This week the papers reported on one family’s “incredible relief” after they were told 88-year-old Jessie Lorrison could move into the same residential care home as her husband following her hospital discharge.
The council initially refused to place Jessie in the care home which cares for her spouse of 70 years, Ray. It said she must return home and receive care there. But after the family mounted a major social media campaign, it changed its mind.
A wonderful result for the family. But this story is concerning. And here’s why.
Why did it take a Facebook campaign for the council to listen?
Would South Tyneside council have changed its mind had the family not mounted a brilliant social media campaign? A campaign which went worldwide, collected 20,000 signatures and hit the national press? We will never know.
The family’s online plea said: “My grandmother misses her husband terribly and still wants to do what she can to care for him – even if it’s just sitting by his side holding his hand. This treatment is inhumane and cruel.”
But why did it take for a Facebook campaign to go viral before this council would take this on board? After all, it was their legal duty to consider Jessie’s wishes and priorities and promote her wellbeing when planning her care.
Keeping people out of residential care is great – if that is right for them
The council justified its original decision by telling the South Shields Gazette: “Where possible South Tyneside Council supports older people to remain independent and in their homes.”
Well that is commendable – if that is what older people want (and many do). But it doesn’t happen to be what Jessie, Ray or their family wanted.
Are councils using the laudable aim of “supporting independence” as a way to ration residential care? For years now councils, egged on by the Department of Health, have been seeking financial efficiencies. One way is to cut their spend on residential care in favour of cheaper home-based care. It means many frail and elderly people struggle on at home alone with minimal support and company. Residential care can be a positive choice – as Jessie’s story illustrates. Councils must consider this.
Where is the “person-centred” decision-making?
The Care Act promised us a world where those planning care would listen to the human beings involved. Decisions would then be made based on their wishes and priorities. As a specialist solicitor’s firm specialising in care, we know it often doesn’t happen this way.
South Tyneside made the right decision…in the end. But it is deeply worrying that it took a social media campaign to get through to them and convince them to do the right thing.