We are campaigning to stop Cornwall Adult Social Care, and any associated parties, claiming payment for a £50,000 care bill  from an elderly dementia sufferer, who was forcibly removed from her home against her wishes and held, under false pretenses, by an unqualified and unscreened carer, who was encouraged by those that held Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), despite warnings over the carers troubling behaviour.

We are instead asking that Cornwall Adult Social Care, and any associated parties, redirect their payment request to those that took this lady and held her by deception, which incurred this cost. In addition, we are asking Cornwall Adult Social Care to change the rules on costs, when they suspect questionable/deceitful practice by those in a position of legal trust and not to seek remuneration from the victims of these people

In this case, the carer, failing to properly observe their client, had allowed this lady to fall down stairs while she was attempting to empty her own commode, resulting in broken bones. On arrival of an ambulance, unexplained discrepancies appeared on a Treatment Escalation Plan, (TEP form), implying that the patient had established a previous wish to not be resuscitated, but no associated paperwork, capacity assessments or medical verification could be found to uphold the claim and, to date, they never have.

The carer had also written libelous letters to doctors, implying that certain family members were mentally ill, and made numerous bogus accusations to the police in an attempt to enforce doubt upon their sanity, culminating in the arrival of an armed police unit, who, upon investigation, found no case to answer. The carer had shown physical violence towards at least one family member and had caused intentional damage to their clients property under the instruction of those that held LPA, so that it would actively prevent certain family members from visiting their client. The elderly lady was left to meet the cost of repairs for this damage. This is blatant abuse of someone who lacks capacity.

The carer continued to inform family members that Social services were giving the instructions and that they, the family, had to do as they were told or there would be consequences. Social services knew nothing about it. On raising repeated concerns regarding the conduct of the carer with those that held LPA, the concerns were continually dismissed. The reason why has never been adequately answered.

The carer then, with the knowledge of those that held LPA, took the client to their private home, where the elderly lady was left to sleep on a sofa, without access to proper bathing or toilet facilities, for several weeks.  All attempts to recover the client and return her to her rightful home by her family, were met with threats and lies regarding the involvement of social services by both the carer and those that held LPA. 

Once Social Services had been officially contacted by the family, they stated that they had no knowledge regarding this case and, furthermore, they would not issue any request for any person to be removed from their home without prior investigation.

All attempts to obtain access to the carers property to assess the clients well-being by social services were denied. Social services finally gained access after threatening to have police enter the property by force.

Upon discovering the state of the lady inside, she was immediately transferred to a care home for the situation to be investigated. Several months later, due to repeated blocking by those that held LPA, the clients return to her home continued to be frustrated, adding to the clients  distress, confusion and costs.

Finally, due to the work of some truly wonderful and compassionate  people, this lady was able to return to the only place she knew as home. Back to her loving family and to her beloved dog. She should never had been taken from her home and this action is believed to have worsened her health, which has led to further care needs which she must now pay for.

So, why should this lady or her family, who were powerless to stop what these individuals did, out of their life savings, pay for the actions of those whose intentions were questionable at best and who were in a position of trust and legal responsibility? Surely, payment of this bill should rest upon the carer and those that held LPA? Failure to recover these funds will mean that more costs will be added, not only to the individual, but also to Adult Social Care when this lady has no more money to pay, and then requires additional funding, something she spent her life saving to avoid.

Please sign and share this petition and help to stop this from happening to this lady and to other people, as another person may not be as lucky as this lady was. It is imperative that Cornwall Social Care look into this issue and change the rules, particularly as this country steps towards allowing laws for assisted dying. Where there are vulnerable people, questionable motives, unregulated carers, incomplete paperwork, inheritances to be had and LPA holders who consider themselves unanswerable to higher authorities, questionable and dubious behaviour will undoubtedly follow and the vulnerable will remain at significant risk of abuse in multiple forms.

Thank you.