nursing homes + care homes - Page 3

Doug · 06-02-2008, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

What I found MOST enjoyable during my nursing career was the 'hands on' care giving.
I often thought that the auxiliary nurses had the best job.

Like some of us that are going grey, you will remember Auxiliaries being made up in the hospitals to EN Status to reflect their experience, practise, and inter personal skills. impossible today, but many care staff are lift un supervised to deliver complex care in care homes and the community with very little training or experience.

Margaret Pilkington · 06-02-2008, 20:42

That is a very sad indictment on how little we value the care of our elderly and infirm.

harwood red · 06-02-2008, 20:44

It's very sad how social services have been limited on the amount of care they can put in place now (without it being paid for by the person or family)

Doug · 06-02-2008, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

That is a very sad indictment on how little we value the care of our elderly and infirm.

Like a lot of things today Mrs Pilkington it comes down to money and it's not getting any better. But we must believe and trust that there are those out there that do care and are doing all they can to give a good solid service. We have to invest in care and the future of an increasinly againg workforce. I look at my self in the mornings and dread to think what would happen to me when and if I need care. I'm doing all I can to provide a responsible domiciliary care service to those who live those fears now. I've 30k into my agency, I'll make around 150k in the first year, but all we'll take out in income is 12k the rest goes back in to building up the company and a flexible and responsive workforce. Thank god for my NHS penson.......

all £160 a month of it.....

harwood red · 06-02-2008, 20:55

so what areas will your agency be covering Doug?? service and geography wise

Doug · 06-02-2008, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by harwood red

It's very sad how social services have been limited on the amount of care they can put in place now (without it being paid for by the person or family)

It's bad in Blackpool and Blackburn and Darwin. Not too bad in the rest of Lancs. LCC is engageing with providers and promoting the best possible care outcomes for service users, but money is in real terms very limited.

harwood red · 06-02-2008, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

It's bad in Blackpool and Blackburn and Darwin. Not too bad in the rest of Lancs. LCC is engageing with providers and promoting the best possible care outcomes for service users, but money is in real terms very limited.

funny how they are two unitary authorities too

plus quick edit your post it's Darwen not Darwin !!!!! Jambutty will have your guts for garters

Doug · 06-02-2008, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by harwood red

so what areas will your agency be covering Doug?? service and geography wise

The Wyre District. Form Cleveleys, Poulton, over Wyre up to Galgate including the back of beyond over the back of Garstang, including the Trough of Bowland. Timing could have been better with the cost of fuel and all that.

Would you like a Job.......

Doug · 06-02-2008, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by harwood red

funny how they are two unitary authorities too

plus quick edit your post it's Darwen not Darwin !!!!! Jambutty will have your guts for garters

He already has, a couple of times.....

It's because my office is on Darwin Court. I get confused and I only young.....

harwood red · 06-02-2008, 21:11

A job??? Crikey got my handsful with the one I have now!!!! But cheers anyway

shillelagh · 06-02-2008, 21:26

Yes i would been there and had the tshirt. Some homes i put my mother in - she never went back, others she went back to them time and time again. When she got worse she had to go to one with an EMI unit - and god i hated that home - but mum said it was ok - and went back twice - the last time was just before she died. It was a fight to get her to go as she was going in on respite for a week or 2 weeks. Before she died i was told by our social worker for my own health it was time for mum to go into a home full time - i was finding it hard to deal with her - she had me in tears a few times, carers were refusing to come to our house to get her up and she needed care 24 hrs a day.

Its true though some homes they didnt seem to care, others pretended to care when family or visitors were around and as soon as they went they ignored them, other homes they did seem to care. Best was mum - she told us what was going on - what it was like if they looked after her. Cos mum was going in on respite under the lcc scheme the social worker always gave us a form to fill in on how we rated the home etc which we filled in with mums help. Most of the homes did say they'd have her back - a couple of them wouldnt and told us as well.

blazey · 06-02-2008, 21:54

Maybe you should start a thread of good and bad care homes so people know where to send their loved ones if the time comes. If they've been tried and tested, maybe bad experiences will only happen twice. Otherwise I think this thread isn't getting as much use out of it as it could.

Doug · 06-02-2008, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

Yes i would been there and had the tshirt. Some homes i put my mother in - she never went back, others she went back to them time and time again. When she got worse she had to go to one with an EMI unit - and god i hated that home - but mum said it was ok - and went back twice - the last time was just before she died. It was a fight to get her to go as she was going in on respite for a week or 2 weeks. Before she died i was told by our social worker for my own health it was time for mum to go into a home full time - i was finding it hard to deal with her - she had me in tears a few times, carers were refusing to come to our house to get her up and she needed care 24 hrs a day.

Its true though some homes they didnt seem to care, others pretended to care when family or visitors were around and as soon as they went they ignored them, other homes they did seem to care. Best was mum - she told us what was going on - what it was like if they looked after her. Cos mum was going in on respite under the lcc scheme the social worker always gave us a form to fill in on how we rated the home etc which we filled in with mums help. Most of the homes did say they'd have her back - a couple of them wouldnt and told us as well.

It takes a lot for me to decline a care package on the ground of a service user being difficult to care for, be it on health grounds or just being difficult. Someone has to take the lead, care staff refusing to deliver care isn’t rare nor is action against them for doing so, again someone needs to make a case for the service user, if they don’t go in to a package others will.

One very valid issue that you touched on is the needs of the family or main carer, we have to understand and cater for their needs as much as the service use. The worst thing is we tend to forget the needs of carers and families when their love ones pass away.

mrskitty · 06-02-2008, 22:06

Seeing as its little things such as forgetting to clean the place,have you thought about getting her assessed for sheltered accomodation instead of a nursing home?

Doug · 06-02-2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

Maybe you should start a thread of good and bad care homes so people know where to send their loved ones if the time comes. If they've been tried and tested, maybe bad experiences will only happen twice. Otherwise I think this thread isn't getting as much use out of it as it could.

You can use the Commission for Social Care Inspection web site to judge standards of home via the inspection reports or the best way I have found is to select half a dozen and make arrangements to visit them, then its a case of using your eyes, hears and nose. talk to staff, residents and visitors. A care home should be a home, if it's too bright and shiney and the residents can't interact then I'd be weary.