Mr. R is a 56-year-old man living in an extra care facility. He has poor mobility and speech issues and diagnosed with early-stage dementia, which affects his short-term memory and ability to process complex information. He receives daily care calls and has limited contact with family.
Over several months, Mr. R began to feel unsafe and neglected. He reported missed care visits, rough handling by a particular carer, and a lack of support with personal hygiene. However, he was unsure how to raise these concerns and feared retaliation or disbelief.
Barriers to Raising Safeguarding Alerts
- Cognitive limitations: Mr. R struggled to articulate his experiences clearly and remember specific incidents. He would get very angry which would then make his speech more slurred.
- Fear of consequences: He worried that complaining might lead to losing his care support or being moved because he was said to be uncooperative.
- Lack of trust: Previous attempts to raise concerns informally were dismissed or minimised.
- Isolation: With limited family involvement, Mr. R felt he had no-one to speak up for him.
An independent advocate from Sandwell Advocacy was introduced to him. The advocate’s role was to empower Mr. R to understand his rights, support him to express his concerns, and navigate the safeguarding process.
Support Provided
- Building rapport: The advocate spent time getting to know Mr. R, listening without judgment, and establishing trust.
- Clarifying concerns: Through gentle questioning and memory prompts, the advocate helped Mr. R identify specific incidents and patterns of neglect.
- Accessible information: The advocate explained the safeguarding process in simple terms and sent the information to him in an email; this was his preferred method of communication.
- Formal representation: With Mr. R’s consent, the advocate raised a safeguarding alert to the local authority and supported Mr, R when his allocated Social Worker visited him.
- Ongoing support: The advocate continued to support Mr, R throughout the alert, ensuring he felt safe and informed.
Outcomes
- A formal safeguarding investigation was launched, leading to a review of the care provider’s practices.
- The carer in question was removed from Mr. R’s rota, and new care worker was assigned to him.
- Mr, R’s care plan was updated to include additional support and regular welfare checks.
- He reported feeling safer, more confident, and reassured that his concerns were taken seriously.
This case highlights the vital role of independent advocacy in safeguarding older adults, especially those with cognitive impairments or limited support networks. Advocacy ensured that Mr. R’s voice was heard, his rights upheld, and his wellbeing prioritised—demonstrating how person-centred support can lead to meaningful change.
Find out more about our Voices and Choices project at: https://sandwelladvocacy.org/latest-projects/voices-and-choices-project/