NHS Residential Care? Worried about my sister, Carer for a Husband with MS.

bluebell13

Residential homes do not have to have a qualified nurse on duty and so are mainly suitable for people who are unable to live on their own but have simple medical needs.
People with long-term physical needs need a nursing home as they have issues with incontinence/mobility/feeding/medication which need the supervision of a qualified nurse. Some homes are dual registered so that they can cater for all needs.

MJMum

My brother-in-law lives in a Leonard Cheshire home and they have been brilliant. You may like to contact them, as if they can't help, I'm sure they'll be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.

His care is NHS funded, but the family had to fight quite hard to get it. Also, I know that he hasn't been able to get any benefits at all while living there, which isn't an immediate problem as obviously he is cared for and fed, but does mean he has no money for the little humane extras in life.

Vashti

wolfehouse wrote: »

it is worth asking the local authority (social services) if they fit the profile for funding help. otherwise it is a secure tenancy I believe

margaret blackwood housing association have some 24 hour supported places:
http://www.mbha.org.uk/web/site/Home/Home.asp

the one in belses gardens in glasgow has 24 hour support:
http://www.mbha.org.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=530&sID=282

they also have 24 hour care ones in ayr, aberdeen, stirling and greenock. You could talk to them directly about their set up.

Personally I would talk to the people at revive (ms society) who will probably have a lot of experience with this. They also have a counsellor if your sister wants to talk about how all this affects her or her son.
http://www.revivescotland.org.uk/

Thanks. That is a really useful and informative post. :A

Vashti

MJMum wrote: »

My brother-in-law lives in a Leonard Cheshire home and they have been brilliant. You may like to contact them, as if they can't help, I'm sure they'll be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.

His care is NHS funded, but the family had to fight quite hard to get it. Also, I know that he hasn't been able to get any benefits at all while living there, which isn't an immediate problem as obviously he is cared for and fed, but does mean he has no money for the little humane extras in life.

Thank you. That is also extremely helpful, and I have forwarded all these links to my sister. :A

Errata

I'm not sure if this applies to Scotland, sorry, but in England your sister would be entitled to a Carers Assessment which would identify her needs as a carer and would be carried out by Social Services. Again, in England, the carer can request SS to assess them, the carer doesn't need to be referred by their doctor/district nurse/whoever. If there is a Carers Association where your sister lives they could offer her a lot of support, understanding and signposting help for her. The young son is also his dad's carer and if there is a local Young Carers Association or Group it would offer him a lot of support and especially understanding, and give him a safe place to talk about how his caring role affects him both physically, socially and especially emotionally.
It's a rotten situation for the whole family and one usually only faced by those with elderly relatives who need care. Both you and your sister and her family have my deepest sympathy.
I can understand perfectly how your sister felt about the Easter Bonnet, I experienced the same thing this easter with my 86 year old dad who lives in residential care. It's disgusting, belittling, patronising and people who indulge in that kind of practice are not practicing person-centred care, common sense or even simple humanity. You can probably tell my blood's still boiling !
Good luck to all of you and my very best wishes, hope this helps.

Vashti

Thank you Errata. You obviously also understand where we are coming from. I think they thought they were doing the right thing - but to sit a bonnet on a middle aged man, a man who can not even sit upright in a chair let alone wield a pritt stick, was rather insensitive and misguided, especially when his wife was coming to pick him up. They couldn't even put the damn thing on his head straight.

lynzpower

Vashti,

I used to wok in social services as well, and the advice youve recieved here is excellent.

i can also recommend leonard cheshire. they were rated as excellent recently.

just wanted to pass by really and send you all my best wishes x

Errata

This kind of thing shouldn't happen, staff are expected to treat those in their care with respect and dignity.

As has been pointed out by another poster, your BIL's needs are complex and he would need nursing care, not residential care. Many care homes are dual registered and inspected regularly in England by Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), and a similar inspectorate in Scotland ( sorry can't track down the name). Social Services will have the name and in England the inspection reports are posted on CSCI's website and this may be the case for the Scottish Inspectorate also.
However, a small caveat: a home in Somerset was closed at the beginning of the year by CSCI because of appalling standards discovered at inspection. The same home was inspected by CSCI 6 months previously and given a good report with no undue concerns. Reading the report, the home seemed lovely. There was no change in ownership, management or staff during this 6 month period - clearly CSCI need to explain what happened, or what was missed during its inspections, but that probably won't happen.
If your sister decides she can no longer care for her OH and the only realistic option is a care home, then any reports need to be read very carefully and several visits made - at unusual times, to see if any people are being dressed in Easter Bonnets or something similar, and if residents are having conversations with staff other than about bed, food, bathing, medication.

You'd need to check this out, but I'm sure care provided in a nursing home is free in Scotland, so ability to pay is not an issue. You write your BIL was a teacher - does the NUT have a welfare department? It would be a great source of advice and information.

In the short term, if the young son has to help turn and change his dad, then it would seem that more home care worker visits are needed - clearly your sister couldn't manage this on her own, and it's not appropriate that the son has to help, given his age. If home care can't be arranged to turn/lift/change when needed 24/7 then it would seem this is good evidence that your BIL needs 24/7 nursing care in a nursing home.
I do understand how your sister must feel about her OH being there but not being there. My mum had very bad dementia for the last 4 years of her life and she was still with us, but the mum we knew had vanished. It's really hard, but was better once mum moved into residential care as it contained no memories of how mum had been when she was ok and at home.
This sort of situation is where a Carers Group or organsiation can be invaluable, as so many people will be in the same boat - having a loved one who is still living but 'vanished', and it does help to have the care and support of those who understand the grief, anger, resentment and all the other emotions. HTH.

Vashti

Yet another understanding and sensitive post.

So many thanks for taking the time...

What a difference it makes. Thank you so much.
xx

Morglin

A disabled person can recieve Direct Payments (via the local social services, and dependant on income and care needs) to remain at home, but employ carers, to take some of the burden off of partners etc.,

See:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/04/14662/4093

Lin