is this the real great britain?

[dragonmist]

Sludgeguts, anyone who is able to take on a child with ADHD and a learning disability will earn their £2K.
I thought that was the rate for a month not a week, but I digress. It was not so bad for me because Michael was my grandson, but at 5 years old in a "meltdown" he lifted and overturned a heavy settee, which took 2 adults to put upright again. I had bruises and cuts where he lashed out at me. He broke my nose twice. OK, I learnt to duck a bit faster, and with help he learnt to control the rages, but it was easier because he was my grandson, and I loved him. I had to lock all the windows and doors at night because he would sleepwalk. I had to balance the danger of a fire breaking out, and him getting out and ending up in the lake behind the house.
I don't know that I could cope with someone elses unpredictable child 24/7 for any length of time. I have had 2 boys at different times for a weekend's respite care to give their parents a break. It is a hell of a responsibility. A weekend was quite enough, then I could hand them back. Fortunately I knew them both well, and they knew me, so less of a problem than it might have been. I know the Social Workers are very careful when placing these difficult children. I take my hat off to anyone who can take on a child like this long term.

[sludgeguts]

well thats crap as alzheimers patients can live up to 10 years and even late stage dementure is considered to last a year

And that's your considered medical opinion?
The care we provide is given to terminally ill people who require very high levels of care - hence the term 'nursing home', a carer for someone with just alzheimers wouldn't really be looking to place the person with us.

oaps and dependant pensioners are ripped off by social and private care
and those involved should be ashamed of themselves

Looking after terminally ill people is a very expensive and time-consuming business - why do you think many Social Services departments no longer provide 'old people's homes'?
In this county, the homes were sold off to private concerns because the SS could no longer aford to keep them running - as it is, the Government only really has responsibility towards children so fostering, childrens homes, schools etc get the highest priority.

I agree that people who rip off the elderly/infirm/terminally ill etc should be ashamed of themselves - but that goes much deeper than you think.
When you own a building that covers the best part of half an acre (as most nursing homes will do), usually having a really nice outlook & gardens - what sort of business rates do you think the owners are paying to the local authority?
And what about the water bill? - we use gallons of water because of all the cleaning involved.
We have four large bins to dispose of clinical waste - and that isn't cheap, not to mention the supplies we have to buy in - and I'm sure anybody caring for a disabled/terminally ill person will tell you, buying anything tagged as 'for disabled...' isn't cheap, it's a specialised area with few suppliers & they can charge what they like. You can buy nappies for babies at thousands of outlets (in any town, village etc) but buying same for adults is limited to a handful of companies in the UK.
Moving on to the heating bill, the home is constructed to highest standards & has excellent insulation properties, the running temperature is 80degrees F (according to the thermometer in the coridoor) - we have to maintain a high temperature because the elderly feel the cold.
Talking of construction, every room is built as a cell - it has to withstand fire - it would be physically impossible to evacuate every resident so each room is designed to withstand the ravages of a fire for far longer than a domestic property or even a hotel, the walls are lined with retardants, a suppressant system runs inside every cavity. Carpets are top quality designed to not absorb stains and odours. when they are shampooed (and that is at least monthly) the solution has to be reapplied.
Curtains and chair covers have to have a fire retardent reapplied after they are washed.
Food. We could do as the NHS and buy in chilled ready meals which have a higher nutritional content in the wrapping than the slop in the foil continer - but we don't. Every day a choice of menu is offered, two choices of meat and five portions of vegetables as well as a hot pudding, fruit, yoghurt, cheese/biscuits, evening meal is half a dozen types of sandwiches, again with choice of pudding. Residents are given whatever breakfast they like - any cereal, cooked breakfast - even kippers.
Electricity. All the lights in the coridoors are emergency type lights, as well as one emergency light in each room. residents have televisions on nearly all day (their choice), every bed has a pressure mattress - the air pump runs 24/7, some residents require monitors, feeds, and other equipment - all of this uses electricity.
We have regular visits from the fire brigade as well as authorities who check our water systems, lift inspections, heating, food, safety etc - and all these have to be paid for.
Talking of pay - staff wages. My salary is slightly better than when I was working at the hospital - the working conditions, however, far exceed what I had - and we employ a higher staff/patient ratio.
You have to remember that if your staff are disgruntled, they may take it out on patients - pay peanuts & you get monkeys. Many of the staff have been here since the place opened some 10 years ago, new staff are only here because staff left due to retirement.
The reason I applied to work where I am was because I was impressed at the standard of care - far higher than that in the hospital where I was working.

BTW, the £1200 per week is only paid by a very few people, block booked beds (Social Services and NHS) are the cheapest. We have people in for long term care who will pay the lower end of the fees because they don't require 24/7 nursing - but their condition dictates that a nurse be on hand.
In some cases, the fees are paid by the welfare state as the house is needed by a spouse.
Would you rather the state gave £800 per week to look after your granny or £800 per week to keep a Muslim extremist in houses, wives, cars etc?

