Letter: Look after your children – they choose your care home, and that's best remembered
A letter from David Fleming:
I find myself writing with a big heart in response to a moving article in a freebie magazine about care homes, especially as my life is in its twilight zone.
These residences are arguably the biggest soul searching decisions which have to be made in placement of loved ones.
It is a big life change for arriving residents with new surroundings, meeting new people and a departure from home routines and - most devastatingly - a loss of independence, and for many a loss of status.
Fresh starts can be awesome!
The essential criteria for care staff is dedication, love and compassion, often patience beyond belief.
With my loving wife Christine, family, friends and care workers from the professionally run home care service, I remain not ready for a care home, having support in my flat sustaining me.
With respect to the excellent carers in these homes, some who look after me at my abode, and do likewise to residential clients, I am not sure if I would fit into a new environment.
At the end of the day we are talking about institutions with restrictions and a system which I couldn't resonate with, being fiercely independent and politically incorrect with no mainstream opinions - fixed in my ways.
My prevailing circumstances must essentially stay!
A big challenge for care home staff is their dealings with sons and daughters as they seek a terminal future for their parents.
Unfortunately there are families who see care homes as dumping grounds which do not serve the interests of staff and residents alike.
Such neglect is an abomination!
Getting back to basics, there is an expression, ‘look after your children – they choose your care home!’. It is an overall picture!
Crosby, Stills and Nash had a hit with ‘Treat Your Children Well’.
That record could have been recorded yesterday!
David Fleming, Norfolk