Does anyone know about disability grants/ hospital discharge?

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

My mother has been in hospital since February, she had a slipped disc which was missed at TWO hospital appts and the GP and 3x ambulance call outs and it ended up damaging her spinal cord and now she is in a wheelchair with paralysis. That is being dealt with at a later date by a solicitor but for now I need advice if anyone can help regarding discharge.

Since February she has been told by the hospitals (Addenbrooks and the spinal unit she's in now) to hold off with stair lifts/ adaptations etc as she is eligible for a grant, she was told she was eligible for £30k worth.

A week ago the hospital started talking about discharge but want her to go into a nursing home or to rent a flat while she waits for the work to be done which could be next year, they couldn't really give a time scale. After a frustrating zoom meeting today with the person who was there on behalf of the council hasn't even applied for the grant yet.

I want mum to be discharged from the hospital with everything in place including a SS care package. Anything else feels like she could slip through the net again like she did when we were trying to access help when she fell ill.

Can we refuse to agree to discharge if they push? What happens , does anyone know?

Yesterday they were trying to get her to privately rent a flat while the adaptations are being done, she'd just woken up and was dizzy from some new meds.Ffs

Part of me thinks if we don't agree to anything and dig our heels in someone might pull their fingers out but I don't know if this is realistic.

She's 74, before this totally fit and healthy and never even been in hospital, I don't want her to go into a home and wait for the work to be done unless there is a date and it's only a couple of weeks and then what happens if we get locked down again and she gets stuck in there?

I am so, so angry/ upset about the whole thing.

Any advice gratefully received

Your poor mum I’m not surprised you are angry and upset, what a worrying time for you all.

However, it isn’t realistic for your mum to take up a much needed hospital bed whilst waiting for adaptions to be made at her home if it isn’t a medical necessity that she stay.

I’m sorry I don’t know the ins & outs but there are some email links to organisations and phone numbers at the bottom of this link. Have you spoken to age U.K. for advice?
www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs37_hospital_discharge_fcs.pdf

Is it the disabled facilities grant?
£30,000 is the maximum grant, this says the average is £7,225.
www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/disabled-facilities-grants/
And
The council must give you a decision within 6 months of the date you apply. If the works are major, you will also need to apply for planning permission and/or building regulations approval

It also says It currently takes an average of 34 weeks from assessment to completion of works

The link also says about applying for it yourself, is the council person supposed to be doing it on your mums behalf? It may get done quicker if you take it on, Citizens Advice often assist with filling in forms if you need help. I think age U.K. actually sent someone to PIL’s home to help FIL fill some forms in for help when they needed assistance with MIL’s failing health.

I hope you are able to sort things for your mum so she can get home ASAP

Thank you for replying. I think I just needed to vent. I know she can't block a bed I'm just so frightened for discharge.

Age UK is a good idea, thank you, I think I'll contact them tomorrow.

Yes it's a dfg grant

Has she seen the ot? They would assess for starlit and check she would be able to use this safely. Also if its a through floor lift she will need as pp has said will need building assessment to check adaptation can be made.

She will be financially assessed to see if she is eligible for the disabled facilities grant first? It's usually a long process, .. wait for the assessment, then wait for the work to happen. She needs an occupational therapy assessment at home. Is it feasible for her to be at home with a makeshift arrangement until adaptations carried out, e.g commode/bed downstairs or is this out of the question? Depends on her needs and layout of home etc. I work in the system and I find it confusing. Ring social services and make a fuss until you get put thro to the right people.

Sorry that's re the grant bit the assessment will need signed off before they can apply for a grant.

Sorry about what has happened to yout mum. Its very hard to advise without the full picture but no she cant remain in hospital whilst waiting for adaptations. If it is anything like my local council this would realistically be months. Usually we would arrange single level living if this is possible. If not then placement in an appropriste setting. Is your mum eligible for rehab ? If so she may be entitled to up to 6 weeks of suppport. If she is then not able to return home, it would likely be a placement in a care home , which would be means tested. The sad fact is people can be confined to one room in their homes whilst waiting for adaptations so my view would be check what she is entitled and ensure she recieves that and if she has the funds start looking for either a short term let flat or care home. If she is under the financial threshold social services should assist with finding a placement

There has been lots of assessments already from OT, they were part of the zoom meeting today.

It's so unbelievably frustrating as we wanted to apply and get things moving months ago and were told by the hospital just to wait, she's been in hospital since February so a long time and has known from day one she would need adaptations- she needs a platform lift, adapted bathroom and kitchen and other minor things. Not able to be at home at all without a platform lift.

She's in a bad way,totally life changing injuries, they've said the grant will be for the full amount. The hospital also advised suing as this was all avoidable - that's for later down the line though, one thing at a time.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I think I just need to get my head around it all. It's helped to get it down on paper so to speak.

If you do go down the suing route you can start now, the legal firm will do all the work (and take their cut) they worked with a patient I knew who had brain damage from mis diagnosed meningitis I think. Sometimes it helps to have legal on hand.

@NecklessMumster thank you,we've been given info from the spinal unit of a firm that other patients have used. It's really shocking visiting and seeing such broken, paralysed people and the majority of people are there because of medical negligence. Truly shocking.

Update- went to the hospital today and managed to sort out an interim solution while she waits for the big work to be done . All good and discharge looking like August 25th.

Feel less stressed and more positive today