Care needs for mum

Nottsdoglover

Not sure if this is where this post should go but i wanted help to get more care for my mum.

She is not very mobile which is because of a medical condition and age and i do what i can to help as do my daughters but we need to find ways of getting more outside help.

If anyone knows were i should begin could they post and tell me please.

Mojisola

Has she had an assessment by an Occupational Therapist?

An OT will give advice about what aids will help with your Mum's particular problems and may be able to supply some of them for free.

dancingfairy

I would imagine Age uk or Age concern or someone like that would have loads of help on their website?
Would her gp be able to help and refer her to whoever does assessents? I would imagine that she would need to be assesed by someone to see what her needs are and how they can be met. I would also make it clear to whoever does the assessment that while you are willing to be her daughter you have reached the stage where you are unable to provide all the care she needs (I imagine in some areas that it is very hard to get access to support and that if they think you are coping fine they might tick a box that says something like family providing support, no additional help needed whereas if you make it clear what you can (and can't do) you might get better help).
Regards
df

thorsoak

1 .How old is Mum?

2. Does she live on her own?

3. Has she got medical needs?

4. Does she rent/own her own home?

5. House/bungalow/flat (if flat on what floor)?

We can give better information/help if we know these things.

growler834

Contact your local Adult Services (Social Services) and ask for a care assessment for your mum's needs. If they think she has sufficient needs for them to help provide care they will do a financial assessment on her. They will suggest a care package & how much your mum will have to pay towards it.

If they don't think your mum's care needs are great enough for them to provide them, they will still give you their literature with details of local care agencies that you can then contact yourself. I suggest you ask for 3 care agencies (preferably those recommended by other service users) to come & do a care assessment to see if they can accommodate your mum's needs. Your mum will have to pay for their services but you may get help for this by applying for Attendance Allowance if she isn't already in receipt of it.

Even if Adult Services say they can't provide a care package they can provide equipment to help your mum's mobility (walking frames, wheelchairs, bathroom aids etc). Your mum's GP or hospital consultant or nurse will be able to advise you on what help your mum may now require to live comfortably in her home. Age UK are also a very good organisation to contact for advice.

Beckyy

Good advice already given, contact your local council's social work department or your Mums GP for an assessment. An OT assessment should be able to help with any aids (commode, walking aids etc.)that she may benefit from.

I hope you make good progress

Nottsdoglover

thorsoak wrote: »

1 .How old is Mum?

2. Does she live on her own?

3. Has she got medical needs?

4. Does she rent/own her own home?

5. House/bungalow/flat (if flat on what floor)?

We can give better information/help if we know these things.

Thank you.

Mum is 79, she lives alone in a bungalo, which she owns. She is almost housebound now though. She is having tests and Parkinsons disease is a possibility.
We all work but we usually manage to call in daily. She does have a call thing that she can wear, if she chooses, more often than not she doesnt choose to.

I would be happier if she had visit earlier in the day and maybe a meal.

Nottsdoglover

Thanks to you all. Numbers at the ready i will phone this morning and see what can be done.

Cazza

Nottsdoglover wrote: »

I would be happier if she had visit earlier in the day and maybe a meal.

Ask Adult Service about Meals on Wheels in your area too, my LA subsidises this and it includes a "safe & well check".

margaretclare

She's housebound, you said, but how mobile is she inside her bungalow? There are adaptations which can be made e.g. grab-rails, which might enable her to move around. You mentioned a 'meal'. Do you mean she can't get any food for herself at all? There are adaptations which can be made. An OT assessment visit would be a good idea.

Mr_Toad

Nottsdoglover wrote: »

Thank you.

Mum is 79, she lives alone in a bungalo, which she owns. She is almost housebound now though. She is having tests and Parkinsons disease is a possibility.
We all work but we usually manage to call in daily. She does have a call thing that she can wear, if she chooses, more often than not she doesnt choose to.

I would be happier if she had visit earlier in the day and maybe a meal.

One of the odd things that I discovered on my journey as carer for both my parents was the fact that doing their shopping, because they either can't get out, or, in my case, had dementia and bought the wrong stuff, carries no weight when getting help or claiming attendance allowance for them.

On the other hand if you put that you have to visit three or four times a day to cook for them or ensure they eat then that does count.

How do they or anyone else cook food let alone eat if they can't go and get food without help?

Do they expect someone elderly and frail, or with dementia etc. to use the Internet? I couldn't get a straight answer from either Social Services or the DWP, just the "that doesn't qualify/carry much weight" response.

However, if you visit three or four times a day to ensure that they take their medication does count when asking for help.

I'm afraid it's a game you have to play. You have a relative with needs, simply going to Social Services and pointing this out and asking for help may not work unless quite by chance you push the right buttons.

If you find out what those buttons are in advance then life can be much easier.

I'm sure that many people on here have come across someone that seems to get all the help they need while someone else who's need is equal or even greater gets little or no help. It's probably down to how they interacted with the system.