Hospital want to discharge 90 year old

dktreesea

The hopsital can't just discharge him. They have to have somewhere to discharge him to. If his wife is too unwell to look after him and his children won't take him, in the absence of a suitable nursing home place for the terminally ill or a hospice place, he just stays in hospital until one becomes available.

The danger side of this though is that the hospital, because he is blocking a bed that someone might think should go to someone else, might start to withhold care. So he could die a miserable death.

JKJ

dktreesea wrote: »

The hopsital can't just discharge him. They have to have somewhere to discharge him to. If his wife is too unwell to look after him and his children won't take him, in the absence of a suitable nursing home place for the terminally ill or a hospice place, he just stays in hospital until one becomes available.

The danger side of this though is that the hospital, because he is blocking a bed that someone might think should go to someone else, might start to withhold care. So he could die a miserable death.

His children can't take him not won't. Unles his daughter leaves her family and moves in with her parents or my DH gives up his job, in which case we couldn't pay our mortgage, as being a cancer patient myself I can't work, the option to take on his care isn't an option.

CH27

Person_one wrote: »

He's unlikely to get a hospice place, they're intended to be for people who aren't expected to survive a fortnight.

Hospices are used for many things, ie to get pain management right, to provide care will alterations & equipment are put in place etc.

mazza111

Definitely speak to the ward sister to ask for some sort of care package. Which means they won't discharge him until that's in place (normally). Then they might either send him to a hospice or nursing home, or send him home with carers coming several times a day to help out.

Good luck, I really hope you get something in place for him

pmlindyloo

Please don't worry.

My 91 year old mother was recently in hospital and the nursing staff started talking about discharging her although she had nowhere to go! This is really 'medical speak' just to tell you that medically everything has been done that can be done.

Of course they want to discharge patients asap as they are blocking beds and hospitals are not the healthiest places to be.

You need to get an assessment moving asap as this can take a long time.

Make an appointment to see the Consultant who is in charge of your father. Speaking to the ward staff (as nice as they are) can be 'hopeless' as they are on shifts and messages often do not get passed on.

Always go to the 'top' person if you can . The senior ward sister may be able to help.

It was a nightmare trying to get things coordinated for my mother. I spoke to endless people on the ward and the truth is they are just too busy and can have little interest in what happens after a person is discharged.

You need to make appointments with people and get a 'named person' to deal with and their contact details. Otherwise you will be forever 'running around in circles'. It is also helpful just to have one member of the family dealing with it.

Do not be fobbed up. Just be polite and get the name of someone to 'deal with'. The nurses in the ward are, in my opinion, not the right people.

I am sure it will all work out once the assessment starts but you need to get things moving asap.

thatgirlsam

There are a few wards where I work that have a specific Discharge Co-ordinator to plan and implement anything that needs to be done. Worth asking to speak to them, if there is one where he is.

Nursing staff will absolutley NOT withhold care to anyone on the ward, wether they believe them to be blocking a bed or not.

Faerie

Don't worry he won't be discharged home unless the nursing staff and social workers feel it is safe for him to do so. Do you know whether concerns have been raised? Do the nurses know your MIL would struggle with him on her own? You'd be amazed at how many people don't tell us that they can't cope until we say there family member is medically fit for discharge.

Would he be able to go home with carers visiting him everyday? I presume he would have District nurse and Macmillan visits for symptom control and support. Or do you think he needs a nursing home placement?

A patient has to be medically fit before the social work department will even start the ball rolling. It's quite a slow process (at least it is here!) They will look into funding and assess what your FILs needs are and then discuss all the options with your MIL and FIL.

Good luck!

Person_one

CH27 wrote: »

Hospices are used for many things, ie to get pain management right, to provide care will alterations & equipment are put in place etc.

Of course, sorry.

I meant that it wouldn't be a permanent place for him to live after his discharge as it could be for somebody closer to the end of their life. Should have been clearer.

CH27

Person_one wrote: »

Of course, sorry.

I meant that it wouldn't be a permanent place for him to live after his discharge as it could be for somebody closer to the end of their life. Should have been clearer.

Ah! I misunderstood

pollypenny

I'm not sure that he would not be discharged, especially as you say your in-laws are too proud to deal with a social worker.

I would not only speak to the consultant, but put your concerns in writing, with a copy to the senior manager of the hospital, or even the trust.

We had to do this with my father, whose pride led him to say that he could cope at home. He lasted a week.