Grandma in a care home

Mojisola

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If the house was transferred to someone else so recently it's highly likely that it could be looked on as deprivation of assets.

I missed the bit about it only being done three month ago!

Having experience of dementia in the family, I would seriously question whether grandmother was well enough to understand what she was signing three months ago if she is now so bad that she needs to go into a home. I am sure that Social Services will consider it to be an attempt at deprivation of assets.

As to the next-of-kin, if either the Aunt or Uncle are grandmother's children, then aren't they next-of-kin?

I can understand that the OP thinks that grandmother would prefer to be at home - for many old people this is what they would want - but it's not an easy option and there is a decreasing amount of outside help available.

polomint_2

I just wanted to add that i work in a care home with some dementia clients and although i love my job and do get alot out of caring for my clients it can be very draning but i go home at night. I know you want to see your grandma go home but you will be on call if you are caring for her day and night every hour to make sure she is safe. That saying it also depends on how advanced the dementia is. Early demantia can be managable however long term youll need help and restbite and time out.

LillyJ

Care homes are there to care for people who cannot cope with the system they have in place already.
Did she have a care package before admission to hospital? If so what was it? 4 calls a day is normally the maximum (normally including a wake up and tuck-in call, and 2 inbetween), but otherwise the elderly person may be on their own through the rest of the day if there is no one else there for them.
Depending on her needs, this may not be appropriate.
Her SW and nursing staff at the hospital have to do lots of checks and assessments to see people's suitability for residential/nursing care.
You must also remember that the "try it and see" approach very often ends in failed discharges and the person being admitted back to hospital, which may result in another long stay there awaiting further placement.
Dementia is also a progressive illness which means that you Grandmother is unlikely to be able to cope alone forever.
Although she has dementia, has she been asked where she would like to live? If she hasn't the ability to tell you this, then it may be a good indicator for you that her level of functioning isn't up to being able to cope alone. If she can tell you, then you should take her views in to consideration, but keep in mind that she may not have insight into her memory problems.

It isn't a case of "sticking her in a home", rather one of assessing her needs and fulfilling them with a suitable home environment.

bunny999

OP - I think you are on very dodgy ground here and you probably need to see a solicitor. Getting your Gran who has dementia (sorry but you don't get dementia over night - it gets worse over a number of years) to sign over her house to you does not look good. It will seen as having been done to avoid paying care home fees - as would be the case if she wasn't senile. It could also be seen as you getting the house off your Gran who wasn't in a fit state to sign anything - this is a criminal offence. Does your Gran have a will - did it leave the house to you ? In any case Social services will see this as a clear attempt to avoid fees.
It also doesn't look good that you are the only member of your family who doesn't want her to go into a home as you are the one with a vested interest.

Do you live with her ?

Someone with dementia needs constant care and her condition sadly will not get better. Unfortunately I have family experience of this.


Sorry if my opinions seem harsh but it is always tricky when one doesn't know the whole story.

Biggles

I find it very annoying when someone posts a problem, several people do their best to help and many useful comments are posted and questions asked, and the OP just totally fails to respond after a week. Is s/he reading them? Was s/he just trolling? Are we wasting our time? Probably.....

I apologise in advance if there should be a good reason but normally posters like this are never heard of again.

666Rocker666

Thank you to all,

I have tried my best to do what I feel is right by my grandma, she has now gone in to a home, after she came home I stayed with her all night and it was clear she couldn't manage and I couldn't be with her all day. My mother died 14 years ago and my grandfather 12 years ago after this my grandmother wished me to have the house and expressed this in her will for the past 3/4 yrs she has been on at me to change the house over and it was decided to do it this year.
She has only be diagnosed with dementia within the last 2 months, whilst in hospital.
whilst being in the home she has been sexually assaulted by another patient...I now feel responsible for this. Hence the delay in reply

thank you for all those who wished me well.

Biggles

In the circumstances, I think it very likely the value of the house will be taken into account. But you don't necessarily need to sell it, renting it out (I'm assuming you don't live there) may be your best bet, and the rent could then go towards her care home fees.

And, as pointed, out, make sure you have the PoA registered in order that you can look after her affairs legally.

monkeyspanner

Your Grandmother should have been assessed for Continuing Healthcare funding prior to discharge. If successful with this CHC assessment all cost would have been picked up by the NHS Primary Healthcare Trust. Did the hospital discharge team discuss this possibility with you?

If not successful for CHC assessment then there is also the possibility of a nursing supplement of £101 per week.

It is important that you clarify the position regarding the house as if its value is going to be regarded as your Grans asset then she can be eligable for council assistance of her care home fees for the first 12 weeks of her care home residence to allow time to sell the house. This is called a 12 week disregard. Also it is possible to request the council defer her care home payments by placing a charge against the value of the house. There are some advantages to this as if the council have arranged the care home placement they will have adventageous fee arrangements and also they cannot charge interest on the deferred payments until the client dies.

It may also be possible to retain part of the value of the house as your asset if you have contributed to the cost of upkeep or purchase.

If the house is rented out please bear in mind that the net rental income will be assessed by the council and assessed against the care home fees.

It would be worth having a look at Attendance allowance, this is a non means tested benefit paid at on of 2 levels the higher being £67 per week.

Have a look at this site for more detailed factsheets on care home funding.
www.counselandcare.org.uk

As regards the assault, the safety of residents is the care homes responsibility. If you are unhappy with the measures they are taking or their response to this incident you can take this up with the Commision for Social Care Inspection www.csci.org.uk

LillyJ

monkeyspanner wrote: »

As regards the assault, the safety of residents is the care homes responsibility. If you are unhappy with the measures they are taking or their response to this incident you can take this up with the Commision for Social Care Inspection www.csci.org.uk

If adult protection proceedings have not been started, then they need to be, ASAP.
You can do this by contacting the police, her SW, the nursing staff or all of them. There are set ways of investigating such things where vulnerable adults are concerned.
Do not feel responsible for this. Nothing you have done has lead to this happening.

666Rocker666

Thanks you monkeyspanner. I've now seen a finance officer and discussed the option available and renting the home using my grandma's pension and some contribution from me we should be able to pay for her stay when made permanent. She does receive Attendance £67 so thanks for that.

As regards to the assault the police are not going to pursue the matter as they aren't able to get a proper statement as my Grandma has dimentia and so does the man involved. POVA the adult inertvention team are involved and are going to speak to the home as I have expressed my concern with the man still living there and the posibility that this may happen again unless he is moved to a more secure home where 24 hr watch can be enforced.

Thank you to you all for your comments and advice it has been most helpful. This I hope will be the final hurdle and will soon be sorted out :-).