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Elderly parents
Original poster

Help! Can’t find a nursing home that will take dad

22 replies

Ofchris · 26/11/2018 17:51

Would welcome any advice as I have hit a real low point. My dad has COPD and has deteriorated quite significantly in the last six months. He lives in an assisted living flat and now needs more care than they can provide. My brothers and I all work full time, have children etc so we are on our knees trying to provide 24/7 care. He needs two people to help with his mobility (to stand and transfer between bed and chair) is on oxygen 24/7 and is increasingly anxious due to his condition (but also very polite and considerate of his carers - so no behavioural issues). We’ve seen lots of nursing homes, chosen two and they have both said they can’t meet his needs. SS no help as he is privately funding his care and they are snowed under. He’s stuck in hospital desperate to come out but can’t until we have somewhere set up. What should we be looking for?

OP posts:
Tobuyornot99 · 26/11/2018 17:53

Has he had a CHC assessment?

Isittimeforbed · 26/11/2018 18:01

Have they specified what aspect of his care they can’t cater for?

Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 18:02

We were told by the hospital SS that they couldn’t do it and the care home would do it, but he’s not got that far in the process yet. It’s also complicated by the fact we are changing areas from his current flat/ hospital to a different local authority - to be nearer us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 18:03

Some nursing homes have said no straight away because of the oxygen but the latest two it’s related to his mobility.

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hatgirl · 26/11/2018 18:06

Your dad is still entitled to a social care assessment/ CHC assessment even if he is self funding.

The local authority also have a duty under the care act to provide him with information and advice even if he is a self funder.

I'm surprised the hospital itself hasn't supported you - it's in their interests to move him on as quickly as possible.

Can you ask for a referral to the hospital discharge team. The hospital will definitely have one.

Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 18:09

We can try that. The hospital SS team gave us the brush off and told us it would be quicker if we didn’t use them, but I can speak to them again in the morning and push for them to do an assessment asap.

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hatgirl · 26/11/2018 18:12

I cross posted

It sounds like the hospital are pulling a bit of a fast one, the advice you have been given by them is very naughty.

He should be assessed for CHC before he leaves hospital. It's not the care home's responsibility to do this it's the hospital's.

Dig your heels in and ask to be referred to hospital discharge. It's not for the hospital to decide on behalf of social services how busy they are.

m0therofdragons · 26/11/2018 18:16

Hospital social care and complex discharge team need to be involved. Just because he's self funding doesn't mean they can't help. This infuriates me (I work in a hospital). If hospital want his bed (which they will unless you're in Barnstaple as winter pressure isn't an issue there) they need to help you. Families definitely need to be proactive but you're doing your bit so the hospital need to help now in my opinion.

Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 18:17

That’s hatgirl that’s helpful. I’ll try them again tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 18:17

*thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 18:18

Will be more forceful motherofdragons. Yes hospital definitely want to discharge him and he’s bored stupid.

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Isittimeforbed · 26/11/2018 18:23

My Dad is in one of the Signature nursing homes. One of his main issues is mobility and there is at least one other resident on oxygen, so they might be worth a try if there’s one near you. It’s not cheap though, especially if he needs a very high level of care.

Domino45 · 26/11/2018 18:25

Hi, as a social worker the ward should do a CHC checklist as part of discharge planning and I would ask it is done. Not just to rule out CHC but to see if your dad is eligible for funded nursing care (FNC) as this would confirm whether he needs a nursing home placement. Funded nursing care is what the NHS would contribute towards care at around £158.00 p/w directly to a nursing home if agreed. If you have concerns about the lack of support I would ask for the number for PALS to discuss the situation. Also remember under the care act 2014 your dad is entitled to a needs assessment self funding or not. I would ask as there are any services that help in looking for care homes. In the West Midlands there is care home select but not sure what other areas they cover.

HoleyCoMoley · 26/11/2018 18:47

As others say, he should have a full chc assessment in hospital, maybe they could discharge him to a community bed for 6 weeks whilst they organise this, this is a care assessment and not a financial assessment, you can read it online. I wonder if the lung care nurse can help, they are often the people who organise the delivery of oxygen to nursing homes and decide how much oxygen he needs. What part of the country are you in. I'm surprised a nursing home with registered nurses on 24/7 don't feel able to meet his needs.

hatgirl · 26/11/2018 18:55

Can I check you are definitely approaching registered nursing homes and not residential care homes?

Oxygen and needing two people for transfers are basic services provided by most nursing homes, I'm really surprised that they wouldn't feel able to provide that especially if there are no behavioural needs.

Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 19:09

I know I was surprised too, but we are definitely only contacting nursing homes. The first one was quite small but the second was much larger. They said they have staffing problems so can’t provide the level of care.

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Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 19:15

We are in West Midlands so will try Care Home Select - thanks for the tip.

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HoleyCoMoley · 26/11/2018 19:31

You can also try Carehome.uk

flimp · 26/11/2018 19:37

I agree the hospital SW team are being very naughty. I don't doubt that they are snowed under but they should be helping you with this, even if he is self-funding.

Kick up a fuss. Mither them. Be THAT family. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease unfortunately.

Good luck Flowers

TheMightyToosh · 26/11/2018 19:56

We had trouble getting my dad into a home with nursing care (also mobility problems and COPD, though not oxygen yet) and eventually asked the GP for help. They referred us to OT (I think) who issued us with a case worker, and she did all the ringing around for us.

Original poster
Ofchris · 26/11/2018 19:58

Thanks all!

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Fortysix · 27/11/2018 11:47

I'm not in your area but my experience is that not all care homes are listed in one place and very many have rubbish websites....
When searching for a care home our best results came from other families in the same position and the dog walkers in the local park...

Another idea is to look on the recruitment pages for homes looking for care staff as you may get wind of a new place opening up...

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