A daughter is advocating for justice after her 96-year-old mother, identified only as Joyce, was allegedly fed heated dog food by a care worker from Radis, a care services provider, just weeks before her death in July 2024. Joyce, who had been receiving care since August 2022 following a fall, was on a care plan that restricted her to yogurts and liquids due to choking risks. However, a care worker reportedly took dog food from the freezer, microwaved it, and spoon-fed it to Joyce, despite the packaging clearly stating it was for dogs. The incident came to light 13 days before Joyce's passing, according to her daughter, Justine Morrison.
Morrison stated that she initially believed the report of dog food being fed to her mother was a joke. The dog food had been stored in the freezer as Morrison frequently visited her mother and kept food for her own dog there. "If the carer had read her care plan, she would have seen it said 'no food' so there should have never been any risk of her eating it," Morrison told the Daily Mail. "She shouldn't have been allowed to have any food, let alone dog food."
Furious at the alleged mistreatment, Morrison and her brother complained to Radis. They reported that the company's manager dismissed their concerns, allegedly laughing and suggesting that dog food was safe for human consumption as it is tested on humans. This occurred two weeks after Radis had reportedly been made aware of the incident.
An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman revealed that Joyce had been placed on a soft food-only diet following a mini-stroke. During this period, the dog food, described as a "fresh take on dog food," was microwaved and Joyce was given three mouthfuls. Another care worker present noticed the packaging and reported it a week later, after which the food was removed from Joyce's kitchen.
Morrison had become suspicious of the level of care and installed a camera in her mother's home. On one occasion, she observed that no carers had arrived for a scheduled mealtime, and her mother's lunch sandwich remained untouched. Morrison subsequently fed her mother lobster, her favorite, and overheard carers telling Joyce to tell her daughter she was declining food. The camera also reportedly captured a care worker appearing to force-feed the elderly woman.
The Ombudsman recommended that Radis refund Joyce's care fees, a decision described as rare but justified due to the "so poor" service provided. The Ombudsman also directed Portsmouth City Council to apologize to Joyce's family, refund care fees, and pay an additional £1,000 for the distress caused. The council stated it has met these requests, though Morrison has not yet accepted any money.
In response to the incident, Portsmouth City Council announced it has ended its contract with Radis, stating they no longer commission services from the firm. Councillor Matthew Winnington, the council's cabinet member for community wellbeing, health and care, acknowledged the seriousness of the case and confirmed the contract termination. Radis, in a statement, called the incident "wholly unacceptable" and claimed to have voluntarily withdrawn from its contract in Portsmouth. A council spokesman noted that while Radis had previously held good ratings, concerns and a decline in service quality led to the contract's end.
Morrison is now working to establish a charity named "Joyce's Voice" to support others facing similar challenges in the care system, which she believes requires significant reform. She noted that the poorly trained care workers represented a "massive failure of the system."