Advice for adult carers

[eurochick]

Does anyone know where an adult carer can get advice and support? A friend of mine is a carer for her elderly mother with dementia. The mother was always adamant she didn't want to go into a home and my friend is facilitating this by being her carer at home and is happy to do that. Social services have now become involved and have raised safeguarding concerns, seemingly around my friend lifting her mum, and are trying to force a care package onto them that neither of them want. The proposed care package would take pretty much the mother's entire income meaning she would be unable to pay her bills to stay living in her own house, so this seems to be forcing her into a home by default. My friend is distraught. Any ideas where she can get some advice and support?

Citizens advice should be able to help. What a horrible situation

A lot of places have a unpaid carer support charity. Where is she based?

Very very situation....I feel for your friend....trying to do her best for her Mum....the thing is if her mum has dementia it is likely that she is deemed to lack capacity.....in which case she would be deemed unable to make an informed choice about her care.....under the mental capacity act....decisions should therefore be made in her ‘Was’best interests’.... if the mother was in a care home she would need to moved with aids/hoists and not lifted.....there is a risk of injury to the Mum..... has the mother got a written advance decision In place ( living will) to does the daughter have health POA? .....both these things may help her be involved with decisions?.... however the wheels are already in motion with regard to adult social care I would imagine....as safeguarding concerns have already been raised..... hope it works out for your friend and her mum

Have you tried Age Uk helpline? Seems strange if lifting is only issue. The council must leave you sufficient funds to live on after care costs are taken off. So unless she is seriously wealthy moving into care home will sooner or later be at funding feet of the council. It’s in their best interest to keep her self funding and costing them as little as possible.

Search her area for her local carers centre to get advice and support. SS should do a financial assessment to decide how much the mother should pay for the care package. It would be free if she has no income or savings.

www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-support/local-support

On the other hand, the daughter could argue her DM has a right to a private life in her family and community, under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act ie stay in her own home, if that is where she would be happier. However I'd advise the daughter to address the safeguarding concerns by having say 2 carers come in to do the activities, which need a hoist such as dressing, a bath/shower, etc. It might be cheaper than a care home, and the value of the home is disregarded in a financial assessment for home care.

Equally, the daughter might find it a big relief, her DM is being looked after and she has some respite? Sometimes, carers don't realise how tired they are?

Is your friend's mother getting Attendance Allowance? It is not means tested, friend needs to get the form and fill in with every little detail. Money would help pay for care, it can be spent on anything to help.

Does she claim attendance allowance for her mother? That would cover some of the cost