Feedback on moving into residential care

The idea of moving into residential care scares me. I was talking about the proposed changes to PIP to someone I know. I said I might email Starmer about it. See if he fancies swapping places with me and having his money cut . She described me as ' a person on umpteen meds, in constant pain and housebound unless a weightlifter bodily plants me in a wheelchair and wheels me out' .

I was a bit put out to be honest! More than a bit actually!! I'm more than that. I've lost a lot of my independence but I've every intention of keeping what I've still got! And I'm going to do it in my own home

The reason I'm so against going into residential care is because I've worked in one. It was for people with learning disabilities. Our residents were very well looked after, we'd a high ratio of staff to residents. But not all places are like that.

My Dad was in residential care. It was ok but understaffed. Plus not particularly good management and low staff morale And not all of them were good at the job. I think you have to have a certain mindset to care for people. Doubt anyone does it for the money! My Dad was more than capable of speaking out if he wasn't happy about anything and he'd got family at the back of him. Not all of the residents were in his situation though

I also worked as a carer in the community. That was a better way of being looked after if you need to be. That said, I refused ' professional 'carers. I've worked with some very good carers, I've worked with some I wouldn't let look after my goldfish!

I'll stay as I am! Independent . In my own home with my dog and only myself to please. My ' weightlifter ' friend visits two or three times a week. He did some gardening for me Tuesday and tomorrow is online grocery shopping day so he'll sort all that out for me , hoover and do anything else he thinks needs doing. He's great! But he's not ' planting me in a wheelchair '! I'm stopping in . Unless it's sunny and he wants to go in the garden. Must admit I did enjoy doing a bit of pruning the other day.

There probably is a market for care homes. Not all people can manage in their own home. But only if they're well run with good, kind ,competent staff. And enough of them.

Still not for me though