By Jeni Harvey
CARERS left an elderly man with dementia alone for five days without food or drinks before he was found collapsed on the floor of his bungalow.
Harry Denton, 81, a former chief clerk to the Army's Scottish paymaster, should have been visited three times a day and had his meals and drinks prepared by staff from privately run AJB Care, an inquest heard.
After carers failed to gain entry when Mr Denton did not answer the door, no one from the company contacted his family.
The widower died a day later in hospital from pneumonia.
AJB care manager Jane Hollingworth, who was informed of the failed visits, told the hearing they should have been treated as an emergency.
When asked by Sheffield Coroner Chris Dorries about her lack of concern she admitted it was a "serious and significant failure."
Mr Denton was found collapsed at his home in Hoyland, South Yorkshire, by his nephew on January 4 this year.
Mr Denton's daughter Pauline Anderson told the hearing: "There was no evidence he had anything to eat or drink since New Year's Eve. He wasn't able to look after himself."
During December AJB staff failed to get into her father's home on 15 occasions, mostly in the morning.
The Barnsley-based company claims Mr Denton would often refuse to allow carers into his home but Ms Anderson, an Open University lecturer who lives in Cheshire, said this was not the case and her father was asleep when they called.
Mr Denton's weekly programme of 21-and-a-half hours care from last September was partly funded by Barnsley Council's social services department, which recommended AJB to the family.
The pensioner had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and had poor mobility resulting from an unsuccessful knee replacement operation.
He was proud and independent but occasionally clashed with some of his carers, who regarded him as aggressive.
One carer alleged Mr Denton threatened him on separate occasions with a knife and a gun. The police were called but both allegations were later discredited.
Records show carers briefly gained entry on January 1 to show Mr Denton where his medication was.
Ms Anderson regularly telephoned and visited her father. She spoke to him on January 2 when he asked her to stop the carers coming to the house, claiming he didn't need help.
The next day Ms Anderson became worried as her father's phone was constantly engaged. She phoned the company but was reassured when told carers had visited.
On January 4, with no response again, she telephoned neighbours and her sister to call on him. Mr Denton was found collapsed on the floor.
Miss Anderson then got a call from Mrs Hollingworth saying she was sorry but carers had not been to see her father the previous day.
Carer Gillian Barton admitted that for three days Mr Denton did not answer the door when she and a colleague called and said: "I thought there must be something not right."
The hearing was adjourned.
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