Social Services want to move my frail Ma (92)

frannyann

Hi Daisy, just to check was the assessment for RNCC banding or for continuing care. Worth checking as RNCC is registered nurse care component and will only pay for nurse input of homes price (ie: £100) continuing care assessment will see if primary need is a health need and will be required to pay N/H home price (ie: £450). I only ask because I have heard of some people being made to believe its a CC assessment when they only get RNCC assessment. Although to be fair some pct's are doing them all as CC to decide RNCC as well, which is a fairer system. Good luck BTW, only lurk around the boards now and then, so do PM if you need it! I can only give general advice cos each PCT is different but understand continuing care too well for my own good!!!!

daisyroots_2

Hi Frannyann
Nor sure which it is, but do know that the NH hoped that she would be moved from "level 2" to "level 3" if that makes it clearer ? Will call NH after the bank hols and get more info

frannyann

Does sound as though they are assessing for RNCC banding then. I think you may have a good case for continuing care. Contact your local PCT and ask for Continuing Care team and request an assessment. After all, it costs nothing and may result in mothers NH fees being met either partially or fully.

daisyroots_2

We are now awaiting the results of the Care Assessment. The woman who undertook it immediately went on holiday. She has now returned, but must first submit her report to a committee. The next date for this committee to meet has not yet been set. Meanwhile we continue to pay out of our Ma's rapidly diminishing estate. We can claim this back, up to the appropriate level, once the finances have been sorted, apparently. A man from Finance is going to send me some forms to complete, to verify that the financial situation is as I have asserted.

My sister and I have made a point of placing some of our Ma's glamorous photographs from her showbiz years around her room. For most of her life she has been a very beautiful woman, and we want the staff to see that she was not always like this.

Have you ever come across Robert Frost's poem Provide, Provide ?

It's out of copyright now, so here it is

The witch that came (the withered hag)
To wash the steps with pail and rag,
Was once the beauty Abishag,

The picture pride of Hollywood.
Too many fall from great and good
For you to doubt the likelihood.

Die early and avoid the fate.
Or if predestined to die late,
Make up your mind to die in state.

Make the whole stock exchange your own!
If need be occupy a throne,
Where nobody can call you crone.

Some have relied on what they knew;
Others on simply being true.
What worked for them might work for you.

No memory of having starred
Atones for later disregard,
Or keeps the end from being hard.

Better to go down dignified
With boughten friendship at your side
Than none at all. Provide, provide!

seven-day-weekend

mrcow wrote: »

Maybe I'm just feeling emotional tonight, but I am so angry reading your post.

What on earth is this country coming to when we are turfing out 92 year old ladies from their homes because of money? Absolutely disgusting. Surely to goodness this is what we're all paying our taxes for? If not, why not?

I'm so sorry that I don't have any practical advice, but I wish you and your family luck.

Yes, the post about her Ma being a dancer and winning her Esperanto prize made me cry. It is awful that people her age are not allowed to live with dignity and have the choices that others have, especially as she has paid for all her care herself up to the age of 92. I just thank the Lord that my dear Mum was able to live out her days (she was nearly 94) in a Council-run home where she was treated well and was very happy.

OP, you and your Ma are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope the assessment goes in your Ma's favour so that she doesn't have to move.

daisyroots_2

Thanks seven-day-weekend. Have just heard today that our Ma's level will not be raised from Medium to High, but anyway, it's academic, because a new National CHC criteria coming in on October 1st, the three Registered Nursing Care bands are to be discontinued with effect from that date, and there will be a flat payment of £101pw. So why did they bother with the Assessment then ? They must have known that this change was in the pipeline !

Social Services are still pressurising us to have her moved, we still cannot decide what to do. If we allow them to move her:

It will be easier for us to visit
The place might be just as nice (current place is OK, not ideal, and pricey)
BUT
The move will probably hasten her death
The place might not be very nice

My sister and I are going to discuss it further over the weekend.

Norman-B

daisyroots, I really hope you make a wise choice over the week-end! It is a dreadful thing to try to work out what's for the best.

My sister and I attended a meeting today about our dad's discharge from hospital. We were informed that he could not go back to the care section of the residential home he has live in for the past 14 months. He had to go into the Nursing section of that home (or some other Nursing home).
Earlier in the week, we were informed that the assessment team had deemed that dad did not qualify for Continuing Care. Well, we challanged that today and after nearly two hours, we emerged with a change of that decision! The assessment team were now going to recommend that dad be granted full nursing care funding. The only downside is that we were informed by that same team (and the nursing home later in the day) that the PCT for Hampshire were extremely difficult to obtain funding from.

Over one hurdle and we await the next one.

Best of luck, daisyroots.

mary43

When my mother suffered a really bad stroke 3 years ago it was obvious she couldn't return home and after 6 months in hospital we were told the house would have to be sold in order to pay for her future care in a home.
Luckily we found a place where she was able to use part of the house money to buy her present place (this is then sold back to the Extra Care trust where she is) and protects at least some of her money. Prior to the house sale social services topped up her weekly charges and housing benefit paid her rent. For just a short period she became 'self funding' doubling her care costs but after a re-assessment of her situation which social services allowed me to do from home as I live a distance away, they agreed to continue their support. Had they not, I would have asked them to review their decision.
I suggest you do the same if you're not happy with the outcome. Social Services I feel make many decisions bases on budgets not people and just now and then they need reminding they in the business of 'caring'.
Good luck to you. It's not easy handling these sorts of things. I have been doing it for mum, handling all her finances etc. visiting and quite honestly it has worn me out. Mum feels she has no control over anything, bodily functions or even her own finances and can get very angry although she knows everyone is doing their best.
I really do with you well with this.

daisyroots_2

Although the assessment resulted in no change in my Ma's status, there has been another development. The Social Worker put in a claim for the full amount - 730 pounds per week and I got an email on Friday saying the Service Placement Team has negotiated an acceptable fee for Social Services funding - £630 per week. This means that if my sister and I each contribute 60 pounds a month, which we can afford - our Mother can stay where she is.

We think they have made this decision for the following reqsons:

My Ma probably does not have very long to live, so it wont be q fortune

The Social Worker agreed with me that a move would hasten our Ma's death, & if thqt happened, my sister & I are articulate and obviously would not let the matter rest. It would make quite a story in the local press.

We are very thankful for this outcome, and I am very grateful to everyone who took an interest in my post. Please forgive a few typos, am in France and the keyboard layout is different.

mary43

I'm pleased you got a result you're happy with:o
Good luck and God bless your Mum