Safeguarding

In the run up to publication of my new book Carers and Caring; the One Stop Guide; how to care for older relatives and friends I am sharing an A to Z of some practical solutions learned from research and experience that feature in the book. If you think any problems have been missed you can email me and tell me, and I’ll make sure they are covered in the next edition and online on my website at www.juneandrews.net.  Today S is for Safeguarding.

Protecting people who are at risk is known as ‘safeguarding’.

All local authorities have safeguarding policies. The aim is to support the person to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. 

I am the safeguarding lead and the sort of case I’ve looked into recently included one where an older lady seemed to be making unexplained withdrawals from her bank account. In another case there was poor care being provided by a home care agency in someone’s house. There seemed to be neglect over a period of weeks and the lady was looking unwell, and obviously losing weight. In both cases it was not the lady who reported it, but a concerned neighbour. (Social worker)

Safeguarding enquiries should be made where a person who has need for care is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect. You might report a service provider to safeguarding if you think the resident is not being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions, with informed consent. It could be that the care workers are failing to do their job properly. Care workers might raise a safeguarding issue if they are worried about the nature of the relationship between the person cared for and their carer and whether the carer is able to provide the necessary care or is neglecting the person or even abusing them. 

Carers can be abused too

It is not unknown for an elderly or vulnerable spouse to be abused by the person they are trying to care for and to suffer from self-neglect. Being isolated and not getting any practical or emotional support increases the risk of abuse of carers. So a carer can be the person who raises the concern, being vulnerable to harm or abuse, or they can be the abuser themselves. In circumstances where the carer has reached their limits, the safeguarding process can bring together a group of people representing health, social work, even police and other relevant other bodies to decide what can be done to help and to keep the situation safe. 

Mrs X was the carer for her husband, who had been diagnosed with dementia. The GP noticed that she had unexplained bruising and was generally anxious, especially in the presence of her husband. (Social worker)

Unintentional harm or neglect may be prevented by extra support, or it might be that other agencies should be involved to monitor the situation.

There is much more about safeguarding in  Carers and Caring: The One-Stop Guide: How to care for older relatives and friends - with tips for managing finances and accessing the right support  available from all good bookshops in May 2022

Three hints:

1.     Both carers and cared for may need support and protection

2.     Local authorities must listen when concerns are raised

3.     The solution may be more support, or replacing the carer with an agency