social services competency test in the elderly? Anyone any experience?

brians_daughter

A relative is having a 'competency test ' tomorrow, performed by social services. Basically to see if she is fit to make her own decisions about her residence. Has anyone any experience of what this may be?

Its not a OH test ie if they can get around a kitchen etc, more 'mentally competency based' Thats all we were told. If anyone can tell us what to expect we would be very thankful

nicter

Its likely some risk has been identified with your relative living in their current accommodation but your relative has refused to move (ie into residential care) or accept carers into the home. The mental capacity assesment is done to assess whether that person has the capacity to make safe decisions. Google "mental capacity act"

wolfehouse

only a psychiatrist can decide on mental capacity and they use specific tests like the 'mini mental state exam.' etc
in addition to specific clinical experience and questioning to arrive at their decision. usually they will also have input
from others who work with the person (cpn, social worker etc)

capacity is specific - i.e the capacity to decide where to live
is different from the capacity to manage finances etc.

i have had experience of this where someone needed more support and could not decide where to move to, but couldn't
be allowed to stay where they were.

the case was handled very sensitively but the social worker chose a residential home and there was a trial period to see if this suited.

if after the initial period things are going well and everyone is happy probably that would be the end of it
but if there are still problems, the social worker then must take things through the court process to have a legal
ruling made on capacity.
(things may be a little different if you are not in scotland but the essentials are probably the same)

brians_daughter

Hi thanks for the replies.

Its come about as they were admitted to hospital for several weeks. IMO (and this has been backed up by the consultant and medical staff) the medication she was prescribed in hospital had left her confused. The medication stoped and she is quite her old self mentally ie no confussion etc.

The issue sadly lies with another relative who has decided the
poorly relative shouldnt be allowed home due to the simple reason they dont want to help assit her when/if she returns home. The relative has voiced these concerns to the medical team looking after the other relative and has started to 'enhance' events to make them seem worse than they are. So now the medical team have had to involve social services due to these concerns. No one has ever asked her does she want to move into a different housing situation, but we am due to meet with SS tomorrow so i just wanted to be armed with what to expect

I will look at the 'mental capacity act' so thanks for that.

If anyone else has been through the process i would like to hear your experiences as i am finding the whole thing very distressing, I feel that if at least if i know what is likely to happen I may feel more in control.

RAS

Hi

When you go tomorrow, you need to voice your concerns that the confusion was brought on by the medication.

Whenyou arrive at the meeting, spend time talking to your relative and making them feel more comfortable. And have a list of those times when you feel that your relative should that she was OK again now and use them.

How much time do you spend with the relative compared with the one enhancing the problems?

brians_daughter

RAS wrote: »

Hi

When you go tomorrow, you need to voice your concerns that the confusion was brought on by the medication.

Whenyou arrive at the meeting, spend time talking to your relative and making them feel more comfortable. And have a list of those times when you feel that your relative should that she was OK again now and use them.

How much time do you spend with the relative compared with the one enhancing the problems?

Thanks RAS, Up to the past 2 months I used to be a every other day visitor (i was away for 2 weeks then she was in hospital for 5 days, then out again and has now been in again for 5 weeks hence the 2 months) but for maybe 3 or 4 hours at a time where as the other relative saw her twice a day, but it was literally 8am drop off of medication then the same at 6pm. Where as I would go and sit with them, cook meals for us, take them shopping ie spend time with them rather than 10mins here and there. Again, this is proving to be problamatic as the other relative is saying they are there x 2 a day for hours at a time (yes they are but for 10 mins max)

As i am not 'next of kin' i fear i am being pushed out.. the other relative is a child of the ill person and i am 'only' a step grand daugther (but have been in the family for 30 years and had Gran living with me for a while when she had hip surgery last year)

I know she needs assistance, but not in the way the other relative is trying to go about it.IMO She at least deserves the dignity of being involved in next steps, regardless of if they fit in with everyone elses plans and life! I just feel that by trying to get Gran what she wants ie as much independance as possible I am some how causing inconvenience to other members of the family.

If I could have her with me i would, but we have 3 kids in a 3 bed house (when she stayed after surgery we plonked the eldest in the dining room for 8 weeks lol) and number 4 on the way, so we share as it is and our very busy home isnt the kind of environment she needs longterm.

moggitymog

wolfehouse wrote: »

only a psychiatrist can decide on mental capacity and they use specific tests like the 'mini mental state exam.' etc
in addition to specific clinical experience and questioning to arrive at their decision. usually they will also have input
from others who work with the person (cpn, social worker etc)

capacity is specific - i.e the capacity to decide where to live
is different from the capacity to manage finances etc.

i have had experience of this where someone needed more support and could not decide where to move to, but couldn't
be allowed to stay where they were.

the case was handled very sensitively but the social worker chose a residential home and there was a trial period to see if this suited.

if after the initial period things are going well and everyone is happy probably that would be the end of it
but if there are still problems, the social worker then must take things through the court process to have a legal
ruling made on capacity.
(things may be a little different if you are not in scotland but the essentials are probably the same)

Any professional can complete the capacity assessment

Tinkerbell88_2

Does anyone have power of attorney for your gran?

Becc4

A capacity assesment can be completed by any professional thats had training, basically they will look at if she can discuss risks of remaining at home, retain the information, then repeat in her own words why she willing to take these risks.(if there are any). A mini mental will only say if she is orientated in place and time, not the most valued of test but has its uses as a screening tool.

In my experince social service do a follow up visit at home to see what practical support they can provide,(is cooking, personal care), it seems to me she has no help at present, therefore you could reason as she has managed for so well up until now at least they could do is provide support to monitor said behaviour, even suggest EMI team/support etc. youcould also contact local age concern to have a benifits assessment to see if there is anything she's missing out on. This could pay for any care if needed.

BTW from memory there are difference types of power of attorney, to reduce vunerability, covering fininace, property, & health. however these need to be granted before any capacity is called into doubt.

hope this helps x

SusanC_2

You need to refer to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Below I have c&pd exerpts from some notes I made which should help direct you to the most relevant parts of the act.



The act requires "all practicable steps" to be taken to help them make the decision themselves. (See section 3 for more details.)
[FONT=&quot]Section 2 indicates that incapacity to make a particular decision at a particular time does not mean that they will never have the capacity to do so.[/FONT]

Section 3 Subsection 2 makes clear that a determination of capacity may not be reached without the relevant information having been presented to the person in a way appropriate to his circumstances. Subsection 3 indicates the person is only required to be able to retain the information long enough to make an informed decision - not that they should be able to remember the information after having made the decision.

Section 4 subsection 4 indicates that the person concerned must so far as possible be involved in the process and not be excluded from the decision making process.
[FONT=&quot]Section 36 subsection 2 part a also indicates the person concerned should be involved in the process.
[/FONT]