Elderly couple found dead

Dai · 12-01-2010, 16:23

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/El...-in.5968938.jp

"Neighbour Heather Footitt, who had been visiting the couple daily to deliver food and check on them, said Mr Randall's health had deteriorated in the past month. She said she had spent weeks contacting Age Concern, Northamptonshire County Council and health services trying to get the couple into a home."

Mrs Footitt contacted Labour MP for Northampton North, Sally Keeble, a few days before Christmas stating the situation with the Randalls had become very desperate. Mrs Keeble's office immediately contacted Northamptonshire County Council as a matter of urgency, but a reply was not received from the authority until the beginning of January.

Meanwhile Mrs Footitt contacted Age Concern asking for their help, but was unsuccessful. She said: "We got absolutely nowhere. I was so frustrated, I even said it would end up in us finding them dead. You could see what state their house was in, and the cold could not have helped at all, but no-one did anything."

Isn't it reassuring to know that all these extra public services that our wonderful government have put into place at such expense are doing such a superb job.

I'm sure all the proper procedures were followed absolutely to the letter. Every t crossed and i dotted..

Seems it was beyond the wit of any of the "caring" services to actually get in their bloody car and drive out to see if all was OK...

12-01-2010, 16:27

what a horrible way to die in a modern society like ours
wonder what excuses social services will come out with this time

Gary L · 12-01-2010, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

wonder what excuses social services will come out with this time

That they will learn from their mistakes.

if this is the one I was listening to on the radio this morning, a woman was saying that she can't just say to these people you have to go in a home. they might not want to. they might have loads of money but want to keep it a secret through fear of having to pay for care and stuff.

Hom3r · 12-01-2010, 16:45

Where the fuff were the neighbours???

If they were that worried they would have bothered to do something rather than leave it to some council pratt who proberly just dumped it in the To Do pile on their desk.

**Maggy** · 12-01-2010, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Where the fuff were the neighbours???

If they were that worried they would have bothered to do something rather than leave it to some council pratt who proberly just dumped it in the To Do pile on their desk.

Did you read the article?The people trying to sort the couple out WERE their neighbours..

candy1567 · 12-01-2010, 19:01

Hi

Being a social worker who works with the over 65's i was disgusted reading the article.

But as with every area of our society u get the good and the bad care services.

I actually trained for this job with the idea of helping and supporting ppl, but unfortunately due to govt targets and guidelines, thats now not possible.

18 to 64yr olds are called adults, but wen u get to 65 ur now classed as an older person so u loose ur identity its horrendous.

Also it is extremely difficult to 'put' someone in a care home due to the fact everyone is deemed to have capacity to make choices until diagnosed otherwise, so its a minefield to work with.

My own personal views are that wen u get to that certain age everyone should have a quality of life and be supported to achieve this, but this is mostly not possible, the older style social work is now non existant, its all govt targets, and drowning in paperwork and i truely believe u dont need a social work qualification to work in the field anymore, the hands on approach is long gone.

candy1567

SMG · 12-01-2010, 19:06

My Dad, 86, lives in a retirement complex of bedsit flats, alone, like so many others there. Every day, either me or the wife visit him, & just knock on doors to make sure the others are OK. It takes about half an hour, or 4 hours if I stop for a cuppa.

One day I will be in there. I hope no one forgets me.

Gary L · 12-01-2010, 19:11

Regarding the ages. I had to phone up the council repairs for a neighbour once as her heating wasn't working. they asked me if there were any elderly persons in the household. when I said yes, I was asked how old she was. I said 62.

she tells me that it's not classed as a priority, and that they have to be over 65. I know for certain that it used to be that over 60 was a priority. but she insisted that it's always been 65.

thay came out the same day anyway after a bit of discussion about me going senile.