Mil with dementia been admitted to hospital - what can they do?

[CocktailQueen]

They're keeping her in for obs and to do heart scan. Chest x-ray and bloods clear.

She already has a care package in place - meals on wheels every day, carers twice a day. We are looking at care homes for her but there are waiting lists at all the nice ones by us.

She has been admitted to hospital twice in the past week due to breathlessness - once a passer-by was concerned about her and rang 999, the other time she pressed her Mascot call button and they called 999. There's nothing wrong with her physically but the hosp keeps talking about an OT and physio assessing her - but she's not eligible for any care as she owns her own house, so what's the point? The hosp is suggesting more care visits per day, but at the moment she can't remember when carers are due so can be out getting a paper.milk when they arrive.

She pays for her carers. What can the hosp actually do to help?? I understand they want her to stop coming in to hospital and having to be assessed when she is just confused, but it all seems a bit pointless.

Has anyone else had the same and can you advise?

Hi . They can get the hospital mental health team involved. Does your mil have an official diagnosis? I am unsure what you mean by 'she is not eligible for care as she owns her own house' How long are the waiting lists? You must be worried

As Dooby says, they can get the MH team involved to reassess her care package. It might be more appropriate for her to have more visits each day, or maybe even day care? Depending on her savings, she may have to pay for the increase in care, but some areas have some free day care, you never know.

The MH team will be aiming to prevent future hospital admissions and keep her in her own home for as long as she is safe to do so.

They will also be able to point you in the direction of other useful resources, like local charities, carers' groups or dementia cafes etc.

The OT will look for things to make her life easier at home - is there any equipment that might help her out, like for example, does she need help remembering to take her tablets, or is she struggling to get in the bath or whatever.

Sorry you're all going through this, it must be very stressful.

She already pays for all care. She is not eligible for social services help. We have already been turned down twice for attendance allowance!!

We have had several social services assessments for her already but as soon as they know she has her own house and savings, they say they can't help!

More visits a day? She already doesn't know what time carers are coming - even though she has been told many times - she doesn't look at clocks so has no idea of the time/day/month - so is often out when they arrive. This would be worse with more visits.

we have looked into local charities, befrienders etc, dementia cafes etc and she's not interested in any of them -refuses to go.

OT? She already has a stair handrail. The carers help her take her tablets. She doesn't bath/wash so that's not an issue (at least, it's a separate issue!!). No other mobility aids required.

Yes, MIL has an official diagnosis that is in her notes,

Waiting lists for care homes - well, dead men's shoes, isn't it? Could be tomorrow, could be a year!!

I just don't know what the hospital thinks they can help with. Sigh.

Dad has dementia , he was in hospital for 3 months following a chest infection
He now lives in a nursing home as he is so ill with dementia that he can no longer walk , feed himself etc
His ( much younger ) wife still lives in their house , his nursing home is funded from his pension and his carers and disability allowance
It took a while to be sorted out .
He went downhill very quickly , try and get something organised

That's what we're trying to do... MIL was doing ok with the care package but seems to be getting day and night confused and getting more muddled - hence looking for care homes. Never goes as quickly as you'd like, though, does it...

ah, I see, she's had lots of input already.

If things have changed then yet another assessment would be appropriate, but I understand the process is tedious and frustrating.

If she's not washing, then a higher level of care would perhaps need to be sorted somehow, maybe with someone from the MH team working creatively with carers to figure out a way that works for her. Sometimes day care can help with bathing and a skilled worker could perhaps persuade her to accept more support. I know resources are scarce though

OP, I'm sorry it feels like there's nothing to be done, but as things constantly change with dementia, different doors open.

Good luck and I hope there's something out there to help her and you

Dad has been in hospital for a month with dementia while they "assess" him. They do blood and urine tests, cognitive skills, Physio etc. Prior to going in - he had a couple of falls- he was having social services in twice a day to prepare his food. He owns his own house but was getting this help free of charge.
We are currently waiting for an official diagnosis and a decision as to where he goes next. However, today he had both a chest and urine infection and was delirious, so I can't see him lasting much longer to be honest.

Dane... she's not been washing for years and years. Literally. It,s horrible. All you can do if she's at home is encourage, not force. But the hosp said today they've washed her and shaved her, which will be a great improvement... and she didn't mind!! Amazing. we have been working with her carers for the past year for them to bath her, but hasn't worked yet...

Dementedma - sorry to hear about your dad.

You're right, theres nothing they can make happen if she is self funding (I've been through this with my parents), though if OT decides she needs more rails/shower seat/bath lift this can be installed.

ma didn't realise he had been in for a month now you must be exhausted.

The hospital helped a lot when Dad was there
A social worker , occupational health , the Doctor who spelt it all out
She can't go home if she's not looking after herself properly
Get all the help and advice you can from them and you will hopefully be able to get something sorted out

There is NO point having anything OT and bath-related put in as she lies about washing now and just wouldn't use it. This has been the case for years now, not since she's been getting worse.

DoIlook - rtft!!!! We have HAD SW, OT, social services round already and they are next to useless. She has had carers and MOW in place for a year... We have HAD loads of help and advice.

Under the new care act she is entitled to an assessment regardless of her income ( she was previously but alot of ss dept will try not to). If she needs to be in a care home she should be receiving the higher rate of attendance allowance- it's not means tested. Make sure you fill the forms in on her behalf so the right information goes on it.
Tell the hospital you want her assessed for CHC funding too. I'm a social worker and deal with these assessments daily, pm if you want any other info.

God - we have filled in AA forms twice and been turned down both times!!! Yet the fucking council wants to come and assess her and say what she's entitled to - drives me potty.

What is CHC funding?? Will pm you! Thank you/.