Water damage incident raises concerns about care for vulnerable residents

A Glasgow care home is under scrutiny after a resident with Rett Syndrome, 31-year-old Amy Kavanagh, was left without a bed following flooding in her room, prompting her mother to claim that her daughter had ‘shut down’ due to the distressing situation.

Amy, who has been a resident at Glasgow’s Haydale Care Home for seven months, suffers from Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects her mobility, communication, and daily activities. The incident occurred during the early hours of Tuesday when the room above Amy’s flooded, causing water damage to the floor and ceiling.

Upon discovering the situation, care home staff relocated Amy to the living room and notified her mother, Helen Carey. Despite the distressing circumstances, Helen claims that she received no updates until 4 pm that day. When she spoke to the home’s manager, she was informed that Amy would be moved back into her water-damaged room with the door left open for ventilation.

Helen, concerned about potential structural damage, requested that Amy be moved temporarily to one of the vacant beds in the home. However, she alleges that the manager refused the request. Fearing for her daughter’s safety, Helen decided to take Amy home with her that night, reaching out to social services and other care homes without success.

Helen recounted the challenges, stating, “My daughter has Rett Syndrome, a neurological brain disorder. It comes with quite complex handicaps – she doesn’t speak, she can’t walk, and she’s dependent on care for all her daily needs.”

The care home, Haydale Care Home, did not take further actions to address the situation, according to Helen. Despite her pleas for an alternative arrangement, she claims the manager insisted that Amy could only be placed back in her original room. As a result, Helen felt compelled to bring her daughter home, although her residence lacked the necessary medical equipment for Amy’s care.

Struggling to meet Amy’s complex needs at home, Helen contacted Amy’s social worker the next morning and subsequently returned her to Haydale Care Home. Helen expresses dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled, emphasizing the challenges and stress her daughter experienced during the ordeal.

The Mirror has reached out to Haydale Care Home for comments on the matter. The incident has sparked concerns about the care and well-being of vulnerable residents in the facility. As the investigation unfolds, questions arise about the duty of care owed to individuals with complex medical conditions, and whether the care home acted appropriately in responding to this emergency situation.