REGARDING recent reports and letters about home care standards.

With experience of four agencies more than 18 months and many carers, it is certainly true that such work is challenging and whatever care plans specify, carers do about as much as they want to.

The most expensive agency we had at £20 per visit was supposed to be way ahead of all others, yet the plan which specified making tea meals varied and interesting — fish fingers or egg and bacon for example, saw the hour call begin with a boring old sandwich done in two minutes as it was easier for the carer.

Another carer from the agency in special measures sat through a lunch main meal texting and making no effort to assist with feeding as required.

That agency is reported to have lost 165 council clients and the result will surely be even less work to be allocated to the carers it employs.

Whatever positive spin letters appear on this page, the essential problem is a profit seeking industry that often pays basic wages, on zero-hours contracts and no pension or car mileage paid in some cases.

There were many good and dedicated carers and they deserve much better.

Inviting a stranger into the family home is an act of the greatest trust and it can be a very unsettling, although necessary life stage for an elderly relative and their family.

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