What is DOLs

[Soupsetscared]

I have another thread about end of life for mum.
Last night I was asked if they can put it in place.
I was asked to go and see the Staff Nurse for an explanation but they had 2 emergencess so I'm going at visiting time this afternoon.

It means deprivation of liberty. It’s used when someone doesn’t want to stay in hospital but that person is deemed not to have capacity to make that decision.

Yes, it normally requires signatures from a social worker and an assessment of capacity. It's used to prevent people in hospitals or care-homes from discharging themselves. My DDad has had one since he went AWOL from his care-home, poor fellow.

I wonder why they have asked as mum can't even get out of bed never mind discharge herself. Is asleep more than awake.

She doesn’t have to be able to physically get herself out of bed she just has to say she wants to leave.

If she’s saying that she doesn’t want to stay in hospital and wants to go home it would be wrong to ignore her wishes on the basis she can’t get out of bed anyway.

But if it’s been decided that she doesn’t have capacity to bathe that decision and it’s in her best interests to stay a DoLs needs to be in place

*make that decision

An MCA (mental capacity assessment) is done first.
This is based on discharge, treatments including surgical intervention and medication, dnar. We also use it for diet and other treatments ie dental care.
It is not just used to prevent discharge as each mca is done independently.
Due to the fact your mum is eol and mainly asleep , this may be based on treatments in best interest.
Do you have LPA?
The mca is up dated to a dols and sent to a legal team to make sure it is correct. At any stage the dols has to be updated , not the mca , if any changes or needs in treatment.
A person may seem to have capacity but you also have to deem the risk.

My brother and I have full Power of Attorney for health and finance.
I was confused as they needed my permission for her to have a blood test
yesterday afternoon.
Both of us are going to see the Staff Nurse this afternoon.
Thank you for your explanations.

Did you mum have an advanced care plan?
They asked you maybe about the blood test due to your mum's condition.
Was it beneficial to treatment?
Depending on her condition, request to speak to her consultant or medical team.
If investigations and treatments are not in her best interest, as in treatment may prolong her life.

I'm sorry you are going through this

My mother was sectioned under the mental health act and moved to a care home after the hospital, where she was put on DOLS. I didn't realise people can only be sectioned in hospital. I saw DOLS a bit like being sectioned but the 'when living in the community' version. Essentially it meant she couldn't just leave the care home when she wanted to. They reassessed it intermittently.

Correct
They can be under a section 2 or 3
We have patients admitted under a section 3. Once regularly assessed by the psychiatric consultant it can be revoked and patient placed under a dols
A community dols is different to a hospital/health care setting dols