How do you decide when an elderly person needs to move into a care home?

welshmoneylover

Hi

I'm just wondering what the criteria is, if any, to decide when an elderly person needs to move into a care home, especially when that person is suffering with alzheimers?

scotsbob

When the relatives won't or can't look after them and they could be a danger to themselves.

welshmoneylover

scotsbob wrote: »

When the relatives won't or can't look after them and they could be a danger to themselves.

Danger or neglect to themselves?

Anyone else?

Savvy_Sue

I don't think there are any set criteria.

If the person has 'capacity', it's when they choose to make the move.

If they don't have 'capacity', but they've made an Enduring Power of Attorney which covers health and welfare, then it's when the Attorney chooses to make that move.

If neither of the above apply, I'm not sure who makes the decisions ...

Of course, sometimes it depends on where they are currently living: if they own their own home then they can't be evicted, whereas if they are renting and their behaviour makes them a difficult neighbour, then they can be evicted.

maggiem

think this is a really hard question. We had a close relative who lived a long way away and had lasting power of attorney. We eventually decided we had to act when we could not understand her concerns over the phone; she started losing words so would talk about tickets instead of money (or so we think) and on one memorable occasion rang to say she could not light the gas when we could hear the gas coming out. It was a hard decision to make though and might have been easier had we had the conversations when she was less confused. I rather suspect she would have said she wanted to stay in her house but we were >200 miles away and having to ask neighbours to help in an energency. She was also losing weight and we think forgetting to eat as she would start the conversation saying what she had eaten and then later tell you something different.

We found a care home near to us so we could visit and have her here. I am not sure how she would have coped last winter in the snow and we could not have got to her easily either.

Good luck with the decision.

roddydogs

We assume you've tried "In Home help" already........thats usually the first step.. Its like asking how long is a bit of string, how far away are they, how many people can visit, , how much money do they have, do they own a house, etc, etc.

Errata

welshmoneylover wrote: »

Hi

I'm just wondering what the criteria is, if any, to decide when an elderly person needs to move into a care home, especially when that person is suffering with alzheimers?

Probably the best first step would be a discussion with the person's GP, which would be dependant on the person clearly having the capacity to give their permission for that to take place, followed by a request for an assessment by a care professional. If it is felt that they don't have capacity, then the GP should be asked to make an urgent home visit.
If the person is at risk because of dementia, an emergency assessment can be carried out by the local mental health team.