Page 76 of Lost in Love

Chapter 23

Anna wiped the sweat from her brow. The council were due shortly, and she still had a few last-minute tasks to do to make sure the house looked perfect — well, as perfect as it could be without a full renovation.

A knock at the door told her it was too late. She smoothed her shirt down and opened the door. On the other side stood a rather aggressive-looking woman who reminded her of a brutal music teacher from school. She came complete with a clipboard, biro, and glasses with string around them.

“I’m from social services, come to do your home assessment for a Harry Walker.” She flashed a card on a lanyard at Anna but didn’t give her time to read it.

“Come in, I’m his daughter, Anna.” Anna held the door open wide for her.

The woman entered and immediately started scribbling notes on her clipboard with ruthless efficiency as she examined the sitting room.

“Do you live here too?” She didn’t even take her eyes off her clipboard.

“Yes.”

“You’ll be his carer?” She spoke as quickly as she scribbled.

Anna nodded.

“We’ll need to see a care plan for him.”

“A care plan?”

The woman finally looked up and glared at Anna. “Yes, so we can see how you are going to manage his needs and who is going to support you.”

“O… kay,” Anna replied, unsure what that would entail.

The woman poked her head into the kitchen and then turned to her with a look of disbelief. “Can I ask if you work, Miss Walker?”

“Yes.”

“Full time?”

Anna nodded.

“How do you suppose to be a full-time carer when you work full time? This isn’t even going to be a full-time job; it’s twenty-four seven, three hundred sixty-five days a year. You are aware that your father’s condition will continue to deteriorate, often quite rapidly towards the end.”

The woman paused and waited for a response from Anna. With none forthcoming, she began again.

“We can make the adaptations, but I strongly believe you are putting off the inevitable and at great risk, Miss Walker. I would recommend putting your father’s needs first.”

“What do you mean?” Anna pulled herself upright.

“In these situations, we find that family keep the patient at home to ease their own conscience. Often resulting in some form of neglect which lands them back in hospital.”

Anna felt like slapping the woman for her frankness. The woman must have sensed it.

“Not that I’m insinuating any of that would happen here, Miss Walker. I’m talking generally.”

The woman sounded just like Katherine.

“You don’t know a Dr Atkinson, do you?”

The woman shook her head. “Should I?”

“Never mind.”

She handed Anna a card. “I’ll give you time to think about it. Ring that number if you want to go ahead. It’s usually a two-week wait.”