Legal position on assessment of elderly mum...

margaretclare

I agree with all the above, but it may be that the lady in question *thought* she had no choice. Some people, especially older generations who were used to 'putting up with things', are incredibly passive. Nowadays we hear so much about individuals demanding their basic human rights that we forget that other people's mindset is different - it's more along the lines of '*they* know what's good for me, it's their job'.

I don't know what the answer is-she looks so much better-but really her life isn't good. She cries every time she sees us and just wants to go back home.

If she still has a home to go back to, why shouldn't she? Why can't she have the choice that Sue writes about above, that I would demand and so would many of us?

Savvy_Sue

margaretclare wrote: »

I agree with all the above, but it may be that the lady in question *thought* she had no choice. Some people, especially older generations who were used to 'putting up with things', are incredibly passive. Nowadays we hear so much about individuals demanding their basic human rights that we forget that other people's mindset is different - it's more along the lines of '*they* know what's good for me, it's their job'.

Very true. And it can be a very difficult situation: lissa says her aunt wasn't looking after herself, and sometimes that's the case, but the person absolutely won't face up to the extent of their needs. In which case, a professional being quite forceful about the need for residential care may be the simplest solution.

But it's a fallacy that social services can just put people into homes against their will.

margaretclare wrote: »

If she still has a home to go back to, why shouldn't she? Why can't she have the choice that Sue writes about above, that I would demand and so would many of us?

Or if not back to her own home, then into sheltered or very sheltered housing? Although, to be fair, she may have lost the skills she needs for that: it's quite easy to become institutionalised. Far better to stay at home if at all possible!

meer53

My MIL had to pass a competency assessment so the Social Workers could decide whether she was competent enough to make her own decisions about where she was going to go on discharge from hospital. Maybe thats what happened with the lady's Aunt ? If they fail the assessment, then they can't make their own decision, it's done for them, usually with family involved but if there are no family members i assume that Social Services and the hospital will make the decision.

Arg

This news article will probably interest some of you.

A family's battle to care for an elderly Alzheimer’s sufferer has made legal history after a judge ruled it could be reported. He made his decision after hearing accusations the 92-year-old widower was forced to live in a care home against his will, and had been denied contact with his son. The man’s son claims the pensioner has been unlawfully deprived of his liberty for almost six months.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024323/Historic-ruling-Alzheimers-care-fight.html