Many of the residents complained to inspectors about feeling lonely.

One person commented, “I am a little lonely; they don’t always have time to talk to me.”

A utility room housing chemical items was left open, posing a severe safety concern.

Relatives stated that loved ones were left unwashed, dressed in dirty or improper clothing, or wearing clothes belonging to others.

A friend responded: “They always took pride in their appearance and it’s upsetting to see them like this.”

The critical study on Hamewith Lodge led the relative of a former resident to speak out.

Wendy Sutton told the Press and Journal about her brother Michael’s traumatic experience.

Michael was admitted to the hospital after being placed on “end of life care”.

He later relocated to Cowdray Club Care Home, where he resides to this day.

Families feel more involved in care of their loved ones

After a few months, the Hamewith Lodge crew has been working to improve the service.

This is documented in the Care Inspectorate’s most recent care report.

Hamewith Lodge was rated adequate/good in all categories, an improvement from “weak” in the previous report.

According to the report, families have reported receiving more timely updates about their loved one, which helps them feel more connected.

A major worry was the cleanliness and safety of the care home.

According to the latest report, cleaning processes have been enhanced and audited on a regular basis.

“Staff adhered to infection prevention and control protocols, and hazardous materials were stored safely.

“Environmental checks were performed consistently. Fresh decor, homey touches, and greater organisation had been added to shared spaces, making them more pleasant and comfortable.

“These actions helped ensure people experience a safer and more pleasant living environment.”

Inspectors were particularly pleased to see progress in improving residents’ hygiene.

Care home still has work to do on medical supervision

However, there were some ongoing concerns at Hamewith Lodge.

Inspectors discovered that essential medical documents and residents’ personal plans were “inconsistent”.

According to the report, “Clear protocols were in place for ‘as required’ medication, allowing people to receive safer and more consistent care.”

“However, some documentation was uneven, with a few missing records indicating why pain medicine was used and how helpful it was.

“The management team acknowledged this and committed to further improvement.”

A spokesman for HC-One Scotland’s Hamewith Lodge stated, “We take feedback from regulators very seriously. Since the Care Inspectorate’s report back in July, we have worked hard to significantly raise standards across the home.”

“We are proud of our colleagues at Hamewith Lodge, whose efforts to address the issues mentioned in the report by establishing a more welcome, pleasant, and person-centered home have been recognised by the Care Inspectorate.

“Their efforts reflect our commitment to delivering the high standards of care our residents deserve and to ensuring everyone in our home feels supported, respected, and valued.”

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