does anyone know anything about social/nursing care options for poorly MIL?

[Monkeybird]

My MIL is currently in a hospice (she has terminal breast cancer). She has been in and out of there and hospital. She can't really manage at home anymore, even with all the home helps etc.

I don't think the hospice can keep her in indefinitely and her prognosis is unclear.

There is to be a review meeting which DH will go to next week and the social worker will be there.

Unfortunately it looks like MIL will probably have to go into a care setting.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas about how DH should handle the meeting? These things seem to get set in stone so quickly and we want to be prepared in terms of what to ask, expect, how decisions will be made, financial issues...?

Can anyone advise?

Poor MIL
Do you know what her wishes are?Does she WANT to be at home?
Firstly has your MIL got a Mcmillan nurse??
They should be able to provide you with advice and help.
Secondly try the Cancerbackup freephone number,which is on the Cancerbackup website.They will also be able to offer advice.
Has your MIL had a DS1500 form done do you happen to know?
I would try to write down as many questions as you can think of to prepare for meeting.
Hopefully someone will be along with more info.
The SW should be able to give you advice on care settings,and information re funding,too.

She did have a Macmillan nurse but she seems to be less involved since MIL was in the hospice.

I don't know about the form - what is that for?

she does want to be at home but she is unable to manage many personal care issues (she only has the use of one hand and is losing her ability to walk). She is also confused and doesn't manage her medication well. She did have people (homehelps and D Nurses) coming in 4 times a day but this wasn't really enough.

She wants to go into sheltered acommodation I believe but I don't think she realises this isn't likely to be possible.

Make a list of what your MIL needs in terms of care and support.

Make a list of what income and savings she has.

I just had a meeting with my gran's social worker about her going into a high dependency residential home and these seemed to be the areas that needed covering.

Gran's social worker was very good and obviously they do this a lot. You need to ask how much the local council will fund (this will all depend on capital/income), how the difference in shortfall will be made up.

If MIL has so much capital that they say she has to self fund, find out at what level the council will take over. As when the capital gets down to a certain amount they should take over. But they will only take over to a certain amount - the shortfall will have to be met somehow. Good luck.

Further to StripeyKnickers, if her medical needs are particularly high (I don't know the details but would imagine there's a checklist of some sort) any income/capital will be disregarded and she should be fully funded - either by the local council or the NHS.

Sorry to be vague - I just know that my Granny is in nursing home; she has advanced dementia and considerable capital - she doesn't pay anything herself.

I'm not sure of the exact technicalities but, my understanding, is that if your MIL needs nursing care (rather than social care - which i imagine she does) then she shouldn't have to pay for it, as it should be funded by the NHA. Local councils are not responsible for nursing care.

I imagine it's probably complicated how you spilt social and nursing care but this might help
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/IntegratedCare/NHSfundednursingcare/index.htm