Working within the care industry has always been a very personal thing to me. As the relative of someone who did not receive the best care, I wanted to be part of something that really did help with the motive of doing these things being that of integrity and genuine care.
My nan was diagnosed with early-stage dementia, COPD, renal cancer and an aortic Aneurysm. When these diagnoses were explained to us, as a family we decided to move her in an extra care housing service before her overall health declined. This was to ensure that she could be cared for in the comfort of her own home for as long as was needed.
To begin with, the care being provided was good and we had no causes for concern however over time I started to notice that daily logs were not being completed leading me to believe that visits were being missed and the MAR sheets were not being signed to show that her medication had been administered (as she was not able to self-administer due to the dementia). Following this, there was a serious incident of medication mis-management, which was almost fatal, and the discovery of financial abuse.
I logged complaints with the extra care housing service who investigated them and upheld all complaints that had been made.
I was incredibly close with my nan so this incredibly stressful situation gave me a drive and passion to do what I could to make sure people who needed care, did not receive it in this manner and if there were sadly victims of abuse in any way, that the perpetrators of that abuse were given a fitting punishment for it.
This has massively shaped my outlook on care and the high expectations that I want to achieve for those that we support. I want everyone to be happy, healthy, and most importantly safe in the care of the staff we employ and the service we provide.
