Son says 87-year-old Stamford father died following move from care home
A frail 87-year-old man died just days after being forced to move care homes due to staff shortages.
Bob Cave, a retired teacher from Ketton, died just four days after staff shortages forced his ‘eviction’ from the Priory Court Care Home in Stamford.
Bob suffered a nerve condition which meant he could not do anything for himself, but in October, the care home told his family they could no longer look after him after December 13.
Son Julian Cave said: "They forced a dying man who couldn’t speak for himself to move from a place where he was happy and settled and where the staff cared about him. He was so vulnerable. The move certainly made him die sooner than he would have had he stayed there.”
Bob moved into the home earlier this year, with the family paying £4,600 a month, and around £50,000 to date.
Julian said the home did a ‘good job’ caring for his dad, but had decided agency staff were too expensive.
He continued: “It all comes down to money and it’s a disgrace.”
The London-based designer said his dad had been ill for some time and the family knew his death was coming.
Bob died peacefully in his sleep after being moved to Rutland Care Village in Oakham.
Julian added: “I did say the move would kill him if we moved him. They told my dad in his dying weeks. They should have said we are happy to look after him until he had found somewhere. I just think it’s disgraceful.”
In October, when the Cave family were told they had to make alternative provision for Bob, Avery Care, who operate Priory Court, said it could no longer offer nursing care and seven residents would have to move.
At the time, Avery Care commercial director Mark Danis blamed national and local skill shortages for the home operator having to withdraw such provision and focus on residential and dementia care.
Such shortages, he said, were down to various government not planning for an ageing population with increasingly complex care needs and not enough people being trained for roles in the care sector.
An Avery spokesman told the Mercury: “Our thoughts are with Mr Cave’s family at this time. Prior to his discharge, Mr Cave was assessed by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, and in the presence of a relative.
“Avery Healthcare once again regrets the reluctant step to have de-registered Priory Court from nursing care, but this is a sector-wide issue, and without sufficient nursing staff, a safe, compliant and high quality service, that residents and their families would expect, cannot be provided.
“Avery Healthcare can confirm that all seven residents affected by this change have been successfully moved to other nursing providers with the support of the local authorities, the Clinical Commissioning Group, and the resident’s families.”
The care home in Priory Road received a ‘require improvement ‘ rating from the Care Quality Commission in October.
The CQC found several breaches of regulations, which the home said it was ‘urgently addressing’, with the inspectors also reporting ‘insufficient staff to meet people’s needs’.
