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Original poster

Can you get Social Services for adults?

46 replies

Tigerbomb · 23/04/2011 21:52

I am hoping someone can help with some advice, I am not sure it should be in this section but as the problem stems from health problems, I am hoping it's ok.

My exh was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two years ago at the age of 44 and it is still very much uncontrolled. He also suffer from severe arthritis in his knees and receives the higher DLA.

He has gone from being a 6ft1, 15 stone man to a 6ft 1, 7 stone man in just over a year. I have never seen anyone so thin. You can see all his bones and his legs cannot support him.

He lives in a ground floor flat with some adaptions

I went to visit him today and his living conditions are disgusting

He was lying in a bed in his own mess as he had been unable to get to the toilet and was still unable to get out of bed. He admitted to regularly suffering from chronic diarrhea.

His sofa was in the same condition.

I managed to clean him up but his mattress is completely ruined as is his sofa, and he was adamant he was going to sleep on the floor. He wouldn't let me call an ambulance and he can't get to a doctor and wont have the doctor called because of the state of the house

I couldn't move his mattress nor his sofa so he is there in the house with all that filth.

He has no family and to be honest he has no friends, how can I help him? I have no experience of anything like this, I don't know what to do.

Is there a Social Services for adults who can help him? It's also Easter weekend, would there be anyone who I can contact?

OP posts:
LadyWithNoManors · 23/04/2011 21:58

Social services helps anyone - adult or child.
I'm not sure exactly who you should contact but there should be help available for your Exh.
My mum works for SS in a community outreach team who visit people in their own homes sometimes in emergency/urgent situations. I wonder whether there would be something similar in your area?

sprinklingsparkles · 23/04/2011 22:00

Yes social services have a vunerable adult department, i think you can access someone over bank hols and weekends,

Im not sure about anyone else, have you tried googling vunerable adult charities?

sorry i cant help with anymore infomation.

deardoctor · 23/04/2011 22:02

Oh poor you this shouldn't be your responsibility. There is an adult social services to help if he is having difficulty taking care of his day to day needs. There should be a number for a contact and assessment team or referral and assessment team for adults on your council's website.

Ladybee · 23/04/2011 22:04

have you looked here? direct gov link

If you search on the postcode it should direct you to the right place to get a social care needs assessment organised.

Not sure about immediate care though over the weekend. I would have though his GP would be a good starting point to arrange some home care?

eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 22:06

If you google there will be contact details. He sounds unusually unwell and frail for someone his age.

A couple of suggestions - ring the doctor and ask for a home visit. It is beyond putting it off because of the state of the house, and TBH, the state of the house is part of the problem, in conjunction with his poor health.

Social services may be able to provide details of home help type services but these are usually means tested/paid for from attendence allowance.

Who shops for his food? Does he check his blood sugar? is he taking his meds?

catsareevil · 23/04/2011 22:07

There will be an out of hours social work team. You should be able to find the number by googling or looking in the phone book.

eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 22:11

What would you like to happen over the weekend? If you want to get him in somewhere, it would probably be a case of him being admitted to hospital as few care homes can take under 65s and it is unlikely to get arrnged on a BH weekend.

The OOH GP could get him admitted/arrange non emergency ambulance to get him there - if he is agreable.

Original poster
Tigerbomb · 23/04/2011 22:15

Thank you all so much.
I didn't know where to start looking for help.

I have found the Social care assessment site for him but I need to wait until Tuesday to get in touch, and then they send a form for him to fill in but that could take ages and he eeds help now.

I have found this under vunerable adults :
What to do if you suspect abuse

If you are worried about possible adult abuse, please contact us as soon as possible. Or, if you are phoning out of office hours, contact our Emergency Duty Team. for his area:

Emergency Duty Team - Adults
Overview

This service is available outside normal working hours for anyone who is in danger and unable to protect themselves, or for those who can not remain in the community without immediate intervention.

Would the above be classed as an emergency? As he is not being abused should I still call.

Sorry to sound so insipid but I really have no clue

OP posts:
eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 22:18

No but he is at risk - you need to tell them you feel he is a Vulnerable Adult -

-he is at risk of becoming very ill with his diabetes,
-at risk of his skin breaking down with the chronic diarrhoea and not being continent
-Unable to meet his basic needs re getting dressed and to toilet

Original poster
Tigerbomb · 23/04/2011 22:19

sorry, missed the other questions whilst I was posting:

I do his food shopping on line

His meds are very hit and miss - a lot depends on whether he is "with it"

Knowing him and how "proud" he is, he would refuse to let anyone in the house.

I shall try some more googling of social services and then try to find out who his Doctor is

My DH is thankfully very understanding but not much help

OP posts:
eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 22:20

But over the weekend, realistically, they are very unlikely to be able to set up carers right away

If he needs to be looked after right now, it will probably mean getting him admitted to hospital

eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 22:22

Do you live near him? If you are, I would go round, ring the OOH GP from there, and get them to see him. In the morning, as v late now.

