Ash Court staff gave my mother excellent care for six years

• I WOULD like to comment on the letters in the July 7 New Journal regarding Ash Court.  

My mother was a resident at Ash Court, for more than six years, where she received excellent care until she passed away in October 2010 at nearly 102 years of age.  

I am a lay person, but feel compelled to comment on some of the issues raised. 

1) The manager of Ash Court does visit and talk to residents, relatives and staff on a daily basis. Elderly people’s skin bruises and breaks very easily as their skin is thin and fragile, so is not necessarily a sign of abuse.  

2) I found the staff at Ash Court extremely dedicated and caring. As for being there just for the wages, I’m sure there are less stressful and better paid jobs if money is the only consideration. 

3) Personal hygiene is a priority but staff are not allowed to force or insist (they can encourage and persuade) a resident to bathe, change pads, etc. Nor are they allowed to force or insist they take medication (even life-saving) or to eat and drink. But they do help and encourage. 

4) The nature of many residents’ illness or disability, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, can make them confused and distressed. I have often been sitting next to a resident, along with nursing staff when they continually cried out for help. When asked what was wrong they replied “nothing” but continued to call out.  

Finally, regarding neighbours, a couple of years ago, on a very hot summer day, a neighbour came to Ash Court to ask for the windows to be shut as the residents’ call buzzers was “spoiling the peace and enjoyment of their garden”.

Very neighbourly!

SARAH STEVENSON
Address supplied

Vigilance

• I WAS saddened but not surprised by the alleged treatment of Maria Worrall in Ash Court Care Home in Kentish Town (Family set up camera to record gran’s care home ‘abuse’ ordeal, June 30). 

Well done to the family for their vigilance. Elder abuse is rife and, like children, these vulnerable people are unable to articulate their problems so are fair game for abusers. 

You reported that Camden pays the home around £1.6million a year. 

You also reported the arrest of a staff member and that: “After the arrest, the Town Hall sent 12 social workers to speak to residents.”

Why couldn’t these 12 have been inspecting the place before the alleged incident? 

MARY McCLORY
Bloomsbury 

Published: 14 July, 2011