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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Care levels insufficient

42 replies

lessthanBeau · 29/03/2018 11:19

Aibu to think if you are unable to be allowed out unaccompanied as you are a danger to yourself, if you cannot make any meals for yourself, if you cannot bath and clean yourself properly, you need help with your medications, you cannot make financial decisions and the drugs you take knock you out so hard that you wouldn't hear a smoke alarm and may not be able to escape even if you did hear it. Then you should not be living at home alone with only home care visits.
something has happened between Mil and fil who was Mil primary carer along with four home visits per day, I don't want to say what as it's personal information to them, however it has meant fil has left the house and the la has assessed Mil as being able to live alone with just the care visits during the day. Mil has Huntingtons which will progress even though she is still mobile(only just) at the moment. My dh and bil have set up motion sensor cameras to be able to watch her, she also has lifeline button round her neck and they think this is enough and she'll be fine, dh does stick his head in the sand where Mil is concerned, Mil and fil have both been subject to financial abuse from a previous carer in the past and fil has full capacity so if this could happen when he's there how vulnerable is Mil going to be alone? She does refuse to go into a carehome but I think she has been assessed previously as not having capacity. they are talking about her going into a warden controlled accommodation but still with the same care package to me that also sounds like not enough how is it different from being at home with the lifeline? Also fil is an alcoholic and was told that if he was discovered drunk while caring for her then they would take Mil into full time care regardless of his wishes to keep her at home, so with the problems outlined above and ss previously saying if he can't look after her full time she had to go into a home, does this care plan seem feasible to you?

OP posts:
Davros · 29/03/2018 20:13

There are a lot of gadgets and technology available now - mind blown.
I think a lot of elderly people, my own mother included, refuse a residential setting because they want to preserve their home for family to inherit (I didn't) but what quality of life do they really have? That TV programme Ambulance showed a number of old folk who refused to leave their home, although more to do with emotional attachment, who were living in awful conditions

Devilishpyjamas · 29/03/2018 20:27

Yes there should be a DoLS for living at home (if for example under continuous supervision and not free to leave - if that not the case then no DoLS needed). And yes if it’s a DoLS for home then has to go via the CoP rather than LA. And they are taking months - rather worried that side of things will delay my son’s discharge from hospital (so he’ll be in a more restrictive environment because no permission to be in a less restrictive).

DoLS not really fit for purpose.

Although I am enjoying being on the same thread as Davros for about the first time in a decade Grin

Davros · 29/03/2018 20:31

Is that you JJ? ThanksCake

Devilishpyjamas · 29/03/2018 20:36

GrinHaloWine indeed xx

Wellthisunexpected · 29/03/2018 20:44

Capacity is time and decision specific, so she may have not had capacity before, but may have it now in regards to this decision. And if she does, she cannot be moved against her will.

Ollivander84 · 29/03/2018 20:47

It does sound fairly standard - I work as a carer as my second job. I go to people that are bed bound, can't get up, wash, dress or get food for themselves or take their own meds, and they're on 4 visits a day with a lifeline

Davros · 29/03/2018 20:50

Devilishpyjamas I see the connection in your user names!
Is DoLs person specific or location/setting specific? So if he has been assessed in the current setting can't it apply to another? If not, are they careful enough to realise another is needed?

Devilishpyjamas · 29/03/2018 20:58

It isn’t person in a particular location under particular conditions specific.

So ds1’s had a DoLS for his resi home. That ended the day he was booted out. He didn’t have one while back with us so theoretically we couldn’t lock the front door (obviously him being run over is preferable Hmm ). Then he moved temporarily into a respite place with no DOLS so they couldn’t lock the front door - all hell broke loose (from being unable to lock the door) and he was sectioned. Now he can’t leave until his new home - his own house - has a DOLS.

Devilishpyjamas · 29/03/2018 21:00

But tbh if someone moves into a residential or nursing home they just do the application then wait the however many months needed for the DoLS.

Own home is different as the application is to the court rather than LA.

hatgirl · 29/03/2018 21:09

DoLs are setting specific so a new one is needed for each setting.

There's a huge delay at the court of protection following the Cheshire West judgement a few years ago. However, the general delays at the COP shouldn't ever delay someone moving to a more appropriate setting if that's what needed so if that was going to be the case and it was necessary for the move to take place in a timely way then would hopefully be looked at more urgently. Otherwise, providing local authorities and care providers follow correct best interests process
and submit the appropriate paperwork to the court for eventual rubber stamping, then it's generally accepted that the world has to keep turning despite delays at the COP.

DoLs absolutely isn't fit for purpose and is being reviewed, but it's all we have at the moment.

missymayhemsmum · 29/03/2018 21:22

She has two sons, why is she living alone if she is no longer able to do so safely?

RB68 · 29/03/2018 21:36

Because Sons have other responsibilities and families and she is currently not wanting to move - either to be with Sons and families (and lets face it how many of us have extra rooms generally suitable for this level of infirmity) they are doing things but they or the wife of one of them is concerned as to whether it is enough.

I am currently (as the eldest of 6) in the position of having two parents still alive and one of them has had a disastrous 6 weeks starting with a broken back and moving onto delirium and hospitalisation after 8hrs in an ambulance and numerous other nightmare a and e stories. We have managed between us and my other parent to provide 24/7 care for 6 weeks. At least three of us have broken down at some point. Had we not been with them 24.7 in hospital I don't think they would be alive today, they are finally home and much better but still need help to cope with the demands of someone not quite bedridden and prone to taking silly risks due to a busy life and caring role before their own illness. And obv the hospital is staffed. So how they cope at home on their own I have no idea. They must liturally sit in their own shit till someone comes, go thirsty and hungry, have blood imbalances causing delirium due to poor nutrition, be bored out of their tree etc etc. Miss medication, not get to hospital appts/physio/bloodtests/gp etc. It is a complete and utter disaster and I really really don't know what the answer is

vdbfamily · 29/03/2018 21:44

Regards her moving to 'warden controlled' this will offer no benefits over her current situation but they might be meaning'extra care' type housing where the care is 'in house 'and meals tend to be communal and sometimes you can have a call at night to change a pad etc. Certainly do not encourage her to move to warden controlled.

retirednow · 29/03/2018 22:10

I agree there is not always much benefit to moving into a warden controlled flat, they can offer company for people as they usually have a communal dining and social lounge, nicely kept communal gardens and each flat is often electric only so lessens the risk of any gas issues. They have alarms and call bells dotted around but unless the warden is onsite the residents are still reliant on careline. Some now have off site wardens who look after several homes which seems a bit pointless. They are cheaper to buy than other flats but the charges can be very expensive. I wouldn't recommend them either.

Devilishpyjamas · 29/03/2018 22:21

This is worth a read www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/27/disabled-people-independent-living-care-homes

lynmilne65 · 30/03/2018 08:52

30 years of experience, no one wants to go into care

retirednow · 30/03/2018 10:57

I have met people who ask to go into care, sometimes because they accept they can no longer manage, they need the company or because they know it's the safest place for them to be. I've met people who have chronic health conditions which will only get worse so they go into care before that happens, which gives them and their families the reassurance they will be looked after. I wish all carehomes were of such a high standard that it was home from home but some are not nice and they all cost a lot of money. I am sure most people would prefer to stay in their own homes if they could but we need more well paid community carers and district nurses to look after them. Carers allowance should be at least the national wage.

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