Stuff going missing in carehome

[stolenearrings]

Mum is in her 80s and has been in her present care home for 3 years. I live hundreds of miles away but the rest of my family live locally to her and visit regularly.

She got a nice pair of earrings for Xmas. My sister put them in for her and she looked lovely. When she visited on New Year's Eve my Mum did not have them in. My sister asked her when they had been taken out - she didn't know. She is often confused and her memory can be erratic. She is probably is in the early stages of dementia but can be quite lucid. My sister had a good look round her room. She asked one of the carers who said someone might have taken them out and put them aside somewhere and forgotten about them. My sister asked them to have a good look round to see if they had got mixed up with someone elses stuff. The Care Home Manager said she would ask all her staff if they had seen them.

The care home seem to think they might have come out when she had her jumper taken off.

My sister is being very patient and understanding with the staff. They are offering to reimburse her the £22 cost of the earrings.

I am upset because I think they have probably been stolen (and my sister thinks this is a possibility too). I think we should get the police involved. Unfortunately, 2 years ago my Mum's wedding rings went "missing" the day after my Dad's funeral. The family gave the home the benefit of the doubt then and accepted an apology from the care home (they admitted that someone had put them in an envelope and that they hadn't been put in the safe and had got "lost")

I feel bad because I am so far away and won't have to deal with the fallout of this situation if the police become involved. That situation will fall entirely on my sister's shoulders. Many of the carers in the home are lovely and my sister has a good relationship with them. They do rely heavily on agency staff.

I just feel so bad for my Mum (and by default) the other residents of the home. I fear someone is taking advantage of their vulnerability. Do you think I am right in advising my sister to contact the police even though it might make for an unpleasant atmosphere between her and my Mum's carers (and my Mum?)

[ProfessorDent]

Yeah, I get that, but of course you need an alternative nursing home lined up and we don't, it's not that easy. I have complained about some things.

[Frostycake]

Both my parents had severe dementia and within weeks of going into care, their possessions disappeared, including my father's wedding ring and watch, my grandmothers engagement ring, my mothers engagement ring and wedding band. The home said they didn't know where they were. They had all been listed as property when my parents when into the home. My cousin said that the same thing happened to her father while he was in care. I seriously hope it's unusual/rare and not regular practice. I didn't have the heart to remove my parents' jewellery when they went into the home. I wish I had now.

[pippop1]

I've just been emailed the forms for MIL to go into a care home. On the list of "what to bring with" it says not to bring expensive jewellery or items.

[ProfessorDent]

Oh, and once again, I must point out that the CQC is a chocolate teapot. It exists for its own benefit, and any benefit it offers residents' relatives is coincidental. It can only act if it catches the staff in the act when it visits, otherwise it hasn't happened as far as they're concerned. This isn't me just bitching, it is fact - the home is not legally allowed to act on anything that happens or reported outside its visit, it must be struck from the record. Of course, it only tells you this after you've filed a lengthy report; it is quite happy for you to do that and get it out of your system, but it's for their benefit, not yours.

[3littlefrogs]

If I remember correctly, the person who is in charge of CQC also presided over the debacle that was the Stafford hospital scandal. the name escapes me ATM.

My MIL went into the care home with a carefully selected collection of smart, mix and match, washable clothes. All named. The last time we took her out she was dressed in someone else's very tatty, ill fitting dress, no tights and a very large pair of plastic sandals. In November.

[BrianTheMole]

the home is not legally allowed to act on anything that happens or reported outside its visit, it must be struck from the record

Sorry, what do you mean, the home? Do you mean CQC? I'm a bit confused by your statement.

[ProfessorDent]

Sorry that's a typo, I mean to write that the CQC is not legally allowed to act on individual complaints by people about care homes. It can only look out for it when it visits, and if it sees it happening then, it can act and report on it. Instead, they recommend you contact social services (if they are the ones paying the bulk of the fees) or the local ombudsman. The CCQ is imo a red herring, it is always quoted in care home scandals as if it should be on the case, but no staff are gonna beat up some old biddy when a CQC team is visiting.

The person in charge of the CQC did preside over the Stafford hospital scandal, she is no longer in charge of the CQC I understand.

In your case 3littlefrogs, that is beyond the pale and I would be kicking up a fuss with someone, no question.