At home, no capacity and no deputyship - access to money

[roundaboutthehillsareshining]

So my elderly relative is being discharged home with a care package. Fine, it's what she wants and it's the least restrictive option, so it's got to happen this way (even if it falls apart in a few months and she ends up back in hospital for 6 months). Anyway, there's nothing physically wrong and no dementia. Her team believe she has a new functional MH condition, but that can't be diagnosed in hospital and she won't engage with community care, so that's a dead end.

However, it's likely she's going to be found to lack capacity to manage her financial affairs. Her bank account set up is hopelessly complicated (at her choice) and can only be administered in branch, which she's not going to be able to access.

So if she's at home, and unable to access money, how does she pay for food etc until the deputyship comes through? The family can't afford to subsidise her, she isn't eligible for benefits as she's got money coming in, she just can't access it. So what happens? Anyone been in this situation before?

So we have had some progress, essentially SS are going to loan a designated amount of money per week and designate a care slot for shopping, so the money is used on food shopping with support to access the shops. What that looks like in practice remains to be seen, as this is a very rural area and the nearest supermarket is 30-45 minutes away. But it is an answer, and a very helpful one. Then the loan will be paid back once deputyship is granted and the financial assessment can be done. So much stress could have been saved if they'd offered this as an option at the beginning!

I was just coming here to post that provision of meals via shopping and preparing food can absolutely be part of the care package and that it will be added to the care bill. The adult social care team will do a financial assessment and likely recoup the costs.

Im sorry it took you so long to get that answer from your relative's social services. I hope all goes well for you and them and you get a solution that works for you all.

Indeed OP! But that's great news, I'm glad for you. Yeah I was surprised when my visitor told me this morning that the LA had appointees too - they expressly didn't tell me that!

Oh and have found out there is a charge for appointeeship, about £70-80 a month.

Another problem I discovered yesterday: the GP surgery have me down as having permission to discuss my relative’s medical matters and make appts etc, because they (relative) signed a letter granting this two years ago.

The new carers tried to make an appt (to discuss the fact that he’s not consistently taking his medication, not allowing carers to monitor it) and we’re told they couldn’t, no permission.

I rang, I can’t grant permission as don’t have POA. Relative has to give permission, but will not unless we catch him on an extremely “good”/ confused day!

Have emailed social worker handing that problem to her.

Again, other patients must be in this kind of situation: what happens?

Yep same here. Social worker has to step in. But again, if the relative refuses and is deemed as having capacity, then they will need to grant the GP permission.

This doesn't stop the carers, reporting their concerns directly with the GP, however. They just can't be involved in discussions with the GP. The GP can then pick this up with you or the social care team. Encourage the care team to email the GP and Social worker. The carers are unlikely to do this themselves so try and get hold of their manager.

We’re close to this stage with DM. I do empathise and am following with interest. I suspect things will have to fail catastrophically and an altogether ‘less than good’ set up will occur.

All of which could be avoided if DM was less obstreperous.

She’s setting herself up for a random from the LA to make decisions for her, rather than a family member.

Thanks

If the hospital let her go home it’s an unsafe discharge, she may end up back in hospital and it’s then called a failed discharge. This sort of thing happens a lot. You will need to step back, let the shit hit the fan (this is the hardest bit to do for you) and let SS take over. Safeguarding will be enforced and she will have to go into care because she cannot run her own house herself. Mental care acts come into play if she refuses a care home. It’s tough, really tough for all involved. But she is refusing help. She needs food and bills to be paid. A charge will be put on the house.
one last chance is to say to her plainly, when she is more lucid, you need more help than I can give, do you want SS to make all your decisions or do you want me to?? Her answer cannot be ‘nobody’, and if it is then report it back to SS. Please remember SS want you to take over as its one less person on their books! But from how you are explaining things, it may be the best option. Good luck