Shameful

[simoncpg]

Did anyone see the World in Action progranmme on television last night. The discusting way the poor old lady was treated. There are no words to describe these people. How can so callled carers treat old and vulnerable people like this. Also surely if you cannot speak English CLEARLY then how can you work with our old folk. The CQC is not fit for purpose. It was so upsetting.
Rant over.
Simon

[The Large One]

it was disgusting, my wife was close to tears
unfortunately it seemed these " carers" we employed because they are cheap, not for the quality of their work or compasion

[lottie dolly]

We did not see it,but have seen other programs/news ext of elderly treatment,it is disgusting to say the least,
ref the language barrier,it's the same in lots of things,when DH was due to retire it involed several phone calls to a well known insurace comp,i often have a job decifering what peeps are saying when they gabble at speed,so put that with an overseas very little english words,yet alone understand what you trying to get over to them,plus on a higher rate call,grrrr,

[simoncpg]

But also eldrely people sometimes have hearing problems etc, it can be difficult for them if you speak clearly, but if the person trying to communicate with them is bad at speaking English it must be horrendous. I thought our elder generation was a HIGH PRIORITY to this government.

[Pa Snips]

I watched the programme and I don't think 'language barriers' presented a problem, the ignorant staff couldn't even be bothered to greet the residents when entering their rooms.
As for the one who kept slapping the poor old dear with dementia...I'm normally a placid, mild-mannered kind of person but I could have cheerfully delivered a few slaps of my own to him!

[donnakebab]

I thought our elder generation was a HIGH PRIORITY to this government.

Obviously not.

[lottie dolly]

Obviously not.

Wonders if i should start saying my goodyes now before they bring in a law to say,when peeps reach >>>>>age ,you get a choice of a self administer pill,and a bit a cash for your rellies,or be shot,after you dug your own space,all this is to help the country finantial,it will save billions,we never know whats around the corner,they already got peeps working longer,so not much retirement for the next generation,

[di]

I didn't see the programme. I do agree though that there are far too many people with either very limitted or no English working within the care sector. Nationality, race, class doesn't matter to me, but a huge part of care includes reassuring the patient and keeping them informed.

[di]

I can remember a Panorama last year where they visitted a 'hospital' for Adults with Learning Disabilities. It was horrific and had me in tears. Parts of the programme are now being used in training and it still made me cry/angry.

[Seahorse]

I didn't see the programme. I do agree though that there are far too many people with either very limitted or no English working within the care sector. Nationality, race, class doesn't matter to me, but a huge part of care includes reassuring the patient and keeping them informed.

I'm always reluctant to say things like this in case it comes over as 'I'm not racist but...' however, language is a huge issue. I don't have very good hearing and although thankfully I'm not old or ill, on doctor and hospital visits I've often struggled to understand whats being said to me. In situations like that you're often a bit frightened or on the back foot, it's easy to just nod or sign and be thankful you've got out of there. I don't begrudge people from any other country or background a job (who wouldn't take it if it was there?) but perhaps it's time to make things like being a carer a bit more desirable and well paid. Treating people with dignity and respect is a two way thing.

[di]

I'm always reluctant to say things like this in case it comes over as 'I'm not racist but...'

Believe me, there was a lot of hesitating before I hit the 'post' button.

To me, carework involves, personal care and companionship. My experience in carework is that the daily chats you'd have with a client/patient were just as important to their well being as the personal care. If you went to an interview and said, no, you'd not be prepared to bath someone or change an incontinence pad, you'd not get the job...quite rightly. Yet providing that someone with company seems far less important.
I have come across some fantastic carers that don't know too much English, I'd hate that we lost them, what would be nice would be for the government to help them cross that language barrier....not by offering classes outside of their working hours that means two or three more hours away from the home a week, but perhaps a half hour session a couple of times a week during their shifts.

[kirsty b]

Did not see that programme last night, but colleagues of mine did and were quite rightly outraged. I was moved to tears of anger at the LD expose last year.

Bad care and abuse must be exposed and its perpetrators dealt with adequately/appropriately, but I don't like the way the bad seems to outweigh the good that goes on everyday, unreported. Good is not newsworthy though is it?

Think Di hit nail on head just above

[taff]

so after watching the videos of the way chickens are treated by kfc and others, why on earth would anyone think that elderly people would be treated any differently?
They can't complain to anyone who would believe them, if they do complain, the person who they're xcomplining to won't be there 24 hrs a day to watch how they're treated.
As a nation we're all about the outrage, but nothing about actually doing something about it. Apathy rules about everything. We have a little shout and then we stop and poke the turtle head back in.
It doesn't take a genius to work out that elderly care is not the only sector where people are treated horrendously either.
Old people are not cost effective and that's the bottom line.
It annoys me, but again, I'm one of the ones who will be about the outrage but do absolutely nothing about it.

[Vince G]

My gran is now in a care home which specialises in caring for people with dementia, the only white faces are Eastern Europeans except the 2 managers, the rest are mostly of oriental origin with strong accents who I would struggle to understand, let alone a confused 97 year old. I don't want to get onto the whole immigration thing, because whilst no British people are prepared to train to do jobs like this we still need considerable immigration of people with skills like this. There is no doubt they are kind and well-meaning and I admire them greatly for what they do. Thankfully we've found a nice if expensive home for her where I have no worries for her safety.

[zazen999]

Thankfully we've found a nice if expensive home for her where I have no worries for her safety.

Pay peanuts - get monkeys...I think the saying goes.

*Not aimed at you - but at 'society' as we don't want to pay enough for the care to enable people who DO care to take the hit on wages when they can get more by not working.