Dementia sufferer ‘treated by 106 different carers in one year’

Dementia care: Council investigating services in area.iStockphoto

A woman has claimed her husband, who suffers from dementia, was treated by 106 different carers in one year.

Jeanette Maitland, whose husband Ken died last week from a dementia-related illness, kept a note of the names of all 106 carers who treated her husband and has raised her concerns about the quality of care provided by the local authority.

The claim has prompted an investigation by Aberdeen City Council chiefs and criticism from a charity.

A spokesman for Alzheimer Scotland said: “No one should have to go through the experience that Jeanette Maitland and her late husband faced.

“Unjustifiably frequent changes of support and care staff are simply not acceptable in any circumstance, particularly where dementia is concerned, and we must learn some very quick lessons from this terrible situation.”

Aberdeen City Council chief executive Valerie Watts has vowed to investigate the incident.

She said: "I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Mrs Maitland and her family following the sad loss of her husband Kenneth.

"I recently had a very positive meeting with Mrs Maitland where we spoke at length about the care package her husband received from Aberdeen City Council.

"I gave Mrs Maitland a personal assurance I would look into the concerns she raised and respond at the earliest opportunity.

"Council staff are highly trained and work diligently to meet the personal care needs of residents, and do their utmost to support family members who are understandably under considerable stress caring for a loved one.

"Our staff work hard to deliver the best possible care package at all times and will continue to do so."

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