A woman has shared her shock after discovering her elderly mother covered in bruises at the care facility where she resided. Mechelle McBride’s mother, Elizabeth, was a resident at Greyfriars Care Home in Mount Vernon, Scotland. During her time there, Mechelle observed her mother’s health declining and noticed unexplained bruises and injuries on her.
Elizabeth, who suffered from vascular dementia, passed away in December 2022 at the age of 81. Mechelle took legal action against the care home, resulting in a substantial payout to Elizabeth’s estate. Expressing her devastation, Mechelle described the experience of seeing her mother in the nursing home and realizing she was not receiving proper care as “horrific.”
Desiring to raise awareness and prevent similar situations for other families, Mechelle contacted the Care Inspectorate after her concerns were disregarded. All her complaints were validated by the regulatory body overseeing social care services.
Elizabeth had moved into the care home at 79 following a stroke during the Covid pandemic, leading to vascular dementia. Despite expectations of one-to-one care, Mechelle revealed that Elizabeth experienced multiple falls, significant weight loss, and unexplained injuries while at Greyfriars.
Mechelle emphasized that her mother, who paid for personalized care, was left with minimal funds from her pension and did not receive the expected level of attention. Documenting her mother’s deteriorating condition with photos showing bruises and injuries, Mechelle expressed her distress at the neglect her mother faced.
After futile attempts to address concerns with the care home, Mechelle sought assistance from the Care Inspectorate. Subsequent investigations supported all her complaints, highlighting lapses in nutritional care and communication with external healthcare professionals.
In pursuit of justice for her mother, Mechelle engaged Thompsons Solicitors Scotland for a legal claim that resulted in a significant settlement from the care home. Her decision to speak out aims to prevent other families from enduring similar hardships.