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Elderly parents
Original poster

Non mobile Mum being discharged from hospital: what care?

31 replies

MiggyInThePiddle · 02/08/2019 08:53

Can anyone please advise on the various services?

My 88 yo mother is being discharged from hospital after 6 weeks following a broken hip sustained in a fall.

Although the prognosis straight after the op was that she should regain her ability to walk, the physio did not transpire and she is no not able to stand and walk.

The hospital say she is now medically well and they will discharge her - with 4 visits a day from a carer.

She lives with my Dad, 90, who has had a stroke (can walk and talk but wiobbly) and in early stages of vascular dementia. He is not able to care for her.

Her bed can be moved downstairs (she cannot manage stairs) but we do not feel that 4 visits a day will be enough, or safe. She cannot get out of bed without help, my Dad cannot help.

I understand that live-in or overnight care is not provided for dementia (she is in early stage Alzheimer) but we need help a a result of her hip, not her dementia - she was living independently until now.

The hospital say 6 weeks of 3 or 4 visits a day.

Is there a away they could be entitled to more?

They have their house but no savings to speak of.

We cannot sell the house and re-locate them by the time the hispital discharge Mum.

Is there a difference between the support available for medical / health needs as opposed to dementia?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
MiggyInThePiddle · 02/08/2019 10:29

I say 'sell the house' but they will both have to agree to this - they do both have capacity and Mum is pretty adamant that they do not want to move Hmm.
But this is unrealistic, of course.

OP posts:
Original poster
MiggyInThePiddle · 02/08/2019 10:28

In truth, we don't really want them to go into a home at the moment, and we had been planning to provide live in care for the two of them together in a more manageable downsized home.

Does anyone know if a package of increased care is available instead of costs of residential?

Obviously this would dry up once the house is sold as they then will have cash in the bank.

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 02/08/2019 10:19

They can move into a home whilst waiting to sell the house-the council will probably just put a charge on the house so when it’s sold you pay them back. Another elderly relative is in the same position-in a step down bed awaiting placement. Her local council will fund up to £599.06 a week for a nursing home. If the one she goes to coats more than that then relatives have to just pay the extra not the whole lot. She has 12weeks to stay and make her mind up if it’s the place for her and then if it is she has to sell her house. If not, she can try somewhere else, but she doesn’t have to sell until the 12weeks are up-the council will continue to pay until the house is sold-however long that might be.

Please speak to the social worker attached to the ward and tell them that your mother will not be safe going home, even with carers going in 4x a day and that you are not in agreement for her to go home to an unsafe environment. Tell them that you want a placement for her and your father as they were struggling before this so now it is untenable.

Original poster
MiggyInThePiddle · 02/08/2019 09:23

Yes, we are thinking full time care - probably to sell the house and downsize and fund care from that.

But that will take time.

Neither my parents nor us have the £££ to find f/t care in the meantime.

Is it possible to get live in or overnight care from social care? Is it the social worker we should talk to?

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 02/08/2019 09:01

And they won’t need to sell the house that quickly-social care will at least cover the first 12weeks and will probably ongoing, until they manage to sell the house. You need to speak to the social worker urgently if you are considering this to get the ball rolling, as it can take time to find beds, especially for a couple.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 02/08/2019 08:59

Have you spoken to the OTs and physio’s? And her social worker? You need to ask them not just whether she is medically fit for discharge but whether she is SAFE for discharge. Do they have any step down beds in your area for her to be given time to maybe get back in her feet a little?

For comparisons sake I have a 95yr old relative who has 4 calls a day plus meals on wheels. They are coping just about but live alone so don’t have the added complications that you have with your father also not being fit.

I think you need to be very vocal that you don’t think she is safe and that you want that documented in her notes and that the family won’t cope. Are you getting to the point whereby they should be thinking of full time care?