In a heart-wrenching story, Rebecca Metcalf is caught in a daunting battle with the care system to secure her mum Marie’s well-being. After suffering four strokes in two years, 57-year-old Marie now faces severe mobility and cognitive challenges. Most shockingly, she fell out of her hospital bed ten times, only to be advised to wear a helmet for protection.
Once fiercely independent, Marie’s life changed drastically in June this year. Desperate to find the right care solution, Rebecca and her family moved Marie to Finch Manor care home in Liverpool. Despite being a good facility, her care package is riddled with bureaucracy and funding issues. NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board originally provided 20 hours of one-to-one support, but it’s been abruptly cut to 11, leaving Rebecca and her family scrambling to fill the 13-hour gap each day.
Emotionally drained and battling her own challenges, Rebecca juggles raising two children with autism whilst advocating tirelessly for her mum. Her frustration is palpable: “Mum’s covered in bruises from falls, yet they want us to slap a helmet on her. It’s simply not enough.”
Rebecca’s plea aims to spark a wider discussion on the challenges of the current health and social care systems. “No one should have to fight so hard just to ensure their loved one’s safety. This needs to change.” Her call for action highlights the daily struggles many families face, as they navigate a system stretched thin.
Marie’s days now revolve around constant check-ins from agency staff and family, a far cry from the independence she once enjoyed. As the family continues to push for improved care, their story sheds light on the urgent need for reform in healthcare funding and policy, ensuring safety and dignity for all vulnerable individuals.