Stuck in bed/ what happens now?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

Short version is FIL (80s, poor mobility, massively overweight) is now confined to bed. He’s a 2 man job to wash and dress, and carers come 3 times per day. Now can’t get in and out of a chair, so was taken to bed and carers have said they will tend him in bed and not move him to his chair anymore. Not happy to move with lifting gear as he makes so much noise they feel it’s too painful for him.

What happens now, is it as simple as bed baths and bed pans forevermore?

He will get terrible bedsores if this is the long-term plan. It is probably time for him to move to a nursing home that can move him from bed to chair. Can he walk at all if he is given a walker? I am so sorry.

they should be able to move him with aids.
or at least turn him and keep an eye on pressure sores.

For some people it is too painful to be hoisted, so yes they are cared for in bed. But the carers should request an occupational therapy assessment and follow recommendations based on this. I'm assuming he already has a hospital bed and pressure/air mattress?

There is no need to move to a nursing home, only if he wants to go. He would likely be cared for in bed there too so it would be the same.

He needs a specialist mattress - which can be provided at home. But he also needs turning and repositioning far more than 3 times a day. Every 4 hours as a minmum if he can't reposition himself.

Contact the LA for a new care needs assessment. If he is truly bed bound then it may well be time to move into residential unless he can afford to pay for 2 carers every 6 hours minimum to assist in turning him. He is likely to get pressure sores quite quickly I’m afraid.

Thanks all, district nurse and GP coming this afternoon to kick off a re-assessment.

Good luck @SockFluffInTheBath

It’s pretty grim to be honest. 6 pairs of district nurses, antibiotics for a deep infection in his leg with lymphoedema, can’t see him being at home much longer.

It is so hard, especially if he does not agree but it sounds like not being at home is the better option for him.

Such a hard place to be in op. Send you my best wishes

An ambulance has just taken him in, for something seemingly unrelated. Bit of a whirlwind, not quite sure where we are now. Will call the hospital later and in the morning.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the time you all take to reply 💐

Can I suggest that if he is admitted, you ensure a best interest meeting is held before you agree to him returning home? The discharge team should arrange this but if you agree to him coming home he will be in the same situation. The likelihood that he will be admitted sounds high if he has an active infection with lymphoedema.

Can I suggest that if he is admitted, you ensure a best interest meeting is held before you agree to him returning home?

Agree.

So often in these situations everyone just muddles along until a crisis happens which forces some hard decisions.

This is an opportunity to have the difficult conversations while he's in hospital.

Good luck

A best interest meeting is only applicable if he lacks capacity.

My step father had a best interest meeting whilst in hospital which started the ball rolling to determine that he didn’t have capacity to make decisions about his health. He was insistent on returning home to his own house with no carers in place despite not being able to walk.

When speaking with healthcare team get someone to ask about weight loss options for him. Will help everyone, my DGran gorged on sweet treats but when in a Care Home they managed it well, she had puddings etc and her weight is fine now. If he is immobile he can’t overeat through his own choice.

If he is in hospital for a while a discharge person will speak to family about care, sometimes a respite Care Home is a good idea, can tern into permanent but not always.

Substantial care package being set up in readiness for discharge, tons of kit being delivered today. Doesn’t seem as life and death as we were lead to believe. Thank you everyone for your advice and support.

Ref food, he has a Sainsbury’s delivery and they set a bag of cakes beside his chair. If we take it away he gets the carers to put it back. Last time we asked them to not give it back he tried to get to the kitchen to get it, fell almost immediately, and all hell let loose.

that's good, i guess it is hard to put people on a diet realistically!