Is there any way of getting funding for 2 wks in care home?

[Feelingverysleepy]

Dad needs our care to be at home, but we can't do 24/7 next week. Is there any way I can arrange a short term care home placement with funding, or would I need to pay myself?
All this is very new to me. Mental Health issues spiralled out of control last week, he's under the crisis team, but I don't feel he can be left alone.

Please talk to the crisis team as they will be able to help.

It is possible to arrange emergency respite through social services IF he has below the savings threshold (not including property for temporary) but if his savings are above he will have to fund it himself. You as his family are not required to fund anything.

However there may be an issue of availability and suitability. There may not be a care home place available at short notice and it is at the home's discretion whether they accept him. If he is acutely unwell they may choose not to.

If he needs 24-7 supervision and you are not able to provide it perhaps he needs hospital admission?

Does he agree to this plan as if he does not a care will probably not accept him as they can't have people placed against their will without legal safeguards.

Thank you mamadoc. You are v kind to help. Will talk to team today.
He agrees to a care home on a temp basis. Crisis team don't think it's necessary for hosp admission (they see that we are helping (although exhausted) and don't assess him as being any threat to himself or others. Tho they jave mentioned it - but only in a 'we have no beds available' kind of way. Makes me wonder what would be the case if there was a bed?? His situation is severe anxiety, the meds are subduing him severely. It's more for our piece of mind that he is in care / cared for.
Do you know what the limit of his assets (excl house) would be for funding. He practically has nothing - but I'm always surprised what people are expected to manage on.

Not exactly sure sorry but I'm sure a couple of weeks would be fine. If he did go into permanent care then property value would be taken into account.

You need to be a bit firm with crisis team and say that you cannot carry on providing as much support as you are doing.
It is never absolutely true that 'there isn't a bed'. If they felt that he was at high risk or he was detained under MHA a bed would be found although possibly not in the nearest hospital, might be out of area.

So what they mean is that there isn't a bed immediately or easily available and they don't feel he is sufficiently in need of one to go to further lengths to find one but part of that is based on your support.

Do be honest with them and say that you feel you can't be relied upon so much and perhaps you may find that a bed is found. You have to ask yourself though if you/ he would be prepared to accept a placement further away. (I get a bit irritated sometimes when I bust a gut looking for a bed for someone in 'desperate need' and it turns out it is not so desperate when a 40min car journey is involved)

In hospital he is more likely to get the care and treatment he needs than in a care home and of course it will be completely free and arranged for you so I would probably push for this over respite if I were you.

Sorry misread that a bit. It's about 23,000 limit for LA funding inc savings, pensions, benefits.

You're a star - thanks. If I'm reading right and you are a MH or Soc Serv professional then thank you again as you all do such an amazing job. I have been so grateful for the NHS support this week.

I'm an older people's psychiatrist. (On holiday MN whilst DC ripping up the house!)

I was landed with a very demented, doubly incontinent, frequently falling relative late on a Friday night.
By Sunday I had exhausted all avenues of family help.
I rang the emergency number at the local social services (looked it up on line) and spoke to the duty social worker.
She was absolutely wonderful and found me a carer to help for a couple of days, and then a respite bed in time for me to go back to work without having to use up any more annual leave.

I was told that we could have up to six weeks respite care with vouchers for 2 thirds of the cost.

Relative has since been admitted to a dementia unit, but the respite care was a huge help while we got things sorted out.

The magic words are "carer breakdown imminent" and you ask for a carers assessment for yourself. This is not the same as an assessment of your dad. The choice of words is very important.

Wow! Enjoy your 'break'!! Thanks again

Hi Feelingverysleepy
I work in a psychiatric hospital on a later life ward (over 65's). Most of our patients come in due to depression/anxiety/early stage dementia as well as other psychiatric disorders. Our aim is to assess, treat then discharge to a suitable environment be that home or in care.
Your Father sounds like he would really benefit from a hospital stay, and you as a family really deserve the break.
You absolutely need to be firm with the crisis team and tell them you cannot cope. There will be a bed somewhere for him.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Dad was admitted to an inpt MH unit this morning as we just weren't able to care for him properly at the peak of the crisis. It's such a relief to know he's safe and cared for.
Fingers crossed a break will do us all good. Thank you

That's good news. I'm sure he'll get the care and treatment he needs and be well enough to get home soon.