Care home OAP died after losing 8st in 18 months

Alexander was left dirty and unfed, claim family

THE family of a care home resident who died after losing eight stone in less than 18 months claim he was left dirty and unfed and given too much medication.

Alexander Whigham, 74, died at Livingston Care Home in March.

Step-daughter Susan Kyle said: “To see someone go from normal weight to skin and bones in front of our eyes was horrific.

“I was worried for his safety and wondered what would have happened if we were not visiting.”

Susan said Alexander was regularly left alone with meals despite being unable to move and having

HORRIFIC Alexander Whigham was often left without meals no vision on his right side. Four Seasons Health Care, As a result, she said, he Susan described how went without meals or Alexander had been found had to eat old or cold food. “in a dirty bed, soiled with

Susan said: “If food was faeces and food, with no left on the right-hand side covers and no clothing on.” of the bed, he couldn’t see She also told us that it. No one was coming staff failed to adjust his through to feed him.” medication when he

In one of several lost weight, with the complaints the family result that “he was being made to home operators overpres c r i bed and was really, really drowsy”. Four Seasons passed control of the home to another operator in May.

It said residents’ care and safety was its top priority, and it had tried to address the family’s concerns with help for Alexander to eat and multiple reviews of his medication.

The Care Inspectorate said it had been unable to fully investigate a complaint by Alexander’s family because of the transfer of operator but his care had clearly fallen “far short”.

The home had been served with a formal improvement notice in October 2019, and the transfer of provider was “viewed as a positive step towards improving care”.