"Dementia care - absolutely abysmal"

My mother was diagnosed with mixed dementia in July of last year. In January she had a chest infection which caused a severe downturn in her condition. I was very concerned about Mums safety so I filled in an emergency referal to social services. This is the only part of the system that I feel did what it was supposed to do.

I had an initial phone call from the emergency team but before they could do anything Mum was hospitalised. On discharge from the hospital she was placed in a pathway 3 bed at a home in a different area of Cornwall. This led to a constant abdication of responsibility from both social workers and the mental health team as the ones who had been involved initially did not deal with the area mums temporary residence was in.

This lack of continuity of care led to delays in prescriptions being issued, medications being reviewed and continuity of care. The Social worker blamed the mental health team and the Mental Health team just refused to return my calls. The whole process to review someones medication when they are in a life limiting situation is farcical.

The only time mum has seen a psychiatrist is for the DOLS requirements. Mum has severe dysphasia and extreme anxiety yet I see no evidence of any kind of support beyond the carers spending what time they can with her in the home where she lives. She is trapped in a terror which she cannot articulate and has been failed dreadfully by the mental health team.

The only communication point I have is the actual home where Mum lives. I have had no contact from anyone else beyond the discussion of the DOLS.