Pensioner left to live in ‘foul hovel’ surrounded by rats and rotting food

A pensioner with Alzheimers was forced to live in a “filthy, foul hovel” that was full of rats and rotting food, according to her horrified sister.

Beryl Barker, 74, was left horrified after she checked up on the home of her 76-year-old sister Tricia Crowther to find her home a “smelly hell hole” – while she was under social care.

The property was filled with rats, dog food, over 20 bags of rubbish dumped in the bath and spare room.

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Beryl claimed that social workers would have much rather “taken her to the pub” – than to get the proper care she required.

Tricia, who is now a patient at a specialist hospital, lived alone and her sibling Beryl presumed she was in good hands.

But when Bradford City Council’s social care department stopped answering questions, Beryl checked out the house in Shipley, West Yorks., to uncover the truth for herself.

Retired Nurse Beryl said: “I hadn’t seen her for a few months because I’d been very ill – but what I saw made me feel sick.

“I’d trusted the council and agency workers it employed to look after her but it was the biggest mistake of my life.”

Speaking about the horror after asking a neighbour for a spare key to the mortgaged property, Beryl added: “My sister was house proud once, but I was shocked.

“It had a foul smell, damp musty clothing was scattered around with rubbish, old dog food, dead flowers. It was cluttered like a hovel.

“Tricia had been sleeping in the front room surrounded by the filth – the kitchen floor was full of rubbish bags and so was the bath, the sink was full of dirty washing up and the cooker was filled with household items – it was a fire risk.

“Everywhere looked like a tip, rats had been urinating – rooms needed fumigating and the dog she loved was missing.”

Beryl claims that the social services department didn’t think Tricia had family so sought approval from the Court of Protection to ultimately take control of her life.

Mrs Barker, who took photos of her sister’s home and has complained to Social Services and care agency Creative Support, collected copies of care records filled in by her carers.

It catalogues Mrs Crowther’s fire not working, having to hide the microwave to stop her misusing it, the cooker being disconnected, the toaster not working and that she often refused medication or to get washed.

It also said not to call the police if she did not return home at night as long as someone had seen her that morning.

Mrs Barker added: “We’ve had no apology from the Council, only a letter asking me to find a new home for her dog.”

Calling on the council to review its cases, Mark Rounding, chief executive of Age UK Bradford & District, said: “No person, let alone someone vulnerable like Tricia with dementia, should be left by any service provider, voluntary or statutory, to live in these conditions.”

Bradford City Council’s Lib Dem leader Jeanette Sunderland stated there were no excuses to leave Tricia in her home in those conditions, adding: “There’s no excuses at all for that lady to have been left like that.”

Bradford Council has been contacted for comment.

Top pic: SWNS