Council's pay out after Copthorne care home resident with dementia found "unresponsive" by daughter

The woman was taken to hospital when her daughter found her "in a soiled pad and wet nightdress in full view of other residents".

West Sussex County Council have issued a pay out to a care home resident's family after her daughter found her "unresponsive" on a visit in 2020. 

The council paid the family a total of £1,200 after Copthorne's Francis Court care home was found to have "failed to meet the personal and continence care needs" of the resident when her daughter was not there to provide assistance in between October and November 2020. Among other issues, the resident's daughter reported that her mum was found "sitting in a chair in the lounge, in a soiled pad and wet nightdress, in full view of other residents". 

Referring to the resident as Mrs Y, the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman said: "I am satisfied on balance Mrs Y did not receive care as she should have done from October 9 to November 18. 

"The care home should have either reviewed and increased Mrs Y's provision or given notice because it could no longer meet her needs.

"The fact the care home took neither action at that time is fault."

The resident had been "refusing personal care" at the time of the incident. 

Angi Knight, Care UK's regional director, admitted that "one of the most challenging situations our teams need to deal with is when a resident refuses the support we are trying to offer. 

"As part of our learning following this case, we have improved the processes we use to raise these matters with local authorities, so they are able to better support families when alternate placements are requirement". 

As well as the pay out, the council have agreed to provide further training or guidance to care home staff and ensure that they escalate "concerns about residents' health appropriately".

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