[silkcityuk2]

BTW, the £1200 per week is only paid by a very few people, block booked beds (Social Services and NHS) are the cheapest. We have people in for long term care who will pay the lower end of the fees because they don't require 24/7 nursing - but their condition dictates that a nurse be on hand.
In some cases, the fees are paid by the welfare state as the house is needed by a spouse.
Would you rather the state gave £800 per week to look after your granny or £800 per week to keep a Muslim extremist in houses, wives, cars etc?

even £800 a week is a rip off


as for this


And that's your considered medical opinion?
no its what i was told by kings hospital london
The care we provide is given to terminally ill people who require very high levels of care - hence the term 'nursing home', a carer for someone with just alzheimers wouldn't really be looking to place the person with us
alzheimers patients ARE 24 hours a day 7 days a week complete care.
its like having a 60 year old baby who cant do a damn thing for them selves, who can get extremely violent
and i still think £800 a week is a rip off price to pay
the homes charge what they like as they know nhs will pay it, they cant just let the patients rot ,and hospitals are not equipped for the level of care that is needed

[sludgeguts]

alzheimers patients ARE 24 hours a day 7 days a week complete care.
its like having a 60 year old baby who cant do a damn thing for them selves, who can get extremely violent

Really? That explains why my Father-in-law looked like he hadn't slept & why OH & I had to do all their shopping, washing, cleaning etc.
Y'know, I wondered why she asked the same question every three minutes, I wondered why she recognised me one minute & not the next.
But a person with alzheimers or dementia doesn't necessarily require 24/7 nursing care.
In most cases, care is best provided in familiar surroundings, taking the person out to a day centre to give the carer a break can be an extremely distressing time for the carer, sufferer, day care staff & clients.

hospitals are not equipped for the level of care that is needed

EXACTLY.
The state will no longer provide for the people who fought for this freedom we now enjoy.
IMO, the state is too busy pandering to obscure little cliques and spongers.
When my mum was in the middlesex, most of their staff were busy with the immigrants who simply turned up & demanded free treatment for the many diseases they brought with them.

A junkie can wander in off the streets and get free needles, we have to pay for the needles we use.
Our patients have to have injections or samples taken through no fault of their own, everything that happens has to be paid for somewhere along the line.

If you really, honestly believe that our elderly/terminally ill are being ripped off, can I suggest you open your own nursing home?
Your startup costs alone will equate to the national debt of a third world country.
Alternatively.
You can campaign to have all nursing homes closed down, fill up the hospital beds - and then you'll be whingeing because the elderly - who, let's face it, have had their time- are blocking a bed needed by a valuable member of the community (one who is contributing financially to society).

And what about others in society who need care?
There are thousands of disabled people out there (I'm thinking people with learning disabilities) who need residential care - who do you think provides this care? It isn't social services anymore, certainly not in this county, - they've all been sold out to private - again, average costs are £700 per week. On the whole, this is paid by the state, out of our taxes.
But the majority of these people have never paid into the system that they are draining - do they deserve to take from a pot they've never contributed to? At least my patients paid in all their lives (or I presume most did).
Where do we stop?
Babies born with problems require specialist treatment, at least the state has to pay (for most of it anyway). But what happens when they are no longer under the umbrella of child care & still need 24/7 care?
Should we have done something about it as soon as they were born?
Perhaps you would agree with some historical figures? One, in particular saw the elderly, frail, disabled, mentally impaired, blind and even people from other races as being undesirable. Where does it end?

A few years ago, my son's goldfish developed a problem. I took it to the vet & he gave me some medication which cleared the problem. It cost me almost £50.
people cannot believe I would pay £50 to take a goldfish to the vet, it's a rip off.
The goldfish was 10 years old, he'd won it at a fair.
I could simply have flushed the fish & claimed it died.
As it was, the fish is still going strong in my pond.

[silkcityuk2]

[/color][/color]
Really? That explains why my Father-in-law looked like he hadn't slept & why OH & I had to do all their shopping, washing, cleaning etc.
Y'know, I wondered why she asked the same question every three minutes, I wondered why she recognised me one minute & not the next.
But a person with alzheimers or dementia doesn't necessarily require 24/7 nursing care.
In most cases, care is best provided in familiar surroundings, taking the person out to a day centre to give the carer a break can be an extremely distressing time for the carer, sufferer, day care staff & clients.


EXACTLY.
The state will no longer provide for the people who fought for this freedom we now enjoy.
IMO, the state is too busy pandering to obscure little cliques and spongers.
When my mum was in the middlesex, most of their staff were busy with the immigrants who simply turned up & demanded free treatment for the many diseases they brought with them.

A junkie can wander in off the streets and get free needles, we have to pay for the needles we use.
Our patients have to have injections or samples taken through no fault of their own, everything that happens has to be paid for somewhere along the line.