If you want to PM me the postcode I may be able to get you some info

Original poster
Tigerbomb · 23/04/2011 22:26

Eggyminnie, I have pm'ed you

OP posts:
eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 22:30

got it- have replied

Bohica · 23/04/2011 22:35

You do have the option of going to his property & calling an ambulance.(not suggesting tonight of course)
Reason for calling is because you are concerned about his diabetes & self care.
An ambulance crew would take the state of the property & the fact that he lives alone into consideration & maybe be able to persuade him to go with them.

They would also fill vulnerable adult forms in on his behalf.

Don't go to the hospital with him though as it may be seen like you are prepared to care for him within his home.

Sidge · 23/04/2011 22:44

Adult Services can certainly do an assessment of need and hopefully instigate a care package.

However his poor physical condition, alarming weight loss and chronic diarrhoea could indicate terribly high blood sugars possible along with some other digestive disorder. Adult Services will do very little until he is medically stable and that is probably going to involve a hospital admission to regulate his blood sugars, investigate the diarrhoea etc (obviously I'm speculating as I don't know his history, symptoms etc)

Sometimes going into hospital can be a good thing because then the medical professionals link up with the social side of things and can hasten a care assessment and discharge package. If he is unable to care for his diabetes alone then he may well need a higher level of support from his community health team, not just social care.

Sunshinenow · 23/04/2011 22:51

Hi, I don't want to alarm you - but his diabetes may mean his blood is very high or very low.

this needs medical attention - he could be risking stroke or any manner of serious illnesses.

I think the care package is sort of secondary for now - the priority should be a medical check - perhaps NHS direct. OOH or ambulance. Someone needs to check is blood sugar level as a priority.

i'm not a medic but a relative had a stroke after their blood sugar was in the 40s - and this would worry.

Original poster
Tigerbomb · 23/04/2011 22:53

Thank you again for all the wonderful advice.

I really think he needs to be in hospital and I shall be going over in the morning and calling the OOH Dr or the ambulance, depending on what I can get him to agree to.

I was with him for 5 hours today and he was so obviously unwell and not entirely with it BUT he still refused any medical help.

I am just going to have to use emotional blackmail.

This man was once my rock and although we are no longer together (my wish) I cannot see him suffer like this

OP posts:
Sunshinenow · 23/04/2011 22:54

I've just re-read your OP. Sorry I think he needs to go to hospital to get stabalised.

The will stablise his sugar levels while he is having the diarrohea (and investigate) - something that will be hard to do on his own.

Again - not a medic but I think you need to get him checked - regardless of the house.

Sunshinenow · 23/04/2011 22:57

I think you are doing the right thing. Sooner rather than later. Good luck.

Sidge · 23/04/2011 22:59

The problem is, if he is terribly hyperglycaemic (ie very very high blood sugars) then his mental status can be impaired - cognitive function is altered, and mood can drop. He probably isn't well enough to make rational decisions.

I think an emergency admission is warranted really and he may not be able to make a safe decision to refuse care. If you go tomorrow and he is unwell, not with it and in such a bad way then I think calling an ambulance is entirely reasonable.

kickingking · 23/04/2011 23:01

I will chime in as a T1 diabetic - I would assume that the weight loss is down to constant very high blood sugars. If his blood sugars are that high, he more than likely has ketosis - which in layman's term means he is being poisoned by his own body, which will lead to coma and potentially death.

I would ignore him and call an ambulance, say it's a diabetic emergency. He should have been given a home glucose monitor, you might be able to test his blood with it, which you can then tell the emergency services. I can tell you what to do if you need me to. Over 30 usually reads as 'HI' on most blood testers.

Good luck, I really can't imagine being in that state.

eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 23:03

Have to get to bed shortly - but will check in tomorrow, hope you get something sorted out OP.

kickingking · 23/04/2011 23:04

I personally wouldn't wait til the morning to call him an ambulance. It's never happened to me but I've been told ketosis needs to be dealt with urgently.

Sunshinenow · 23/04/2011 23:08

I am not sure of the legal situation and competency - but just to add - I know from my relatives experience their judgement becomes very impaired with very high blood sugars.

It's quite hard to tell initially - but you (and the ambulance crew) must take this into account. He may be too unwell to be thinking straight.

I can't believe with him being too poorly to medicate his diabetes, not eating and chronic diarrahea his insulin level will be correct for his blood sugar level.

If you don't go around tonight - it may be work trying first thing.

Again good luck, it must be a very difficult situation. I might over worry because of my previous experience - but I would have in in tonight, despite it being Easter/ Saturday night etc. But I know how quickly very high blood sugars can cause damage.

Maybe a medical person could advise on this board, or NHS direct would be able to guide if this was an emergency - my judgement may be over cautious with uncontrolled diabetes.