Carers

[cocopopscereal]

Hi. I have been looking into getting a carer for an elderly parent. I think he has a form of dementia but we will be getting a diagnosis soon.

He has over £23k in savings but as I can't get Power of Attorney I don't know what his budget is for the month as he has investments. He wouldn't give me POA a few years ago and now he doesn't have the capacity to understand it.

We will be getting a diagnosis soon. I am going to apply for deputyship once we get the diagnosis.

Have any of you had any luck in getting a member of a mental health team to help elderly parents take medication? I'm wondering if they would do this instead of us getting a carer. Thanks

Have any of you had any luck in getting a member of a mental health team to help elderly parents take medication? I'm wondering if they would do this instead of us getting a carer. Thanks.

No idea on that one sorry. Hopefully someone will be along soon who can help

I guess it depends how often the medication is needed. If it’s daily then I think you will need a carer as I don’t suppose your parent can be relied on to remember. And I doubt you will get a healthcare visit daily for that purpose.

Not sure if I will be much help but we're going through this for my nana currently. Dementia diagnosis. My mum has financial POA for her luckily which we got before she declined further but unfortunately unable to get health POA to make care decisions as the solicitors messed up the timescales.

In terms of getting someone from a MH team to help with care I am unsure as in our area you have to have a SW from Adult Social Care come and assess, then they will make referrals to people like Dementia Team, Care Planning team etc. We are currently open to adult social care (this is after a year of us requesting and only after her diabetes nurses finally put in the request!) and they have put forward to us some care packages that she would have to pay for as she has savings.

Hi. Thanks for your replies. We've now had a dementia diagnosis.

There might be a way around this with a care agency. I will find out soon. Fingers crossed!

How are you both getting on now @cocopopscereal?

@BunnyRuddington - hi there. We are still waiting to see if there is a way around getting carers from a care agency. It has transpired that my parent can afford it.

I don't think mental health services can help for the full week.