Difficult job but one done well

Sir, – I wish to respond to your report (Angus residence ordered to improve infection measures, Courier, August 7) concerning an unannounced inspection to Abbey House care home on the outskirts of Kirriemuir.

My wife has been a resident for over two years and is virtually incapacitated by dementia.

Until the Covid-19 lockdown (a full week earlier than the official instruction) I visited Abbey House daily.

I have been unable to see her since mid March, but make daily phone calls.

She is unable to use the phone, but the staff give me a daily report, and she is now very much settled in the care home environment.

Abbey House has maintained a rigorous control of its lockdown integrity, and both residents and staff have tested negative.

The inspectors highlighted errors in the use of PPE, such as gloves and handling of face masks.

I would be surprised if any one of us has not been guilty of such matters.

The inspectors felt there was some lack of interaction between staff and residents in the form of activities and entertainment. Prior to lockdown, however, there was a constant stream of visiting groups and individuals providing music, dancing and regular local visitors with their dogs.

Had the inspectors been a bit later in the day, they would have witnessed members of staff playing board games with the mobile residents.

There was also a laundry complaint. Apparently the facilities are not quite up to present-day standards. Small care homes have very little cash to spend on equipment and strive to maintain standards to the best of their limited abilities.

As a small care home, Abbey House has a small, but dedicated number of staff members, mostly from the local community, so there is very little change in personnel to cause any confusion in the minds of residents.

Care workers learn their craft “on the

job” in the fashion of the old system of apprenticeships.

The training is rigorous. It is unfortunate that the care workers’ remuneration falls well short of an acceptable standard for the quality of commitment.

Harry Racionzer. Strathmore Place, Forfar.