In a pickle - mum in hospital, won't be safe at home

www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-after-a-hospital-stay/arranging-care-before-you-leave-hospital/

This is the NHS guidance

Can people please please stop peddling the myth that people are entitled to 6 weeks free care when they leave hospital, they are not! There is usually a short term reablement package that can be put in place if the person is considered to have rehab potential but this is not in any way guaranteed and depends if the service has capacity but even this is less than 6 weeks. I work in hospital discharge and people spreading this myth causes so many problems so please stop
It.

How interesting! Maybe it's a 'thing' , the train journey. 4 years later Dad still speaks about the train trips although he is aware (now) that they weren't actually happening. He has vascular dementia now but manages well at home with help.

Elderly patients often get delirium in hospital. My father also thought he was on a train.

I'd agree with this. Also we found that Dad was utterly confused in hospital (thought he was on a train travelling North) but as soon as he went through his own front door, it was like a switch clicked on and he reverted to cognitive normality.

As long as everyone knows your Dad can't care for your Mum and you get help to put a care package in place, she may be able to return home after rehab.

If the cognitive decline appears so extreme, it most likely isn't dementia and actually an undetected infection. Please push for tests such as urine and blood. Many wards don't do this and just assume cognitive decline.

Contact your local Age UK on Tuesday and see if they have an Out of Hospital service. Even if they don't, they should be able to provide good advice.

Sorry but don't rely on the info that your mum will get 6 weeks' care. She might IF the hospital decide she needs it AND IF it's available (which it isn't in in much of the UK due to lack of care staff).

If she is assessed as needing care visits, she may be kept in hospital for weeks or even months waiting for them to start and she will get weaker and more mentally deconditioned in that time.

There is a MASSIVE health and social care crisis so although things may turn out well be prepared for them not to.

Sorry to paint a grim picture but that's the way it is at the moment. I work with this stuff for my job.

What county do you live in?

Yes the team my dad has been referred to is called “somewhere to assess” or s2a, They have got him a 28 day placement in a care home twice now. Have been on this merry go round for years unfortunately but will see how this time goes lol.

If she goes into a home then it will only be her income and savings that will be taken into account for paying the fees and not the house as your dad is living there.

It doesn't sound like she would be CHC (continued health care) eligible and it literally has nothing at all to do with the MP, but you can ask for an assessment. If she doesn't have ongoing nursing needs she definitely won't be eligible.

The best option would be some kind of discharge to assess bed in a care/nursing home that will be short term funded by health to see what her needs will be. If she has dementia then she should be assessed for mental capacity to see if she understands her care and support needs and if she does and understands the risks then she may be allowed home.

It is possible to get continuing care (we did for one of my parents) but it's tricky. If you think her care needs are primarily medical rather than social start to look into this now. There will be information on the Age UK website.

When my parents were in the situation where one wouldn't be able to look after the other, Occupational Health came to do a home visit before hospital release was sanctioned. They would get a full picture of the circumstances. I'm not sure whether you will be able to make any decisions without power of attorney, though. Perhaps you could revisit this in case your Mum will soon lack capacity.

You are likely to need the support of your MP in any advocacy for continuing care. The key is that it is clinically required rather than socially required.

Make sure that she is not telling them that your dad will be able to care for her. You need to make the hospital aware that he absolutely can't.

Can you ask them to do a cognitive assessment. An Addenbrokes would help to know how serious her impairment is.

Sorry, posted too soon.
If your mother is eligible for 'continuing care' then the NHS is responsible for paying any nursing home costs. However it's not easy to get this but it's certainly worth pursuing.

Has she been admitted to a ward? Asked to speak to the matron/sister for an update. Also ask to speak to hospital social worker. If they start talking about discharge ask to speak to the transfer of care team or discharge team. Express your concerns strongly. I have financial POA for my dad unfortunately not health POA but you can still express your corncern. My dads been in and out of hospital loads over past few years. Social services or discharge team will do a capacity assessment of your mum. In his area at least there is the option for further 28 days of assessment at a care home but you need the intervention from SS or discharge team. Hope you can get someone to listen xx

Independent Age have lots of very helpful factsheets and leaflets.

www.independentage.org/information/advice-guides-factsheets-leaflets/continuing-healthcare-should-the-nhs-be-paying-for-your-care

Your dad won't be evicted from his house. I think care or nursing home fees are held in abeyance if a spouse is still living in the family home.
If your mother is eligible for something cslled 'continuing care'

They won't have to sell the house until your dad passes away.

Perhaps you could take a trip home to get things organised for them.

Im pretty sure they won't have to sell the house if your dad is still living in it.

Contact the discharge team at the hospital. You can let them know of your mum’s situation and that your dad is unable to look after her. Who’s current;y looking after your dad?