MiL being evicted from Care Home

[GreenShadow]

We got back from a short holiday last night to find a letter from M-i-L's care home saying they are evicting her.
The care home has a dementia unit but MiL is not diagnosed as such so is in the main body of the home.
But she is probably in the early stages of some sort of dementia (loss of sense of time/forgets what happened yesterday etc) and has taken to pressing her buzzer or shouting for help continuously. When help arrives, she often has no idea why she has called. This also happens at night and it is disturbing other residents, some of whom's relatives have complained (completely understandably).

It is partly because she's bored and lonely but is incredibly lucky in that she has family visit (sometimes for several hours) almost every day. Activities are laid on in the home, but as she is wheelchair bound, is dependent on being taken along to them. TBH, she's not actually that keen anyway.

There has been no formal discussion with staff and no meeting with the home manager; just a letter stating she needs to be gone within 30 days.

We are appalled as we chose the home over 2.5 years ago believing she could see out her time there as they could cope with all stages of natural elderly decline. They vaguely mentioned getting her assessed for dementia in the week before we went away but haven't done anything, not given us a chance to do anything about it. If she was correctly diagnosed, she could possibly be placed on more suitable medication which might help calm some of this constant calling out. Surely they have some sort of duty of care (albeit it also to her fellow residents). If a home with a dementia unit can't help her, who can?


So. Assuming the home won't change its mind, we are now faced with finding a home that will take her. And if we are honest about why we are changing, will anyone take her?

We will probably put in a formal complaint to the home and its parent organisation and also to the CQC but none of that helps in the short term.

Is there anything else we can do? Any advice much appreciated.

[HeGotManFlu]

How upsetting. If, after this, she and you want her to stay at the home ask for a meeting with the manager to ask why she can no longer stay. You need to ask if she has been assessed by her g.p. about her behaviour, possible dementia and for a medication review. I wonder if they are saying they can no longer meet her needs, that she needs to move into a dementia unit and they don't have a bed. If so ask to see her care needs assessment and her care plan which they should have re assessed if they think her needs have changed. Do you have power of attorney, I would ask why you have not been involved in any discussions. That is really rude and unprofessional. How is she funded, are payments all up to date. I would also ask to see her contract. It seems very unfair to evict someone just because they call out, press their buzzer and others have complained, without trying to manage the behaviour first. If she is not happy there and they behave like this then she may be better moving somewhere else anyway. Does she have the mental capacity to make a decision about moving somewhere else. If not then who made that decision on her behalf.

[HeGotManFlu]

We found the Relatives and Residents Association very helpful, 0207 359 8136, they also have a website with info on carehome rights.

[GreenShadow]

Thank you so much ManFlu. We'd not come across the Residents and Relatives Assoc before but will investigate.

Although DH has power of attorney for financial matters not unfortunately not with regard to care.
He's hoping to see the manager tomorrow so hopefully will have a chance to discuss matters further. He's not dared tell Mil yet though.

[HeGotManFlu]

You will also need to determine if she has mental capacity around her care and where she lives, I think the eviction rules,are,very different for someone who,lacks capacity but that's something you can read on the website. Social services and age concern are also,good,resources. Good luck, I hope you sort something out, don't let them bully her or yourselves, make a list of questions you would like answered in writing.

[hatgirl]

From a professional point of view I suspect that there is more to this. It's rare for care homes to give notice, it's even rarer for them to do it out of blue.

First step is a meeting with the home manager to determine why they have taken the action they have. What you do next will be determined by how they answer. If you haven't already though I would be enlisting the help of social services regarding a needs assessment to determine an appropriate placement for them. As a social worker I know which homes in my locality advertise themselves as having a 'dementia unit' but in reality only take the 'pleasantly confused' and which homes are able and willing to take on people with more challenging behaviours.

Don't worry too much about other homes not wanting to take her because of behaviour, just because her current home no longer feels able to meet her needs absolutely does not mean that other homes will be unwilling to.

[GreenShadow]

Hi.

Just thought I'd give a quick update (as I hate it when an OP vanishes)

All the above is now completely irrelevant. MiL died relatively peacefully in hospital yesterday afternoon (DS1's birthday ).

DH took her to a routine checkup at the hospital on the Monday morning but she was getting rather breathless and they took one look at her and sent her to A&E. They quickly admitted her and she went downhill rapidly.
As much as these things ever are, it was a release and timing couldn't have been much better. She was never told about the eviction and tbh had been ready to go for sometime - hated being bed-bound (couldn't even stand with help - needed supports to transfer her from bed to wheelchair or to use loo) and with the recent onset of dementia (or whatever), she had absolutely no quality of life.

Thanks to those of you who offered advice - I doubt we'll bother taking it up with the care home as it is bottom of DH's priorities at the moment.

[MargoChanning]

Condolences to you and your DH

[BlueEyedPersephone]

I'm so sorry for your loss, 💐

[PotteringAlong]

for you all

[Lougle]

How desperately sad, I'm so sorry. I'm glad she spent her last days of good health in her home, and that she didn't face eviction.

[Roystonv]

Condolences to you and your family.

[NewtScamandersNaughtyNiffler]

Sorry for your loss

[hatgirl]

I'm very glad you feel she had a peaceful end to her life. Dementia can so often be very cruel and prolonged and although her death has ended up being sudden and a shock it means any discomfort and distress for her will hopefully have been limited.

to your family. Poor DS.

The care home is irrelevant now. Give them no more thought.

[MayDayFightsBack]

[Imchlibob]

Sorry for your loss

Whilst I agree it's not worth it to put in a formal complaint, do have a quick Google to see if you can find somewhere appropriate to give a fair and balanced review - mentioning their good points but also mentioning the no-notice eviction. If I was researching a possible care home for my mum I would want to know if a home had form for this behaviour. Forcing an elderly person to move has a tendency to hasten their death so this is not something any home should do lightly.

[ThePlanetGoesOnBeingRound3]

Sincerely sorry

[GreenShadow]

Thanks everyone.