Hospital and nursing home

polgara

My father has become increasingly frail and has recently fallen breaking his leg - which as he already walks with a zimmer frame makes life a bit problematic.

At the moment he's in a hospital but they are making a lot of noises about nursing homes etc - my mother could cope with him at home, but we'd need a lot of help from social services (sitters/help), home loans etc (bed, commode etc). However she is worried that they'll force the issue and go for a nursing home.

My father gets IB, mobility etc - its my mother's occupational pension that keeps them solvent and she's panicking they'll take her savings/pension for the fees. Where can we go to get some help. They do own the house outright - joint tenants.

nearlyrich

First point of help is the occupational therapist either in the hospital or at the local council or social services. They can assess the care needs of your parents and allocate resources accordingly, some are free and some will be chargable but means tested. If your mum can cope with help it's better all round for your dad to be at home and I am sure they will do what they can to make this happen. It might help if you are available to attend the meeting as some elderly people feel bad about asking for help and having someone else there might ensure they get what they need. Hope your dad get's well soon.

Mojisola

In addition to the OT, contact Age Concern and ask for someone to come and talk with you and your mother as soon as possible. Apart from helping with your immediate problem, they will make sure your parents are getting all the benefits they are entitled to.

Your Dad may find it a help to have a week or two in a care home after leaving hospital, especially if they do specific rehab work with him there. They may not get a lot of help with carers from SS - someone rushing in for half-an-hour a couple of times a day is typical. The carers are under a lot of pressure to get round a lot of clients in a day and the "caring" element of "care" is often lost in the rush.

Longterm - a day a week at an Age Concern day centre for your Dad would give your Mum a break. There may also be a course run by the Falls Prevention Programme which would be good for him to go on.

If he does have to go into a home, while your mother is living there, the house will not be considered so that is safe and I don't think her pension will be taken into account either.

monkeyspanner

If it does come to your Dad needing a care home stay and your Mum is understandably worried about financing it there is a good advice site here
www.counselandcare.org.uk

In the event of a stay the council will do a financial assessment. Your Mum is not obliged to disclose any of her own income or savings so it is best to separate any savings accounts prior to the council becoming involved.
The value of the jointly owned home would be disregarded as your Mum would still be living there.

I do hope your Dad recovers sufficiently to go home and from past experience social services will do all they can to facilitate this. The value of the home is not considered when assessing contribution to home care.

polgara

Thanks for the advice - never thought about age concern - I assume they don't have an age limit as my Dad is only 64?

Hopefully he will be well enough to come home soon - after his stroke last year he was in for three months due to a number of 'issues' with this hospital - MRSA, massive weight loss due to not being fed, UTI that lead to dementia etc!

Mum was a nurse but wouldnt be able to do things alone like getting out of bed/into bed due to her own ill health - COPD/arthritis.

Thankfully they have separate saving accounts and only have a joint current account.

Savvy_Sue

I think Age Concern are for the over 50s.