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Safeguarding the Elderly and Vulnerable during Covid

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is heartened we are receiving many messages from safeguarding professionals and care industry professionals supporting our call for a public inquiry on the handling of care homes during the pandemic. Michaela, an Independent Safeguard Consultant and Trainer spoke to CCFTV on her reasons she wants to see a public inquiry happen.

Michaela and her mother, who is also in a care home

''Covid19 has had an impact on us all over the last year but not more so than on the elderly and vulnerable who have been in Care Homes during the pandemic. The impact on their and their families lives has been enormous. It is a story that is told behind Care Home doors and for much of society goes unheard.

I have been part of this story as both the daughter of a mother who has been in a Care Home throughout the pandemic and in my role as an Independent Safeguarding Consultant. My mother had a life-changing stroke 20 months ago which has left her requiring full-time care. Despite this mum has never lost her independent, fighting spirit. What has nearly taken away has been her treatment by parts of the care sector during the pandemic.

What concerns me regarding how we have treated our elderly and vulnerable throughout the pandemic is how they have not had a voice. They have been locked away in Care Homes with their rights eroded. We know that the Coronavirus Act (2020), took away some of our human rights but for those in Care Homes, it appears to have stripped them of all rights. Government Guidance has been just that to be implemented as Care Homes decide. Good homes will do their utmost to ensure that their resident's needs are met. However, some care homes are using the guidance as a tool to exert control over both residents and their families. Some homes a year on are continuing to deny window visits and still not the following guidance by using Lateral Flow Testing and allowing families into homes as per the guidance.

Many homes are only allowing supervised visits where the carer is always present. There are very real issues regarding this practice that do not appear to be being tackled or recognised. If a resident is being subjected to any type of abuse or neglect how can they ever disclose that to visitors? They are effectively being monitored. How very frightening it must be if you are the victim of abuse, but you cannot tell your family as a representative of the home is always present. What has happened to the human rights of residents of Care Homes? Prior to Covid, we had CQC inspections, social workers, and health staff as well as relatives all going into Care Homes. These have now become almost closed off to society.

We have The Coronavirus Act (2020), which lays out guidance for Care Homes in relation to Covid. As a sector, we need to be more aware of the many Safeguarding issues that can affect residents in care homes who effectively have been left without a voice during the pandemic. It is important that we continue to recognise and respond to those Safeguarding Concerns. There are many good Care Homes we should be highlighting as beacons of,’ best practices,’ and for others to aspire to.

We must have a Public Enquiry regarding the care of our elderly and vulnerable in Care Homes during the pandemic, we owe it to them. For many, it is sadly too late''. Michaela, Independent Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer.