But you correctly point out there are some saints in these homes. My mum was not starved, she took far more than 6 minutes to be organised into the shower and then helped to dress, ready for the day. The management gave that task to the very compassionate, best respected and experienced carer in the home. Other carers had extra work to do as a consequence but they knew Picastoc's mum simply needed that time and in everything else she was easy to manage and they loved her.
I have spent hundreds of hours in nursing homes over a five year period. I saw laughter, patience, kindness, care, periods of exercise,music, excursions, singing, bus trips etc. My mum never complained and after spending time with me, in the early days of her care, she was anxious to return before nightfall to her meal and back to her room.
I would love to have cared for her myself and told carers I was quite jealous of them. She was a strong and courageous woman and very independent, not wanting to be looked after by me. I wept many a tear...
during those five years, before her death, age 97.
I had refurbished her unit but despite passing it on her way back to the home, she became less and less interested in it. She just wanted to return back to her new "home".
