In response to Protecting Our Parents, Series 1 Episode 2 with Kathleen and Leonard.

Why is it that we do not provide the option of 24 hour home care? Is it due to cost? As it seems to me that with the amount of home visits they received (11 between them) and the costs they accumulated in 999 calls this would work out a cheaper alternative and they would both be happy?

I feel that the episode seems to portray Kathleen as being rather stubborn.And although I do appreciate that she did seem to demonstrate some memory loss, overall the inaccuracy in diagnosing her mental capacity seemed to me only due to the fact she did not engage with other peoples opinions of ‘the right care for her’ going forward.

The social worker seemed very clear on the fact that moving them away from their home would not be in their best interest and rightly so, however despite having increased visits from carers the 999 calls continued and this is something that would need to be addressed.

From an outsiders perspective it would seem the obvious choice to move to a care home which provides 24 hour service but as she is adamant that this is not what she wants then why shouldn’t we provide 24 hour home care?

This video shows only an isolated incident, I would be very surprised if this was not a recurring social issue rather than a private problem. My thoughts suggest it most certainly is a public issue due to the fact ambulances’ are being sent out to attend to Kathleen’s ‘needs’ (not emergency situation), thus disabling their use for more critical needs of the service to the wider public. ‘An issue, in fact, often involves a crisis in institutional arrangements, and often too involves what Marxists call ‘contradictions’ or ‘antagonism.”(Wright Mills.C,1959,The Sociological Imagination,p.9)

Moving forward, firstly, I believe more time should be invested into looking at the options of providing 24 hour home care and comparing those costs to those incurred due to not providing this service.But most importantly recognizing the benefits it would provide towards the well being of service users like Kathleen and Leonard.