"Care on the Elder Care Ward"

My mother has been a patient on an elder care ward for some time now. She's in a bay with 5 other patients. Most appear to have some degree of confusion, although my mother is neither confused nor suffering from dementia. I suppose this ward may be understaffed and that the staff are suffering from low morale; some of them certainly seem to lack training in appropriate communication with elderly patients with or without dementia.

In my opinion, some (not all) nursing and healthcare staff treat patients with condescension and disrespect. If they sit still and don't ask for anything they are left alone, bored and dispirited. If they try to speak up or move away from their chairs they are berated and chastised like naughty children. I find that some of the healthcare assistants are loud, rude and unkind in their approach.

From what I have experienced, patients are not treated as individuals, they are expected to conform and do as they are told - and much of what they are told to do it appears, is for the convenience of the nursing staff, not the patient.

The one thing that was good was that a nurse explained my mother's care to me. I feel sad and upset about the care on this ward.