"She had fallen and, unable to get up, laid on the floor for 19 hours."

Catherine lived independently in her own home. At 74 years old, Catherine fell in her kitchen while trying to close a window. She lay undiscovered for 19 hours until her neighbour eventually raised the alarm. Catherine was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered that she had broken her hip and her arm; she was dehydrated, had developed pneumonia, and later experienced delirium. Catherine remained in the hospital for six weeks before being discharged to a nursing home, where she required full care and had a very poor prognosis.

Catherine's story doesn’t end here. She began to recover and, over the next twelve months, started relearning her lost skills. She progressed so well that she was able to move from the nursing unit to the residential unit. After another six months, she required no support at all. Eighteen months after her fall, Catherine was physically well enough to return home. However, psychologically, she would never recover. She became so frightened of falling again that she chose to remain in the nursing home, costing her over £900 per week. Sadly, Catherine stayed at the nursing home for more than seven years before passing away in 2020.

I am a registered nurse and have spent many years working in nursing homes across Northeast England. Catherine's story, though desperately sad, is not unique. Over the years, I've met and worked with many people who share a story similar to Catherine's, and as a result, I have thought about her often.

Social care is a solution for some, but the service is massively oversubscribed. In 2023, the NHS estimated that up to 40% of hospital delays are due to waiting for a social care package.

As someone with an elderly mother who lives alone, I have devoted considerable time to finding the best way to support her. Although I could call her four times a day, every day, she prefers that I don't worry about her or check up on her constantly. She is a fiercely independent lady and wishes to remain that way.

This got me thinking… Welcome to Who Cares Calls!

- Tracey, Co-founder