Care Quality Commission monitoring deaths in homes

When she was in her 80s, Kathleen Reid developed Alzheimer’s. She had spent her war years in the land army, but her family could only watch as the disease progressively robbed her of her memories and her ability to look after herself.

When she could no longer cope she moved into a residential home which offered care for people with dementia: The Poplars, in Mountsorrel near Loughborough.

She was 88 years old. The home seemed ideal in 2008 when she moved in.

There were some issues, but her family say they became more concerned in the summer of 2010.

Daughter Joyce Zannoni, 62, said: “Every time I went up there was something not quite right. For example, her bed was wet, the floor was wet. And then the finding of medications in her drawers and in her clothing, so you know, she wasn’t having her medication obviously.”

The home says it checked Mrs Reid was taking medicines once aware of the problem.

But by the autumn of 2011, Mrs Reid’s family were becoming increasingly concerned.

“I got there on the Saturday with my sister-in-law and we found flowers that were dead in a vase. She called me and said ‘I think you’d better come up to the room, Joyce, because there’s damp all over the wall.

“As you went up the stairs and opened a door, this stench just hit you coming through,” she said.

The home says damp was only apparent after a downpour the night before.

But the family and health professionals were also worrying about Kathleen’s weight.

A GP said she needed liquidised food – which she didn’t always get – and she was moved to hospital.

Kathleen Reid died 14 days after leaving the Poplars.

A safeguarding investigation by the county council confirmed she had suffered neglect as her weight loss was not reported to doctors in a timely manner.

And the Care Quality Commission (CQC) concluded after an investigation at that time that there were major concerns about the care and welfare of residents and that some people went for long periods without adequate food or drink.

An inquest will investigate the cause of Kathleen Reid’s death later this year.

The home told the BBC that Mrs Reid’s weight loss was consistent with the progression of her illness; that she was encouraged to eat by staff and was provided with sandwiches and finger food throughout the day.

They deny there is any evidence of poor care or neglect, and say a new manager is in place and the CQC’s most recent report shows improvements.

Source BBC News