Woman demands answers after 'proud' husband found 'weeping and distressed' in care home

Denise and Terry Sergeant at home
-Credit: (Image: Liverpool Echo)


A loving wife said she was appalled after finding her 'proud' husband in a state of distress and in a dirty nappy. Denise Sergeant had placed her husband, Terry in respite care for a few days, but said when she returned to pick him up he was in tears, deprived of sleep and some of his possessions were missing.

Denise added her husband is 'traumatised' by the experience and has complained to Aaron Grange care home in Huyton and asked Knowsley Council to examine what happened during his stay. The council confirmed they are currently liaising with Aaron Grange to examine Denise's claims, a spokesperson said: “Any such allegation is taken extremely seriously and will be thoroughly investigated."

A spokesperson for Aaron Grange Care Home said: "We are sorry Ms Sergeant felt the need to raise concerns. The safety and care of our residents is our highest priority and we took immediate action to investigate Ms Sergeant’s claims. We would invite [Mrs Sergeant] to discuss this matter with us at any stage should she wish to do so."

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Denise's husband, Terry was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2020 when he was just 62. After caring for him at home for the last few years, Denise was recently informed she was entitled to apply for some respite care. She said: "It was nice because as any carer knows, it just meant I could have a bit of a breather."

Denise and Terry Sergeant at home
Denise and Terry Sergeant at home -Credit:Liverpool Echo

Denise had arranged to meet up with relatives to attend a family birthday. A respite place became available and Denise applied for Terry to stay at the Aaron Grange care home, scheduling a visit on Monday August 12.

Denise felt a bit anxious about leaving Terry, but had been assured by staff at Aaron Grange that he would be well looked after and she could phone anytime to see how he was. Denise said she called the next day and was told Terry had been sat in a chair for the whole night and there was no explanation put forward as to why.

Denise then contacted social services to express her concerns and ask why Terry was left in the chair and why the care home had no explanation. She said social services assured her there would be an explanation on the Thursday of that week.

After becoming increasingly worried, Denise decided to take Terry home early and went to pick him up accompanied by her son, only to be horrified by what she found. Denise said: "I walk in and Terry is still sitting in the same chair he was the day I left him.

"When he saw me, he jumped up straight away and he was sobbing - he was crying his heart out. Neither me or my son knew why."

Aaron Grange Care Home in Huyton
Aaron Grange Care Home in Huyton -Credit:Liverpool Echo

Denise and her son were both distressed and asked the staff what had happened to Terry, but claim they got no satisfactory answer. Denise said she then asked to go to Terry's room and get his stuff so she could take him home straight away.

Denise said she was told Terry had been moved two days previously from his ground floor, garden accessible room to the attic space. Again, Denise said no explanation was offered as to why Terry had been moved.

What Denise found when she got to the new room shocked her, she added: "I brought seven outfits, seven pairs of underwear, seven pairs of socks, a pair of slippers, a pair of trainers and a toiletry bag and all that was there was a pair of shorts and a t-shirt soaking wet on the floor."

When Denise asked what had happened to all of Terry's things she said there was no explanation. When she asked about the wet t-shirt on the floor, Denise claims the care worker said Terry had urinated on it. She added: "I told him my husband is not that far gone. He knows how to go to the toilet.

"I went downstairs to speak to my son and said I've seen enough, but I wanted my husband's clothes before we left, but no one knew where they were."

Denise and Terry Sergeant at home
Denise and Terry Sergeant at home -Credit:Liverpool Echo

Eventually, Denise went to his first room where she found someone else's clothes in the wardrobe, but Terry's toiletry bag on the side. She then went to the laundry room and found some of Terry's clothing there.

When Denise got Terry home she was appalled at what she found. She said: "He had a nappy on. He's never worn a nappy in his life. He was absolutely saturated, parts of his bum were covered [in rash marks]."

Denise said she later spoke to a friend in the medical profession who told her the rash marks were likely due to Terry having been left in the nappy without it being changed or cleaned.

"When I took him back for the first time after Aaron Lodge we said he looked traumatised."

She added: "My husband has got dementia and he is vulnerable, but he is also a very proud man so, for them to leave him there crying and scared and sat in a nappy he's never worn, is absolutely disgusting.

"Terry goes to a day care centre sometimes and he absolutely loves it and the staff love him. When I took him back for the first time after Aaron Lodge we said he looked traumatised."

At the request of Denise, the matter is now being investigated by Knowsley Council's safeguarding team and Aaron Lodge's owners, Hill Care have referred themselves to the Care Quality Commission, in line with their complaints procedure and reporting requirements.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) confirmed Aaron Grange has informed them about concerns relating to someone at the home and have also notified the local authority's safeguarding team. A spokesperson for the CQC added: “To ensure people are safe, the home [Aaron Grange] has sent CQC details of actions they have taken in relation to the concerns, and have shared lessons learned with staff which we have reviewed."

The Knowsley Council spokesperson added: "We have arranged additional support for Mr Sergeant and we will continue to keep Mrs Sergeant updated on the investigation.”