A Disappointment - But No Surprise!

A Disappointment - But No Surprise!

It's as well I wasn't into bating my breath for too long, or got my hopes up high.

The report from the Office of the Public Guardian duly arrived on 5 May; according to the time-line in the report, it had been completed on 5 March, and signed off on 1 May, so there was clearly no sense of urgency about it, and complete disregard for Uncle John's great age and his state of health.

The bottom line is that 3 allegations were investigated: 1, that Uncle John's son was utilising his father's funds for his own benefit; 2, his son had discarded his property contrary to Uncle John's wishes, and 3, restricting contact and outings that is not in the best interest of Uncle John.

I was surprised to see how the Investigating Officer had worded the 3 allegations, because when I submitted the form on 22 July 2019, I explained Uncle John was very unhappy that his son had closed down his bank account, and taken full control of his money; he had wanted his son to open a joint account. His son had given Uncle John no spending money, and Uncle John was very upset about this; he wanted to be able to buy personal items for himself - sweets, a newspaper, batteries for his hearing aid, etc. I also wrote that Uncle John told us his son had said, "You don't need any money, because the Nursing Home provides everything"! but that took away every last vestige of his independence and without money, Uncle John couldn't even buy a card for Mum for her 100th birthday, or a Christmas card.

With regard to the second complaint, we provided photographs to show Uncle John had no clothes in his wardrobe, and no outdoor shoes; he was sitting in his pyjamas and dressing gown, with slippers on his feet. When she was with him in June last year,  Uncle John wanted Wendy to take him back to Marsden Gardens (where Uncle John had been living until he was taken ill in the March), to retrieve some of his possessions, but by then his son had forbidden Uncle John to leave the home. I rang the Warden at Marsden Gardens, and he told me Uncle John's son had come round on 1 May (the day Uncle John moved to the Nursing Home) and cleared everything out of Uncle John's unit. Uncle John complained he had not got a book, a photograph or anything from his past life in England, from East Africa, or the time when he spent two years in Romania. There was not one personal memento in his room, and it was clear to us that his son had not intended him to have anything.

No mention was made in the Report about the evidence I had provided to prove what Uncle John was complaining about, was true.

The first two allegations were considered to be not substantiated, but at least the third one was substantiated, in that Johnny is restricting contact and outings and that this is not in the best interest of Mr John Woods (Snr), as there are contact restrictions in place. The Report says they have issued advice to Mr John Woods (Jnr) under Section 18 (1) (a) of the PGA, that he must consider General Principle 8, and maintain Mr John Woods (Snr) existing supportive relationships.

I rang the OPG, but then came the part that was the nub of the matter: I was told the OPG can only "advise" Johnny about their findings; they cannot enforce them. This means the OPG is toothless; what a total waste of time all this investigation, over nine and a half months, has been.

They suggested I contact QCAT (already done, back in January, 2020 - and still no word from them!) and see if mediation will help.

We have a very dear, long-standing friend in Australia called Pamela, who thought that - because she isn't family, and "just a friend" - she might have some success in making contact with Uncle John. She rang Johnny, but he would not come to the phone, and sent his wife Jan to deal with the call. Jan told Pamela there was no way we could ever speak to Uncle John again, and we had said our last goodbyes, the last time we saw him (on 22 June last year).

Pamela was so sorry about it - she said, however much she had tried (and I know she would be lovely, and diplomatic on the phone), they were very stubborn on that. She said she had been very pleasant on the phone, but it didn't make any difference.

So now, where? This is something that offends my sense of fair play, of justice and of wanting to see someone who is good and kind have some happy times at the end of his life; the end of Uncle John's days should not be dictated by someone like Johnny, who is keeping Uncle John a virtual prisoner in the nursing home.

Forgive the mixed metaphors, but I still have more ideas in my head and up my sleeve, and hope I'll soon find an Ace to play.