Dementia and NHS Continuing Health Care

Person_one

bujin wrote: »

It's no longer what's best for them any longer because you can't really argue that a care home will be beneficial to ayone but us. It will be very disruptive and challenging, confusing and distressing for him. Some of my siblings can cope and some can't and we are at the point where we may not be able to continue ifit's down to one of us.

Please don't feel guilty, or convince yourself that you aren't doing right by your dad.

A good quality care home, once he's settled into the routine, can often be much better for people with dementia than having family members struggle on past their capability.

A good care home will have well trained staff, the right equipment for meeting the resident's needs, and regular activities to provide stimulation and social contact. They'll also be able to adapt to his changing needs as his dementia progresses and he needs more care input without any further disruption to his routine and surroundings.

If you take your time and find a place you're happy with, this will probably be the best decision you ever make for your dad. You're doing a good thing, don't beat yourself up about it!

gingin_2

bujin wrote: »

He no longer knows who we really are and when I say it might not be working, when you're considering a Care Home for your parent for me anyway it's the absolutely last resort. It's no longer what's best for them any longer because you can't really argue that a care home will be beneficial to ayone but us.

Have you been to any before, I'd go and have a look around a few?

My Grandmother has mild dementia and we found her a lovely home 5 years ago, it's her home now. She has a lovely room with her own furniture, she has amazing food ( she's put on a lot of weight which is fine when you are 95!). The staff are caring and kind, there is always a RGN on duty, there is a specialised focus on dementia, families are encouraged to visit and they have a numerous activities and social events. She is so much better off there than in her home on her own and she admits it herself.

margaretclare

she's put on a lot of weight which is fine when you are 95

Why is it 'fine' whether she's 95 or any other age?

It must be all that cake and biscuits referred to a day or two ago on the thread about the 88-year- old lady.

I've heard of bigger grave spaces needed, bigger crematoria, and as for the problem of moving and assisted moving while you're still alive, I would hope that 'putting on a lot of weight' is not treated so casually. Unless she was extremely thin before?

It must also be remembered that a high proportion of residents will have developed Type 2 diabetes late in life. I have been warned that I'm at risk of this and it's something I prefer to avoid. So cake and biscuits are off the agenda.

Person_one

margaretclare wrote: »

I've heard of bigger grave spaces needed, bigger crematoria, and as for the problem of moving and assisted moving while you're still alive,

I'd be very very surprised if somebody reached the level of morbid obesity you're talking about here due to a few years of care home meals!

margaretclare

Person_one wrote: »

I'd be very very surprised if somebody reached the level of morbid obesity you're talking about here due to a few years of care home meals!

Depends what they were like to start with.

Person_one

margaretclare wrote: »

Depends what they were like to start with.

Not many morbidly obese 90 year olds.

Maybe this is on your mind for some personal reason, but its not usually very elderly people who need bariatric equipment. I hardly think its a major concern for the OP when making the decision about finding a care home for her dad, which is what the thread is about.

gingin_2

She's 5'1 and a dress size 14. She's enjoying all the home cooked food when previously she was eating toast for breakfast, lunch and dinner, one of the big reasons she was moved to the home.

I wrote it in part as reassurance to the OP, thinking they had said their Father had lost weight but rereading it was another poster.

dancingfairy

Even if not eligible for CHC (continuing health care) she may be eligible for FNC/RNCC (funded nursing care or whatever it's now called). My understanding is that this is based on a person's finances so she may be eligible to have possibly £110. a week paid for her (i think that's the going rate).
Also if there is a property it's worth looking into the 12 week disregard if it's available in your area (basically I belive you get a loan from the council against the property) which covers the fees for 12 weeks whilst you arrange a sale of the property.
I'm sure I saw a really useful factsheet on the ageuk website the other day talking you through all the different funding issues.
df

Tosca3

margaretclare wrote: »

Why is it 'fine' whether she's 95 or any other age?

It must be all that cake and biscuits referred to a day or two ago on the thread about the 88-year- old lady.

I've heard of bigger grave spaces needed, bigger crematoria, and as for the problem of moving and assisted moving while you're still alive, I would hope that 'putting on a lot of weight' is not treated so casually. Unless she was extremely thin before?

It must also be remembered that a high proportion of residents will have developed Type 2 diabetes late in life. I have been warned that I'm at risk of this and it's something I prefer to avoid. So cake and biscuits are off the agenda.

I am guessing you have never had a close relative with a Dementia or cared for someone with it.

Dementia is a terminal disease. It isn't all about people being forgetful and a bit doddery. The disease is about losing thought processes, not recognising even your own family, becoming doubly incontinent and losing the ability to swallow, so eventually you might starve to death whilst bed bound and wearing nappies. I could go on but I won't.

Putting a few pounds on whilst still being able to enjoy some of the pleasures of life is to be rejoiced in my mind. Dementia has no cures or happy endings.

Back to the subject of CHC, my Mum had Dementia and was awarded it, my Dad is now suffering from it and he has also been awarded it. How long for I don't know, we sort of live in limbo land.

suze200

Tosca3 wrote: »

Back to the subject of CHC, my Mum had Dementia and was awarded it, my Dad is now suffering from it and he has also been awarded it. How long for I don't know, we sort of live in limbo land.

Tosca

Sorry for all the questions

Did your Mum & Dad get awarded CHC when they were first diagnosed or when they got more complex healthcare needs?

Where in the country are you?

Do you have any idea of the content of the assessments made?