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A man unhappy with the way his elderly mother was treated at an elderly care facility recently used Facebook to air his complaints.
In his post on Tuesday (September 15), Royston Tan wrote: “It is a shame to treat a defenseless old man with such callous and inhuman treatment. [sic]. “
His 76-year-old mother, who has dementia, attends daycare at St Luke’s ElderCare Hougang Center. That day she felt sick and vomited after lunch, she said.
Tan then took her to see a doctor and was horrified to find vomit not only on her clothes but also on the inside of her mask.
According to Tan, the care staff had put the dirty mask back on her mother after helping her clean it.
https://www.facebook.com/royston.pheng/posts/10160217821009689
“My mother did not dare to ask for a new mask because she does not want to disturb others,” she told Lianhe Wanbao.
But what puzzled him was why the care staff did not replace the dirty mask, as his family had placed three new ones in his mother’s bag.
“Can’t you just offer a clean mask for this poor old man? Does it really cost you that much to buy a new mask?” [sic]Tan asked.
The elderly care center did not fulfill its basic responsibility, he said, adding that good hygiene for the elderly is especially important during the ongoing pandemic.
This wasn’t the first time caregivers had neglected their duties, Tan said.
On several occasions, her mother, who suffers from incontinence, was left in dirty diapers for hours, causing her to break out, Tan said.
Despite numerous comments, the situation did not improve.
In his latest complaint to the nursing home, Tan said that a staff member repeatedly apologized over the phone, but that he intends to file complaints with the Integrated Care Agency and the Ministry of Health.
“I thought my mother could participate in activities with other older people and be well cared for in the center,” she said.
https://www.facebook.com/StLukesElderCare/posts/3780703628623982
In response to the allegations, St Luke’s ElderCare management said Wednesday that they are investigating the incident and have since contacted the family members involved.
“Any such treatment of an elderly person in our care would not be consistent with our values of care.
“We will take action if we find any errors and will review our processes to see if they can be improved. We remain committed to providing the best care for our seniors.”
