervlaGlass]

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/every-staff-member-jailed-blackpools-32488650

Most of us will avoid going into a care home but almost everyone dies in hospital now. And even if you have a big loving family you'll be alone there at times.

This has got to be the issue that affects absolutely everyone, doesn't it? Why isn't it a priority?

Very difficult to read due to the amount of adverts obscuring the page, but yes, that's terrifying.

My mother is currently in an institution following a stroke. I was told only today how happy she is, yes I video her daily crying and begging to come home.

How the hell did so many evil people come together all in one place and get away with this for so long.
I remember reading about that poor lady, it was harrowing.

I also think it's terrifying that all of them were jailed. It shows how easily people can be led to do evil things when amongst like-minded people.

It worries me a lot especially as I have no kids and will rely totally on state care.

It will only get worse.

It will only get worse.

terrifying but true

I think with the way house prices are going and things like pensions we will revert back to previous generations when elderly moved in with thier children (or more likely the younger renting generation will move in with their parents . We have had a boom where outsourcing care has been easy, cheap convenient but soon that will change.

It’s shocking, but it remains a small number of staff when you think of the thousands the hospital will have employed during the period, and not all of them were jailed for elder abuse - some of the prosecutions were for misuse of controlled drugs, sexual harassment of colleagues, and improper conduct. It points to poor hospital policies and a desperate need for some sort of reform of oversight of care, more than an indication we all need to fear for our lives when elderly.

I think with the way house prices are going and things like pensions we will revert back to previous generations when elderly moved in with thier children (or more likely the younger renting generation will move in with their parents . We have had a boom where outsourcing care has been easy, cheap convenient but soon that will change.

But lots of these children will be working so won't be available for care

The whole thing is harrowing. My elderly DM has been in hospital receiving end of life care since Friday and I have only left her side twice to have a quick shower whilst my brother watches over her as I have that incident in my head. She is so incredibly vulnerable, I cannot begin to comprehend how evil someone must be to violate anyone in that state.

The staff at this hospital are so patient, we are on the third ward so far and I cannot fault DM's care so far and I have observed the staff caring for others with patience and compassion all round. The ward in Blackpool in 2018 could only have been a hellish place and I hope more people are found responsible and jailed.

If the NHS progresses and initiates independent advocate services for patients then that may be the way forward for those of us approaching old age with no family to look out for us.

I hope to God I die before I am required to enter a hospital or a care setting ( and I work in healthcare)

I remember when the story about the grandmother being sexually assaulted to death, with no signs of who did it and thinking that it must be staff. With what’s going on in that ward and the number of staff who are rapists and seriously sexual assaulters, it sounds like it was staff who did it to her.

About half of deaths happen in hospital, in fact. But probably you meant ‘in institutions’ which would include care homes and hospices.

It seems extremely likely to me that this cluster of wrong ‘uns is not a series of isolated incidents. Somewhere along the line there came to be a criminal culture at this unit. Seems that the consultant himself was probably part of that.

It’s notable that stroke units can be an income stream for Trusts, depending on the kind of treatments they offer. Reading reports about Merope Mills who died after staying on a paediatric liver unit too long and not being referred to intensive care despite huge signs of deterioration, a factor was the prestige and income that the paediatric liver unit represented to the Trust - they started to believe their own publicity and to believe that to ask for ICU review was to fail. Humility is an underrated virtue. Tbh I don’t think that it makes much difference that it’s the NHS. Hospitals will still exist if the NHS goes.

Thankfully this is not remotely every hospital or care setting, it’s horrifying because it is so unusual. My dad stayed over at my place at the weekend as my aunt is currently in an NHS hospital - receiving lovely, kind and excellent care - but we don’t know if she will ever be able to
go home. I took the opportunity to tell my dad that if he or mum ever require non specialist care at home that I will move in with them and care for them myself. I am
fortunate in that my job is flexible, but there is no way I would let them be looked after by others when I have the ability to do it myself. As I say, if I am able and no specialist support is needed. They looked after me and grew me to adulthood after all.