Woman, 88, dies ’28 days after caregivers stopped giving her food or water,’ her devastated son says
An elderly woman died ‘slowly’ from ‘dehydration and malnutrition’ 28 days after caregivers stopped giving her food or water, her devastated son said.
Sarene Taylor, 88, was admitted to a North Wales hospital after suffering a stroke about four weeks ago, but according to her son Rob Taylor, doctors said there was nothing more they could do and began care at the end of the life with liquids and food. .
Mr Taylor, a decorated and respected former rural police officer from North Wales, described the approach to end-of-life care as “inhumane” and “heartbreaking” for the family, saying it has to change.
He also spoke about reporting the circumstances leading up to his mother’s death to the North Wales Police and the Welsh Commissioner for Aged People.
Mr Taylor said: “I understand end-of-life care, and the carers and nurses in the district do a fantastic job, but denying a human being food and water is shameful and we as a society need to make sure that this will not happen again.
Sarene Taylor, 88, was sent back from a North Wales hospital following a stroke to die in a care home after food and fluids were withdrawn, her son Rob Taylor has claimed.
Health chiefs have since offered their “condolences” to Ms Taylor’s family, but declined to comment further on her son’s claims. Pictured: Mrs. Taylor as a young woman
He added: “The family thanks everyone for their kind messages and loving support over these past few weeks.”
In an emotional video days before her mother’s death, Taylor described the devastating situation the family found themselves in.
“My 88-year-old mum had a fantastic life but sadly four weeks ago she was admitted to a hospital in North Wales with what we found out was a stroke,” he said.
“Obviously I went up to be with her and spend time with her, on Monday, which is three weeks ago, and this Monday the doctor told me that there was nothing else they could do for her, unfortunately and all fluids and food were withdrawn and she she was placed in end-of-life care.
Ms Taylor was admitted to a hospital in North Wales with what doctors found to be a stroke.
Sarene Taylor pictured with her husband in this lovely black and white photo of the couple.
Here they are both in old age, still together and showing off their remarkable bond years later.
“I spent quite a bit of time with her, and then as I left and waited for the phone call, because unfortunately I had to go somewhere else, I found out that I had caught Covid, so I couldn’t come back right away, on Wednesday, she left. three weeks ago. They told me we had to get her out of the hospital.
So he arranged for her to be taken back to the residence.
‘This is not a story about illegality or legality, it is about ethics.
‘My mother is still alive, 24 to 25 days without food, without water, without IV drip, nothing, she is still alive.
“It is inhumane and absolutely distressing for the family and inhumane.
“For such a precious lady to be allowed to lie on a bed in a nursing home, to be fair, she is seen once a day by a district nurse and they do an outstanding job, it’s nothing against them or the home of elderly, but it is ethics that is left to die, slowly, of dehydration and malnutrition in front of our very eyes.
“This is how you would treat people in the 11th and 12th centuries, not in 2023. It is absolutely heartbreaking.
Treasured memories of Sarene Taylor’s life were revealed by her son Rob after her death.
Son Rob said his mother’s death was not a story about illegality or legality, but about ethics.
Sarene Taylor walking her beloved dogs along the riverbank on a beautiful spring day
There’s nothing we can do, absolutely nothing we can do, and they’ve been wonderful, it’s just unbelievable that she’s probably in pain and it’s heartbreaking, it’s absolutely heartbreaking for us.”
Andrea Hughes, Director of Nursing for Betsi Cadwaladr University Board of Health Eastern Integrated Health Community, said: ‘We offer our deepest condolences to Ms Taylor’s family on their very sad loss.
“While we cannot comment on individual cases in detail, we have been in daily contact with Mr. Taylor about his mother’s care and are looking into the concerns he has raised.”
Aged People Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said: ‘I would like to offer my condolences to Mr Taylor and his family on the loss of his mother.
“Mr. Taylor contacted me and I am in the process of seeking more details from him about his mother’s experiences. As such, I cannot comment further at this time.’
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