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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Grandad and his care home...

15 replies

PandaMummyofOne · 19/04/2015 10:04

So I'm new here and not too sure on the abbreviations etc so please forgive me for that. Also this is going to be one hell of an essay. Sorry.

10 years ago my parents built my dad's parents a flat at the bottom of the garden. The idea being that in their old age we would be around to help when necessary but helping them to remain as independent as possible. They loved it. Unfortunately 5 years later my nan died. It was six weeks after she was first diagnoses with cancer. Grandad lived there for 2 years until he had a heart attack early one morning. He was rushed to hospital and whilst there had a further five and a stroke.

Whilst in hospital dad transformed his house. He built a downstairs bathroom, turned his back reception room into a bedroom and added many other adaptations to help grandad remain independent. He lives there happily for 12 months. He loved being there and seeing my LO grow for the first twelve months.

We found out later (I'll spare you the serious details) that he had a serious bowel impaction. His doctor said it was the worst case he had ever seen and had been developing for years! He never said a word. We were told the only way to fix this to remove the impaction surgically. His heart wouldn't be able to take it. He would die on the table. So laxatives, enemas three times a day and other treatments ensued for 18 months. He went into shock and ended back in hospital. At this point his doctor told us that he needed round the clock and that one of us would have to leave work. We all worked opposite shifts. Tried to get him back home. We couldn't give him what was needed. He wouldn't let us leave work said we all had our own lives to lead. He made the decision I go into a home. And it broke out hears. We never wanted this to happen.

In one respect it was the best thing for him. He has friends Grin! He loves it and the nursing staff are wonderful. My dad had power over his accounts and payed his bill every month. In january they were late sending the invoice. So payment was late. This resulted SS taking out vulnerable adult status, banning us from seeing him and satin we had stolen money from his accounts. A long battle ensues and long story short they ha to back down very quickly when we proved it was all b***ks and that they illegally took out the VA status. At that point dad handed over the accounts to the care home manager. One bitten twice shy and all that.

I went to see him yesterday and he told me that the manager had taken him down to the bank. And that he sat in her car whilst she went into the bank, made some changes, and then brought out a piece of paper for him to sign. No information just a signature page. I asked if he signed it. The idiot (yes, I did call him this to his face) did.

She is now refusing to talk to any of us. AIBU to think this isn't right? Surely this is not the way SS endorses? I'm not saying she has done anything wrong, it may be completely innocent. But I am seriously thinking of asking a friend (solicitor who specialises in these type of cases) to have a look.

My DP has told me to leave well enough alone. I'm in such turmoil here I don't want anyone taking advantage of the man who practically raised me. My nan would be turning in her grave if she knew this was going on.

OP posts:
PandaMummyofOne · 19/04/2015 10:05

So, so, so sorry about the essay. Ive just seen how long this is. Shock

OP posts:
ShouldIworryornothelp · 19/04/2015 10:07

Contact social services. That's not proper practice

londonrach · 19/04/2015 10:08

Cab. You need advice. Sounds like your dgf is being after but hes open to financial abuse.

ginmakesitallok · 19/04/2015 10:09

I'd get in touch with the vulnerable adults team in social work and get their advice (though can understand your reluctance to do so given the history .

monkeysox · 19/04/2015 10:12

Sounds very dodgy.

Icimoi · 19/04/2015 10:12

Write formally to the manager asking her what happened at the bank and what it was he signed, and ask for copies of his statements. If it was innocent she should have nothing to hide.

Christinayangstwistedsister · 19/04/2015 10:12

POVA, protection of vulnerable adults is in place to help with situations like this

Is it a private care home or do the council run it?

ashtrayheart · 19/04/2015 10:17

I'm assuming your Grandad has capacity or he would need a court appointed deputy or previously arranged power of attorney to act on his behalf. I don't understand why one late invoice would result in SVA action it certainly wouldn't where I work. Does he have a social worker still allocated to him? Otherwise I would contact the local duty team for advice.

allypally999 · 19/04/2015 10:19

I have POA for my mum also in a home and pay everything by dd so no work required other than to make sure there is always enough money there (self-funding so money in other accounts). Doesn't sound right but CAB are very good so I would go to them. Not sure you can take authority back without going to court?

Purplepixiedust · 19/04/2015 10:32

You need to establish what power the home has and then get advice. When you say your dad handed power to the care home this could be just physically giving them the bank cards to look after and when your grandad needs something they take him to the bank -assuming he has capacity and if they are asking him to sign something it sounds like he does. The LA may be appointee for him which means they deal with thw DWP pensions and benefits or they may have been granted Power of Attorney. Your dad should know the position.

The LA should be informed of what has happened - vulnerable adults team, and know whether what happenned is usual or not. If not, they should investigate, unfortunately they may not tell you the full position in the circumstances but should be able to give you some information.

CAB is a good starting point once you know what powers the home has or age uk may be able to help. The next step is a solicitir but you may be able to get to the bottom of this without one,

I am also surprised how pro-active the LA were over one late payment. This would never trigger vulnerable adult proceedings in my area.

PandaMummyofOne · 19/04/2015 10:42

Thank you for your responses. We said the same thing about the VA. The meeting in which it was revoked was attended by the head of the areas SS and the first thing she said after we presented the evidence was "didn't you know it had been revoked" He does have full capacity, but asked dad to do it because it was all online and the home doesn't have internet access for the residents (he's very techno savvy). The manager offered to do it before anybody mentioned anything. And that was after we had been informed at the meetings that the paramedics had been out twice and the home forget to inform us. We want to move him. He wants to stay with his friends. Which I can absolutely understand.

OP posts:
pudcat · 19/04/2015 11:02

The bank surely would not do this. They would want to see the person. You do need to get this investigated and your grandfather needs to get his account checked straight away

TenerifeSea · 19/04/2015 11:05

He may have capacity but he is in a vulnerable situation with a power imbalance and I would be very concerned about the manager taking him to the bank. There is a conflict of interest there.

You need to speak to social services ASAP.

PandaMummyofOne · 19/04/2015 15:34

Thanks ladies. We've put in a request with the home to see all statements. The manager isn't in until Monday so we can't do anything until then. I've spoken to dad and he's going to court for POA after this. It may be completely innocent but we've since found out that his 'social worker' was also present. I'm pretty sure that's not how SS work.

OP posts:
straighttothepoint · 19/04/2015 15:57

I would flag this with the bank manager first thing tomorrow, sadly they are probably used to this situation any may be able to help.

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