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..

WalkingInAWonderStuffingLand, it's not that I don't understand your predicament but you asked a question about Social Services in AIBU and my opinion is that the gov't can't be relied on to provide everything and if someone does have family then that family should support each other as much as possible (I realise this is an ideal) even if it is an inconvience to them rather than offload onto a gov't agency. I really do hope you get something sorted.

Libra I agree with you, and if we lived locally then it would be different, and yesterday when my gran was admitted we were able to look after them both, but going forward it simply isn't visable, as we have jobs and family here and can't give him daily attention. I take on board the advice here and will contact the GP and age concern, and it maybe that private help can be arranged, but I think that when we call SS they should have pointed us in that direction rather than said 'oh you'll get a letter in a week and no one can even look at the referral until Thursday'

Make sure that the people caring for your Great Aunt are aware of this situation. If she's going to be going home soon, they'll need to make sure she has the right care and support at home. Doesn't directly help your Great Uncle but it should avoid both of them being left high and dry. Hope you get some joy with the GP

There may be not a lot else your GP can offer - we often have the same arguments with social services. It may be worth asking for a referral to the intermediate care team or similar (whatever is in your area - as their remit is keeping people out of hospital) the other option is to ask SS if he can have an urgent assessment for an emergency care place - that would mean an emergency respite placement in a nursing or residential home if there were places. Locally to us they are available but stretched and our words as GPs have little or no effect on whether people get them.

Ask the nurses on your gms ward to refer her to social services. You may get a quicker response. Make sure you tell them about your gu.

My mil (85) gets a carer in every morning. They make the bed and wash her feet once a week. She can manage perfectly well without, but plays the little old lady. It makes my blood boil that genuine cases like your gu can have nothing due to overloaded ss.