A WOMAN is appealing for “older people to be treated with respect” after criticising the care her husband received in a residential home.

Alison Nicolson has questioned the care received by elderly people and dementia sufferers in the county after complaining to Oxfordshire County Council about a care home in Blackbird Leys.

Her account was heard last week during a Dignity in Care event, held by patient action group Healthwatch Oxfordshire.

The group wanted to hear the good and bad experiences that people have had in the county when receiving care.

Mrs Nicolson, 60, who lives in Aston Tirrold, near Didcot, has been full-time carer to her husband, Norman, since he was diagnosed with dementia in 2008.

In 2013 Mr Nicolson, 82, was given a place at Brookfield Care Home in Blackbird Leys but, according to his wife, the conditions at the home were “appalling”.

Mrs Nicolson, who is also a campaigner for Age UK, said: “You would see things like people not being cleaned if they soiled themselves.

“I was outraged by the way these people were being treated, and it’s only because they are old.

“People think you can just lock old people up and forget about them.”

On March 31 the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates care services across England and Wales, told the provider that the 66-bed residence required improvement in four out of five of the standards set by the health watchdog.

Rachel Reeves, spokesperson for MHA, which operates the care home, said: “When the allegations were made two years ago, the home responded immediately and all concerns were fully addressed at the time.

“We encourage all residents and relatives to talk to us immediately if they are concerned about care.

“We accept [the] CQC’s findings and have since implemented an action plan to deliver the required improvements.”

After making a complaint to Oxfordshire County Council, Mr Nicolson was moved to the Leafield Care Home in Abingdon.

Mrs Nicolson said: “It’s not perfect, but you can see that the people genuinely care.”

Laura O’Sullivan, head of dementia carers organisation Guideposts Trust, said: “One of the main issues that our members bring forward to us is the fact that elderly people are often just seen as a number, and not a person.”

Healthwatch Oxfordshire wants more people to come forward and provide their experiences of care as part of the Dignity in Care initiative.

To complete an online questionnaire visit healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk or to ask for a volunteer to meet you call 01865 520520.