In laws need carers to visit at home - best way to go about this?

33 replies

Lottapianos · 03/07/2021 02:38

In laws are both medically unwell. She has just come out of hospital (heart failure, possible COPD, poorly managed diabetes), he is likely to be admitted tomorrow (heart failure, cirrhosis, ascites amongst other things). Neither of them are fit to do daily tasks like shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning.

What is the best way to go about arranging carers to visit once or twice a day? They live in Cornwall (we're in London) and I'm planning to do a social care referral via the council, but would value any advice or experiences. Thanks

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FluffyFluffyClouds · 03/07/2021 09:32

Also, ring the GP surgery and ask whether there is a local heart nurse service - some places (e.g. where my Mum lived) have a service where nurses visit heart failure patients in the community (Mum loved hers as they worked together to keep her out of hospital where possible).

Original poster

Lottapianos · 03/07/2021 08:57

'You can't just put carers in without their consent though, which is often the hard part!'

Oh tell me about it! We have had our share of battles over this but I think they have both been so unwell recently that they're starting to see the need for extra support. They do have savings so I think your suggestion about approaching a care service directly is a good one

The hospital OT said she was fine on stairs because she only had to pause once for 10 seconds halfway up and again at the top. The only bathroom in the house is upstairs and I know that MIL has been avoiding going because she finds the stairs too much. We're having a stairlift fitted end of next week so that should help her enormously

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kookiekook · 03/07/2021 08:48

If your parents are self-finders (savings of over £23,250 EACH) then I'd skip social services and arrange it yourself.

There will be a local care brokerage service but start with this:

www.carechoices.co.uk/publication/cornwall-care-services-directory/

You can't just put carers in without their consent though, which is often the hard part! If they think they are fine and coping it could be a battle.

Good luck.

badgerswitharms · 03/07/2021 08:46

The OT would be happy for this on discharge as they are domestic tasks. Carers do personal care and meals.

You need domestic support and this wouldn't be funded by the council except in exceptional circumstances. Claim for attendance allowance and approach some agencies, the council usually have a list on their website.

Original poster

Lottapianos · 03/07/2021 08:36

Thanks for advice. I spoke to ward staff every day that she was in hospital and stressed how concerned we were about her returning home, and how ill her husband was. No one ever mentioned a social worker assessment, in fact the OT she saw was perfectly happy with how she was managing

We are going to visit tomorrow for a few days and will get on to local social care on Monday

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Knotaknitter · 03/07/2021 07:48

This is something that the hospital social worker would have done prior to your mother's discharge. It may be that she's told them that she has your father at home and he will do everything for her so there's no need for any intervention. If you ring the hospital, ask for the hospital social work team and give your mother's details that would be a start (they are "the council" and would have checked that your mum had a safe environment to return home to before she left hospital).

When mum left hospital, the SW team had organised a key safe on the wall inside four hours, organised a fall alarm installation for the following week and had care set up from the evening she went home. It's what they do all the time and they are really good at it.

Fitforforty · 03/07/2021 03:30

Ring adult social care and arrange an assessment of their life need. They will advice the minimum that they need and will give you a list of providers to choose from if they are finding their own care. If FIL does go the hospital then ring the hospital and explain it’s not safe for him at home.

alexdgr8 · 03/07/2021 03:19

the social worker in the hospital should have done an assessment and set something up for her safe care before she was discharged from hospital.
make sure you ask for this re FIL.
you could contact an agency such as bluebird that has branches all over.
but are they going to be paying for it themselves.
the local council can do a care needs assessment and financial assessment.
are there no relatives nearer who could help them in liaising with these agencies.
hope they will be ok.

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