96-YEAR-OLD MUM WAS FED MICROWAVED DOG FOOD BY CARER — NOW HER DAUGHTER IS FIGHTING FOR “JOYCE’S LAW”

A grieving daughter says her elderly mother endured a series of shocking care failures in the final years of her life — including an incident in which a carer allegedly microwaved dog food and spoon-fed it to her.

Justine Morrison, 56, says she is still struggling to grieve her mother Joyce, who was 96 when she passed away in 2024.

Joyce had received home care from Radis Community Care from August 2022.

According to her daughter, what followed was a series of deeply distressing incidents that eventually prompted her to install a concealed camera in Joyce’s bedroom.

“I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING”

Justine says one of the most disturbing incidents occurred in June 2024.

According to her account, a care worker allegedly took dog food from the freezer, microwaved it and spoon-fed it to Joyce without checking her care plan.

The incident was later reported to Radis.

Justine says she was devastated when she learned what had happened and has continued to question how such a serious mistake could occur while her vulnerable mother was dependent on professional carers.

MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT

The dog-food incident was not, according to Justine, an isolated concern.

She says her mother was also left in the dark, left in soiled clothing and diapers, given stale food and at times left in distress.

She also raised concerns about medication being left in and around Joyce’s bed and about outdated care records and care plans.

The allegations were serious enough to prompt an investigation commissioned by Portsmouth City Council.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found significant failings in the care provided by Radis as well as shortcomings in the council’s oversight and quality monitoring.

THE COUNCIL ENDED ITS CONTRACT

Portsmouth City Council has accepted the Ombudsman’s findings and said it ended its contract with Radis.

The council also said it accepted recommendations including refunding care costs and making financial payments to recognise the impact on Joyce’s family.

For Justine, however, the official findings do not erase what she says her mother experienced.

She has now launched a petition calling for stronger safeguards, better training and greater accountability in adult social care.

She calls it “Joyce’s Law.”

RADIS RESPONDS

Radis has acknowledged serious failings in aspects of Joyce’s care and management oversight.

The company says two support workers were immediately suspended following the dog-food incident and that it subsequently made changes to care planning, safeguarding, management oversight and quality assurance.

However, Radis disputes some details of Justine’s account, including the timing of when the family was informed and claims that the company never apologised.

The provider says written apologies were sent to the family in June and September 2024, with further apologies made during meetings.

“IT IS TIME FOR MY MUM’S VOICE TO BE HEARD”

Joyce lived through the war and evacuation, according to her daughter.

But Justine says the final period of her mother’s life left a lasting emotional impact on the entire family.

Now, instead of allowing Joyce’s story to disappear, she wants it to become a warning about the importance of protecting vulnerable elderly people.

She is also working to establish Joyce’s Voice, a charity intended to support families facing similar problems and campaign for improvements across the care sector.

For Justine, the message is simple:

Her mother depended on others to protect her dignity — and she believes no vulnerable person should ever be left without that protection.