If you really, honestly believe that our elderly/terminally ill are being ripped off, can I suggest you open your own nursing home?
Your startup costs alone will equate to the national debt of a third world country.
Alternatively.
yes it is a rip off
if i could afford to i would,but i wouldnt charge £800 a week
and the care would be no less to what anybody else gets now





You can campaign to have all nursing homes closed down, fill up the hospital beds - and then you'll be whingeing because the elderly - who, let's face it, have had their time- are blocking a bed needed by a valuable member of the community (one who is contributing financially to society).
are you sure? had their time? what gives you or anybody else the right to decide when its time to die????????????
dont you think the elderly have paid there dues 10 times over and are just as entitled to the same care as a paying customer???

And what about others in society who need care?
There are thousands of disabled people out there (I'm thinking people with learning disabilities) who need residential care - who do you think provides this care? It isn't social services anymore, certainly not in this county, - they've all been sold out to private - again, average costs are £700 per week. On the whole, this is paid by the state, out of our taxes.
But the majority of these people have never paid into the system that they are draining - do they deserve to take from a pot they've never contributed to? At least my patients paid in all their lives (or I presume most did).
Where do we stop?
Babies born with problems require specialist treatment, at least the state has to pay (for most of it anyway). But what happens when they are no longer under the umbrella of child care & still need 24/7 care?
Should we have done something about it as soon as they were born?
Perhaps you would agree with some historical figures? One, in particular saw the elderly, frail, disabled, mentally impaired, blind and even people from other races as being undesirable. Where does it end?

A few years ago, my son's goldfish developed a problem. I took it to the vet & he gave me some medication which cleared the problem. It cost me almost £50.
people cannot believe I would pay £50 to take a goldfish to the vet, it's a rip off.
The goldfish was 10 years old, he'd won it at a fair.
I could simply have flushed the fish & claimed it died.
As it was, the fish is still going strong in my pond.

if you mean staying at home with family
then you are talking compete crap
in most cases acorrding to doctors family are not equiped to deal with there family member and are advised to seek profesional help
thats is unless the social workers and doctors i delt with are talking crap

[silkcityuk2]

A few years ago, my son's goldfish developed a problem. I took it to the vet & he gave me some medication which cleared the problem. It cost me almost £50.
people cannot believe I would pay £50 to take a goldfish to the vet, it's a rip off.
The goldfish was 10 years old, he'd won it at a fair.
I could simply have flushed the fish & claimed it died.
As it was, the fish is still going strong in my pond.

saving someone or somethings life is a hell of a lot differant to ripping off oaps for there future care

[sludgeguts]

family are not equiped to deal with there family member and are advised to seek profesional help

That'd be why my f-i-l had no 'professional' help to look after his wife despite her alzheimers being very severe & perhaps the same reasons apply to why my 87y/o neighbour is looking after his 90y/o wife.
My neighbour has a carer in twice a day - to get her up & put her to bed & change dressings.
Last week he was knocking on my door, worried that she wasn't well - she had a chest infection, rushed to hospital where they blitzed her with antibiotics. A couple of days later they wanted to send her home - despite the enormous bedsores she's now developed!
So much for professional help.

"are you sure? had their time? what gives you or anybody else the right to decide when its time to die????????????
dont you think the elderly have paid there dues 10 times over and are just as entitled to the same care as a paying customer???"
If I really thought that, do you think I would have devoted the last 50 years to the caring profession in one capacity or another?
It was a 'tongue-in-cheek' statement, along with the one about all the disabled or people with LD who Haven't contibuted to the system in any way, shape or form.

Of course, I still believe the state purse is being chronically squeezed by all the spongers.

[sludgeguts]

yes it is a rip off
if i could afford to i would,but i wouldnt charge £800 a week
and the care would be no less to what anybody else gets now

OK, you're the one with all the answers.
How much would you charge and breakdown the costs for me.
I'd really love to know.

[silkcityuk2]

OK, you're the one with all the answers.
How much would you charge and breakdown the costs for me.
I'd really love to know.

if i had all the answers i would be doing what tony blair does only better

[silkcityuk2]

That'd be why my f-i-l had no 'professional' help to look after his wife despite her alzheimers being very severe & perhaps the same reasons apply to why my 87y/o neighbour is looking after his 90y/o wife.
My neighbour has a carer in twice a day - to get her up & put her to bed & change dressings.
Last week he was knocking on my door, worried that she wasn't well - she had a chest infection, rushed to hospital where they blitzed her with antibiotics. A couple of days later they wanted to send her home - despite the enormous bedsores she's now developed!
So much for professional help.

"are you sure? had their time? what gives you or anybody else the right to decide when its time to die????????????
dont you think the elderly have paid there dues 10 times over and are just as entitled to the same care as a paying customer???"
If I really thought that, do you think I would have devoted the last 50 years to the caring profession in one capacity or another?
It was a 'tongue-in-cheek' statement, along with the one about all the disabled or people with LD who Haven't contibuted to the system in any way, shape or form.

Of course, I still believe the state purse is being chronically squeezed by all the spongers.

have you ever seen what a severe case of alzheimers is like?
is your neighbour superman?
perhaps you can explain to me why my father was sent to a secure ward which was full of other alzheimers patients and the beds were allways full with 100 other people waiting to get in
everything i have been told was by specialists, if you are trying to tell me differant
who do you think i should believe
remembering what i have also seen with my own 2 eyes