Won’t engage with carers

[Edinlassy]

Hi

looking for some advice. My mother has been sick for a long time and this year has really went downhill. After a 7 week stay in hospital she was discharged with carers 4 times per day. Huge relief to me that care was coming in as she was not managing and I was struggling so much to keep on top of everything. Her house was infested with flies, poo on the floor, mouldy cups everywhere. It was a bad state of affairs.

Lots if back story but my issue is now she is refusing to allow the carers into her home. She barricades the door shut so they can’t let themselves in and shouts at them to f@@@ off. They still attend but never gain entry. Her house is back to all levels of disgusting and I’m so worried medical help couldn’t get into her flat if needed. She is wheelchair bound and fell out of it the other day and instead of pulling her help cord she pulled herself into the hallway and made the other elderly residents (sheltered accom) lift her up.

i am wondering what happens when they condition of someone getting home is that they accept carers but when they get home they refuse access? Has anyone ever been in this situation?

thanks

All great ideas and I done that initially it’s a small team of lovely ladies. She always refused personal care and would
make them just sit there and would refuse to speak to them. They asked if they could do her dishes or hang her washing and she refused everything until one day she just started blocking the door so they could
not enter.

I know you've said the GP is distant from her care because of her other condition but I still think a request to the GP may yield results. Clearly the current SW is just about ticking boxes, so I agree a call to the safe guarding team may unblock this particular dam.

In FIL's case he stopped carers entering the house to care for MIL after she was discharged following a stroke- and they were stopped very quickly, as were the ones arranged for him when he refused them entry. To instruct the carers to continue for a prolonged period of time just to be refused entry each & every time is a waste of resources and is certainly not delivering care to your Mum. All they are doing is checking she's alive 4 times a day.

If someone is sectioned they really have no choice - literally someone will pick them up & strap them into a stretcher. Not pretty and unpleasant for all involved. They would try negotiation first but if push comes to shove...

1. Ask the warden how they will keep other residents safe if your Mum continues to represent a fire risk, send an email, don't speak to them face to face.
2. Send an email to her SW asking how long the carers will continue to visit your Mum whilst she barricades herself in the flat and prevents their entry ? Also mention the fire hazard in this email. Ask if the self neglect could be related to the lack of capacity she showed to make medical decisions whilst in hospital ?
3. Be absolutely firm with your Mum, that you will no longer visit whilst she refuses the carers entry, they don't have to do anything but they should be allowed to check she is well, being told to fuck off and knowing she is alive isn't enough.

Good luck