Declining mother and in step down care at the moment

[Popplebop]

I am hoping there are some suggestions from the Mumsnet experience for this. Mother is 85 and declining due to frailty. Another admission to hospital 10 days ago as she was in extreme back pain and couldn’t move ( even with frame). She has many comorbidities including severe osteoporosis and spinal fractures. The hospital has managed her pain and moved her to a rehab facility near her home ( 2.5 hours from me ). I feel lost as think she needs a nursing home but have no guide and every time I ask the hospital they refer me to either the physio or the dr - neither of whom are always around when I am there. She is so unhappy and low I don’t know what to do. How do you find a nursing home that will respond to your calls? They all say they are full and the manager will call me - but they don’t. Will call them all again tomorrow in between work (NHS employee)

Will she be self funding? Is it worth looking at nursing homes in a different area close to you for example?

Does she have a social worker? If not get the ward to make a referral. They can help find suitable placements if the mdt agree that nursing care is needed

Call adult social care and get advice, or age uk , they have information on this.

Thanks all- yes will be self-funding. For the last 18 months has had 4x carer visits per day (self funded after last hospital admittance and assessment). I will ask about the ward social worker thanks .I am an MDT member (for cancer patients in another region). Very hard to navigate for my mum when 3 hours away.

Might she qualify for funded nursing care?

I think I’d speak to her GP and see what they say? Then I would look at nursing homes near where you live. Would your mum be happy with that?

Thanks all for replying it really helps! I saw the Drs and physio today when I was visiting and the plan for the time being is to keep her in the step-down ward for a few more days and then she will be transferred to a care home for more structured physio. They don’t have dates yet because it depends on how my mum does. Having seen her today she is much brighter but incredibly frail. I can’t see physio reversing her frailty.