I am a Carer for my Mum, who is 88 and physically frail but still has mental capacity. Mum can be very difficult and challenging and has traits of narcissism, Obsessive and Compulsive behaviours and Oppositional Defiance, all of which I have dealt with all my life.
I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, so have engaged a Care Agency to be with my mum three days a week for two hours each time. Just so I can rest up and attend my own hospital appointments.
Today I called round to Mum’s with some paperwork during the period her carer was there. The Carer had taken Mum out in her wheelchair, which I was delighted about, but I found that all the doors of the house had been left wide open, including the garage and back doors and the patio doors in my Mum’s bedroom (she lives in a bungalow). When I rang the Care Agency to complain that their Carer hadn’t ensured that the doors were shut and locked when they went out, they said that as my Mum has capacity, it was basically her fault and not the Carers. Apparently it is not the Carers responsibility to make sure that Mum doesn’t make “unwise” decisions as they put it. I felt that it is the Carer’s responsibility whilst she is with Mum to ensure she is safe, as I do when I am caring for her. So if Mum decided to jump out in front of a car or something similar when being supervised by the Carer then that is her choice.
Has anyone else had experience of this fine line between mental capacity and responsibilities for safety?
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