Are you a parent AND have a parent/ older relative in care (or considering care)? Please complete a survey for the CQC - you could win £200 for your favourite health or social care charity NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We have been asked by the Care Quality Commission to find out the views of the so called "Sandwich Generation" who are in the position of caring for young children as well as older adults who need care.

This survey is open to Mumsnetters and gransnetters living in England, who

• Have or care for a child aged 16 and under (or an older child with a disability) AND

• Have a parent, spouse or older relative currently in a care home, or who has care in their own home, or who currently helps a parent, spouse or older relative as an informal carer AND/OR who is currently considering this sort of care for a parent, spouse or older relative

If this is not you but you know someone who does qualify please do send on the link to them.

For those who are not familiar with the Care Quality Commission, here's some background information from them:

"We are the Care Quality Commission (CQC); the independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England. We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care and encourage services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate NHS and independent services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. Our aim is to find out whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led . Through the information we provide, we help people make informed choices about their care. We publish our inspection reports online at www.cqc.org.uk. We are introducing ratings from this autumn so the public will know how the services they use are rated; outstanding, good, requiring improvement or inadequate."

Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw, where one MNer or gransnetter will receive a £200 donation to the health or social care charity of their choice.

If you're interested, here's the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/3CPFBP7

Thanks & good luck,
MNHQ

We probably have better communication with the care home as DH holds power of attorney for MIL. Also between the family she probably gets three or four visits per week so staff know we are, for want of a phrase, 'watching'. Generally the staff do seem caring.

Some questions didn't lead to the 'fair' answer. So no MIL gets no choice over food but she is diabetic & refuses to wear her teeth, which rather limits choice. We have been known to take cake in cos she's nearer 90 than 80 and there has to be a case for quality of life too.

I don't normally post, or fill in surveys but my experience of care for the elderly in the community or in a care home has been depressing, sad, makes my blood boil and makes me feel guilty too.
Inappropriate comments from care staff that have left my father in tears, inconsistent carer visiting times, having to explain what fixative to put on dentures etc.

He's now in a care home , who on a couple of occasions , haven't felt the need to call me when he's gone into hospital.

If I'm honest I think the care provided has been ok on the whole, but it's not good and certainly not what I would like for him.

I could go on, but what's the point , until as damepeanutbutter said compassion is brought into the equation I don't see it changing....

My mother and I are the main carers for my grandmother. There are other family members involved to a lesser extent, as illnesses/jobs/family allow but she relies most heavily on both of us for cleaning, shopping, transport, money etc etc. It does scare me that as she gets older, she is in her mid 80s now, and becomes less able, we are not even going to know where to begin to get her support. Support that we can trust. Or how to get support for ourselves. Caring for a family member is not solely about that person, it should be about supporting the whole family.
Luckily DS, age 6, likes to help her. Found out today we are taking her to the chiropodist tomorrow, so that's a fun school holiday day out!!

Im a parent of 3 & have two seperated parents, who both demand my time & attention , a step parent of 2 and aslo a grand parent of 2! Im only 47, with a full time demanding job and Im constantly beeing torn in all directions.
Luckily all in good health at the moment, but have been times when bad health with my parents meant one hospital visit or lift one after the other!

Thanks to everyone who completed the survey
Just to let you all know, you can see the results of this survey here: www.cqc.org.uk/sandwichgeneration

myhometouch, if you want to advertise your services on Mumnset, please contact MNHQ directly about your advertising requirements www.mumsnet.com/info/classifieds.