Exposing ‘horrendous’ neglect in care homes
As nursing homes in the UK are hit by budget cuts and declining standards, Pamela Wells tells Channel 4 News about the “horrendous” treatment her late husband was subjected to by care staff.
Pamela Wells spoke to Channel 4 News about her experiences of finding a care home for her husband, as we reveal that funding cuts are threatening to cause a crisis for care homes.
“I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown trying to find a care home for my husband. I had to go to another borough to find a good home where there were vacancies. It looked great and their answers to my questions sounded fine,” Pamela Wells told Channel 4 News.
“But from the first moment my husband got in there we were shocked at the attitude of a great many of the staff, our assigned care-worker was quite hostile.
“One incident was his dentures weren’t taken out and cleaned – and he couldn’t do it himself. There are reported incidents where the patient’s teeth and dentures are left uncleaned with food deposits trapped in their teeth.”
Insult to injury
“Another time the care worker left my husband, who needed to go to the toilet, alone in the hoist in his room, his lower half bare of clothing. I found him just hanging there. Because of his position he could not control his bowels and he messed on the carpet. When the care worker returned she made a half hearted attempt at clearing it up. She then pushed the hoist over the remains spreading it further over the carpet. To add insult to injury the care worker over-sprayed around the room trying to disguise the smell which only made it worse and uncomfortable to breathe.
“One time I discovered my husband trying to feed himself unaware that he had faeces under his nails and on his hands. I forget how many times I reported this yet still it continued.
“I put my hand under the duvet to check that my husband’s sheets had not been left crinkled. I was horrified to find that I had put my hand into a soaking wet bed! The bedclothes had not been changed from the night before, the covers just thrown back over.
Two year nightmare
“Some of the staff could not speak English well enough to converse or read care plan notes. It was horrendous. A two year nightmare. When my husband passed away in 2007, I left knowing I had to do something. I had been with him every day for those last two years and seen so much.
“I have spoken with other carers and put snippets of their experience in my report and since my report has been sent to government ministers, councils, various concerned organisations and many other people I have received other reports of very poor care. So ours was not an isolated case.
“Of course, there are good homes but if there are some that can be good, then so should others. It is attitude which changes everything – and kindness. It does not cost money to be kind. Although I do believe that matters are beginning to change, this lack of care towards, frail, elderly people has been going on for years and is a disgrace to our society. That is why I have written my report and why I am campaigning for quality care in care homes.”
For more on Pamela Wells’ campaign, see the Relatives & Residents Association website.