Case Studies

An elderly person evicted from a care home can be very unsettling when they are transferred to a new and unfamilar surrounding. This of course is escalated during Covid when family can’t go and see the new home or even visit.

Jacqui and her mother before it was told she 'required' nursing care and soon after served notice

Jacqui contacted Care Campaign for the Vulnerable saying she was told in a 'terse' telephone call by a social worker her elderly mother who has dementia would be moved ''imminently'' to another care home and she was given just ''ten minutes'' notice to arrive at the new home but wasn't allowed to go in with her mother even wearing full PPE. Jacqui told CCFTV, ''It was the most heartless phone call I have ever received. I couldn't believe how the social worker spoke to me. This was my elderly sick mother and not his. I have every right to be concerned and upset for her. Coming off the transfer bus my mother was traumatised. She saw me but I could not go near her. She spotted I was there and must have recognised me because she shouted out ''Am I going home''? It was utterly heartbreaking. I decided to video how upset she was to show what these cruel evictions do to vulnerable elderly. She started crying and getting distressed and I couldn't even comfort her. The staff member took her by the hand and led her in. I don't even know what the home is like as I couldn't visit to check it out.

''My mother's move could have waited - there was no reason it had to happen during Covid and when families can't ensure alternative care homes are safe to go to.''

I dont' know the staff or the manager. You wouldn't do this to a pet dog. This has left me utterly bereft. I have raised a complaint about the social worker. He said to me in a phone call when I told him I hadn't a clue what the home was like and my mother was now living there. He retorted ''Why do you need to know... ? All care homes are the same! '' How ignorant.

I recorded our conversation. Thankfully now my mother has been assigned another social worker and a complaint has been put in about him. Moving care homes especially with dementia and being vulnerable is very distressing and even more so during COVID. This eviction only happened when they said my mother needed nursing needs and after I complained. My mother only takes two tablets a day and doesn't have nursing needs. She has no more nursing needs than the other residents at the home. They wanted her out because I had raised issues in her care. I am outraged this has happened and there was no reason on this earth a move could not have waited. The home just wanted my mother out and gave no thought to her or the consequences of moving her during Covid knowing she was going to a strange environment and I couldn't go with her. It is utterly heartbreaking.''

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable support families through evictions and we understand they can be served in the best interest of a vulnerable resident. We are receiving correspondence from families saying evictions during the COVID pandemic should not be allowed unless under extreme circumstances because they say families can't visit the new placement due to visiting restrictions. If interested in this case study please contact ccftv.cares@gmail.com