The Sands Care Home

Mum was made doubly incontinent after staff refused to take her to the toilet. They complained about her asking to go to the toilet and gradually made her wait until she had no option but to wet and soil herself. They Took the pail from her commode so she couldnt use it. Then took commode out of her room. She was given bigger pads that were never changed properly...only changed at designated times. Mum became red raw. Bleeding. They just gave her more painkillers rather than take her to the toilet. Food was not tailored to her needs. Not the chefs fault but staff not telling the chef what she really needed. She had caulslaw when she had no lower dentures in. Crackers when she could barely swallow and dying. So went 19hrs without food, often. She lost huge amount of weight. Malnourished. Skin flaking. Toe nails never cut. Issues with inappropriate use of medication. Far too much and doctors not aware of what she was being given. Had oral thrush. Nothing was transparent. Everything hidden. Mum had no idea what they were giving her. There was no form in her room to say what medication she should be having and why. Management covered over bad practice. Ignored concerns. Relatives were threatened to keep quiet saying Mum would be moved out of County if I said anything.
Data sheets did not match reality. Mum was heavily doped on medication. Painkillers hid problems. Lost her appetite.
I was never informed of any meetings about Mums care. I was her next of Kin. Everything was dealt in-house. Mum never had a voice. Mum begged to go home. Staff refused to let Mum go home. Yet refused to care for her properly . Mum hurt both arms. So was disabled within a week of going there. Injury was hidden by painkillers. So she couldnt use her walking frame. She lost all muscle tone. Was never given physio to keep her muscles working. She fell out of bed. They had one socket for two alarms. Either or, but no access to both. So they used a sensor mat, when she needed a hand buzzer as well at night. So tried to get help by getting out of bed, but couldnt support herself, so she had a bad fall. Her arm was black and blue. Seriously painful.
One night no staff were visible when I went to see Mum. I checked everywhere. Noone. Then the nurse appeared 15/20mins later saying there was an emergency on the next floor, so she'd left a whole level without support. I question whether there was an emergency. Noone told me about Mums fall until I saw the bruising two days later in a cafe. . Mums arm was not bandaged. It was cruel. She could barely hold a cup, and eventually had to be fed. Mum lost independence, dignity, self esteem, confidence. Her mind and body couldnt cope. She died soon after going there. Noone admits any responsibility. Official Complaints are ignored. Emails asking about complains processes are ignored. Never get replies. They want nothing written down. I seriously worry about residents who have little voice. Social Care backed them up, ignored concerns and never visited Mum. Never spoke to her. Mum died too soon. In pain. Destroyed. Mum was never allocated an advocate. They sat her in an old wheelchair all day. Facing a wall. Unless social worker came, then they placed her looking out to sea. All staged.
Within a matter of weeks mum deteriorated. Doped, malnourished, depressed, not heard.
Some staff tried but were working with an organisational structure that destroyed residents. Some staff didnt care. The nurse manager was aggressive and negative about Mum. Was awful with me. She refused to get the doctor after mums first injury, until mum was doped on painkillers so the injury was hidden. She protected staff and herself. The manager was the same. Social Care did the same and I felt, covered for the staff. Mum died. How bad does it have to get. Noone listens to complaints. I complained. I got excuses from social care and nothing from the home.
Everything they say about the care home being a persons home , was untrue unless you are on the bottom floor. Then they have tablecloths on tables and wonderful images. On mums level, they had bare hospital bed trolleys to eat off, some too small. Mums level was discriminated against. Out of view of passers by. Mum could never access her radio programmes, nor TV programmes. She was left sitting on her own. Head bent on her chest, not in a recliner chair. An awful wheelchair. Talking to noone. I shouted so loud. Silence. My visits are to her grave now. When do people hear concerns? I made all the official complaints ...nothing but cover ups. If mum was a child the care services would be under investigation for manslaughter. But she was old. So they say she died of old age. I know differently.
I followed every process, every thing to get heard. Mum was failed by a system that relies on probabilities and data sheets. Neglect is hidden. So easy to hide. I know everything about making complaints. I got advice everywhere. It was a pointless process that led me to believe someone would be accountable. Nothing happened. Lies were believed over my direct experiences and photographic evidence.
When are old people protected. What is the point of safeguarding leaflets/processes/systems when people turned their backs? Believe data sheets. ?
If only one person dies of neglect....that is one person too many. But some reviews of the care home say differently. There is a concern and it needs taking seriously.