120 PILLS CARE HOME FAILED TO ADMINISTER PROPERLY

down one trouser leg. I was appalled. This was a man who was paying an extortionate amount of money to be looked after in his final years — only to be neglected and degraded at every turn.

But if that was scandalous, it was only when we moved him into his next care home — St Mary’s House, in the same town — that I realised the extent of the atrocious care he had been receiving.

While unpacking his crumpled clothes from his bag, the owner, Sylvia Warren, discovered pills he had secretly spat out and tried to hide. She counted the mixed medication and discovered 120 tablets.

She said: ‘It demonstrated neglect to the highest degree: the carers hadn’t bothered to ensure Brian was taking his much-needed medication.’

After I made a complaint, the regional director of Care UK, which was administering his previous care, Karen Seabrook, apologised.

She wrote: ‘I have addressed this concern with the senior team and put additional checking measures in place to ensure that residents are swallowing their medication and ensuring enough fluid is encouraged and taken to prevent the likelihood of this happening again.’

Brian thrived at St Mary’s House and blossomed under their attentive care. But, sadly, he began to run away as it was not a secure unit.

And so, on May 7 this year, we moved him to the award-winning Devonshire Dementia Care Unit, in New Malden, South-west London.

Given his deteriorated state, Brian is as happy as he can be.

Thankfully, he does not remember the neglect, ridicule and mistreatment he has had to endure. But I will. For if even a relation of the future Queen of the United Kingdom cannot escape the despoiled clutches of our broken dementia care system, what hope is there for any of us?