I am a carer, the question I have is about a gentleman in particular. He is newly diagnosed with dementia, lost his wife and depressed. My company has just gone in and it’s all new, social services are involved. However, nothing much is being done about this matter - he lives in a flat he has lived in many years, it is disgusting. He is a heavy smoker the air is so thick, cigarette ends everywhere, grease on the walls cupboards, white curtains are orange, carpets thick with years of muck and filth, it is really really bad. Our company provides 1 hour cleaning a week however it’s so bad you just don’t know where to start usually will end up doing (pots, wiping sides, laundry, I have tried to wiping other surfaces such as fridge, cooker and cupboards but literally doesn’t touch the surface. Even hoovering up makes the floors look no better at all. It’s not really my area of expertise, I feel it needs a professional to go in and really sort it out. Obviously this is a service user and not a member of my family so I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do or if anyone has experienced this? I was thinking maybe there’s cleaning charities that do this for the elderly I’m not sure, any help would be great.
Keep bringing this to the attention of your company and social services. You say it is all new. This situation will require more hours be allotted for deep cleaning as well as different areas of expertise by several experts. There won't be a solution overnight, it will take time and the coordination of a few experts.
One hour a week? Where can we send your superwoman cape?
Do you have the choice to choose your clients?
I did have a neighbor with these problems. 4-5 neighbors had him on their radar and would help out when he asked, or would allow it. The first caregiver (or carer) would actually run (physically run) to the laundry room to get the 4 hours minimum work done. It became twice weekly.
The home delivered meals volunteers from the senior center brought him a microwave, but I had to teach him how to use it, putting a label on the only button he was to use. The fire department tarped his roof from the rain. Emergency services came to pick him up when he fell, refusing transport to the hospital. He got a piece of carpet and layed it over the dirty one. Over a period of a year, things were getting done, his home looked improved, and he smoked outside. He should not have lived alone in his declining condition. It became obvious when he would leave his hot delivered meals in the laundry room for neighbors to eat.
I am in the U.S., you are in Britain?