Lucy's story: Making a significant improvement in quality of her and her carer's lives
Bella was very unhappy about her mum, Lucy’s living conditions in the private care home she had moved to two years ago.
Lucy, who is bedridden, was in a small cluttered room in which the bed took up almost all the space, leaving little room for visitors and there was no chair for them to sit on. Lucy’s personal care was lacking and Bella noticed that her nails were not cut when they needed to be and her hair wasn’t washed often enough. The television seemed always to be on in the room.
Worst of all, Bella’s dad had lived in the home too until he died but his name had not been taken off the door. Bella found this very distressing but she also found it very difficult to raise the issues with the care home manager.
A review meeting had been held quite shortly before she contacted POhWER but it was held in the dining room rather than the office and the manager kept glancing at her watch and was obviously in a hurry. Bella is in her mid sixties and is disabled, she found it difficult to visit Lucy and was depressed with what she found when she did go.
The POhWER advocate, Yvonne, discussed all these issues with Bella and supported her with requesting a further care review meeting with the manager and preparing for it. She also attended the meeting with Bella.
During the meeting Lucy’s care plan was reviewed and the home care staff agreed a formal protocol for Lucy’s care which specified how often her hair was washed and nails cut and that the TV should be replaced with a radio.
Staff also agreed to move Lucy to a different room close to the home’s entrance which was frequently passed by staff and other residents who now often pop in as they pass to say hello to her.
Both Bella and Lucy are much happier now that the changes have been made.
