General Chat

Do you think it is fair to ask residents of a nursing home to pay for entertainment,on top of their fees.? Perhaps Im feeling sensitive about this,but half of the residents suffer from Dementia,and dont know or appreciate if anybody is there or not. The fees are very high at approx £480 PER WEEK,the chiropidist used to be £6 now increased to £12,he only cuts their toenails,nothing else. What do you think,would appreciate your opinions please. regards trish

Forgot to add,each resident was charged £8.50,for a woman to play and sing on the piano which is already there. There are approx 30 residents so that makes her fee £255,for 2 hours work. trish xx

Do you mean in-house entertainment? if you do, then certainly not. The Fees without doubt should/would cover this activity, in fact some would call it occupational therapy.

Hi I think you will find that most homes would make a small charge..The one where my Mum is occasionally have things like this but it is down to individual choice. Some want to take part, others don't. They had a trip to the theatre last week, which they had to pay for, but Mum said no.. seen it all before..so she wouldn't go, ok so she saved her money, but she may have enjoyed it - even though she wouldn't have remembered anything about it afterwards. It is very difficult for the homes to find the right balance sometimes... Lynda

Trish no I don't think they should pay for entertainment sounds as if they pay enough out Luv Jo x

Hi Bella, Thats what I thought,I am thinking of mentioning it to other relatives that visit,but dont want to make a fuss,but it seems a rip off to me. trish

Trish £255 for 2 hours!! sounds to me like financial abuse. If i were you i would definatley be contacting the governing body in your area.

i cant understand how they can justify all that money to live in a care home,the government need to dip into there pockets it needs showing up,your right trish xxjoy

Hi Lynda, I can understand about visits to the theatre etc,but most of residents cant walk,and dont go out,any visits out,would expect to be paid for of course. It does seem a rather highcharge though. trish

Regarding the fees.... If they have savings and property they have to pay the full amount.. Mum has to pay £420 a week, but what else do you do. I am fighting to keep her house at the moment. Told her that its not being sold. Just hoping that the government step it and change the law soon so that they at least can keep their property. Lynda

I would have thought it a little OTT with fees that high. i suppose they have the choice to opt out though. agree with theatre being extra - tickets need to be paid for + transport costs I think i would be asking who the in-house entertainers were - some worker rellie maybe?

Some of the care assistants that work there,are always tired,only because after working their full quota,say full time hours,they go to work for another nursing home,but as agency workers,so they get a higher rate of pay. The bosses shouldnt allow this,as the staff are not giving 100% to their proper full time job. This has got me so worried leaving my relative in a place like this, I think I will have to investigate further. thanks trish xxx

Hi Jess, If these residents dont know about anything,they dont have a choice of opting out,the relatives just get landed with a bill. trish xxx

No I don't think they should have to pay. My Dad has to pay £650 a week for the priviledge of being kept in such a Home, we were forced to sell his house to pay for his care, & he still has to pay for haircuts & chiropody!!!! It would be cheaper to put him in a 3 star hotel for the week!! My Dad fought fought for this country, paid his NI & his tax (in fact he still pays tax on his pensions!) he is mentally ill, so why isn't he treated the same way as a young mentally ill person? :0( Joan

Trish . Do you make a point of going in at akward times?? I always try to go in during meal times... when they are dishing out the pills... when they have just got them up ect Sounds nasty I know, but that is the time you will see how good the set up is. I have never been refused entry yet!!!! Lyndax

Hi Joan, Sorry about your dear Dad,I agree with every thing you are saying,my dear Mums savings are nearly gone now,and to think she scrimped and saved all her life,when she could have bought things to have made her life more comfortable when she lived her own life. Makes me mad,to think when her savings are gone,then and only then does the Social Services pay for their care. Getting madder by the minute here. trish xxxx

I would think a nominal fee is ok such as £1-£2 each resident..if they wish (with tea and cake/ biccies thrown in) What happens if they dont pay, are they barred from the room ? also paying £1 for bingo, where the winnings is made up of the money taken. Sometimes a small nominal fee, such as the above, as long as the residents get something out of it is ok, as it gives some residents a feeling of being independant with their money, especially if they cant go out to spend it in the first place. Elaine x

Hi Lynda, Yes I go at different times of the day,just to see whats going on etc,Mum is not on medication,they have a day file on all residents,that gets written up daily,and I can ask to see this at anytime. trish xxx

Trish, I'm sure there are entertainers out there who'd entertain them for an hour or so for nothing. I'm a part-time entertainer, and £255 for 2 hours' work? Tell me where it is! lol. Far too excessive. So I guess you could say that no, I don't think they should be charged for that. x

Hi Elaine, They have their afternoon tea/cake biccies,which is part of their care, a lot of the residents cant play bingo,they would forget what numbers were called,(had to have a chuckle there),or else I would cry. trish xxx