To expect more from social services?

[WalkingInAWonderStuffingLand]

My 88yo great uncle has broken his collar bone, and so needs a little help, cooking, getting dressed etc. He lives with my 84yo grandmother and she has just been admitted to hospital following a heart attack, they have no family living locally, but thank god have fantastic neighbours. We called social services today to try to get my uncle some help, we were told we would get a letter acknowledging our request in 2 weeks, and that the earliest that social services would look at the request was Thursday. I hope my work are going to be understanding because there is no way we can leave all his care to his neighbours who have there own family and jobs..

how sad! Keep at them.

they are terribly over stretched

could you ring a local voluntary organisation to see if they can help out as well?

how dreadful.

Or could your uncle afford to pay someone? Then you could arrange it independantly of SS and wouldn't have to wait.

Hadn't thought of that ruby, do you know of any orgs in London?

I appreciate overstreched, but he's 88 ffs, what happens to people who don't have any family? Just doesn't seem right.

speak to hs gp- he/ she may be able to speed things up a bit

I know that if old people are admitted to hospital with broken bones, and need extra help, it is all arranged before they are discharged.

there's a rapid action team at the hospital who should help.

I don't think he has any money, not sure he doesn't give much away, he says he's fine, but he clearly isn't, my df comes back from states tomorrow, maybe he will be able to sort private care..

have a look at age concern as a start point

they are very good at sign posting etc

agree with speaking to the GP as well

OK will get dad on to the doctors tomorrow. It shouldn't be this difficult though should it. [sighs]

Thanks all x

The care he needs would be classed as more than 'a little help' by SS, sadly. And yes, they are overstretched.

What narks me is that I've read a thread tonight where someone is saying that she 'chooses' to claim benefits and not work while her children are at school and, here, we have an old gent who will probably get B all help as there are no funds to provide it.

All wrong, innit?

The care he needs would be classed as more than 'a little help' by SS, sadly. And yes, they are overstretched.

What narks me is that I've read a thread tonight where someone is saying that she 'chooses' to claim benefits and not work while her children are at school and, here, we have an old gent who will probably get B all help as there are no funds to provide it.

All wrong, innit?

Wrong that there are thousands available for sculptures at my school, its brand new and we weren't allowed to move any furniture from the old site, everything is new, cost millions, but so little for elderly care, makes me scared about getting old really.

I agree they're overstretched - not enough funds, not enough staff....I think it's a case of spreading the net for help (as in the sensible suggestion of age concern, local voluntary groups etc) and also keeping in contact with social services. At the moment I guess he has to take his turn along with everyone else who needs some help; but for instance there's nothing stopping you phoning again tomorrow if, say, your great uncle has not been able to see to his toilet needs or you're aware he's not been eating etc. Keep them informed, let them know if he can't do his basic care, and they will get someone round on a much more emergency basis IMO.

where are you wonder?
roughly

2 hour round trip, and i don't drive, just my dad, me and my brother, dad in the states on holiday, back tomorrow, my mum helped out yesterday, which was great because she and dad split many years ago. We want to move them to be nearer us but he says he won't move, hoping he'll change his mind.

piffle i'm in hampshire

bugger
Was going to say if you were near, my mum is a trained elderly carer and perhaps we could help.
There must be something in place to help?Grim that you have to jump hoops.

I think I am going to be very unpopular, but having no family locally is different to having no family and I think SS should prioritise those who don't have any family. Your Uncle does have people who could help look after him, you, your brother and your Dad just because you don't want to have the 2 hour round trip doesn't mean the government should step in - the pot isn't bottomless. However I understand it must be frustrating that you want him to move nearer so you can provide support but he won't move.

Bless you, he is actually in west london. Last night mum stayed with him as he had an early hospital appt, and tomorrow morning dad will be there, he doesn't need (or want) much care, but needs a little help getting dressed and can't reach to get stuff out of the oven, he's also sleeping in a chair downstairs, which is a bit of a worry but he's adamant that its ok, his next appointment is in 3 weeks and hopefully he will be better and maybe dgm also out of hospital. Neighbours are fab and will go round every day but I feel they shouldn't have to really. Is a worry.

Libra how do we all keep our jobs and help my uncle get dressed in the morning?? I just don't see how we can give him daily care

Also whilst the pot isn't bottomless we all pay into that pot and rarely ask for anything back.

The problem is that SS aren't an emergency/rapid response service.

It will be quicker to contact your dad's GP; there are care services available through Health rather than Social Care. At the moment in many areas there are Rapid Response Teams which are designed to keep people (especially elderly people) out of hospital. Historically there were many admissions to acute hospital services (particularly in winter) that weren't really acute situations, more social needs, and the NHS finally woke up to this and started making provision for these cases where there is an overlap with health and social needs.

I hope things are sorted soon for you.