Being charged for care - please help

soolin

Mark_b wrote: »

I dunno, I shall find out. They gave him shock treatment, without my knowledge, so he must of been pretty screwed up, that rather annoyed me to say the least. That and the drugs he is on, makes him hardly seem like my dad anymore

I'm sorry that I can't add more regarding your original question, as you can see from other threads I have been asking a lot of questions myself. However I just wanted to add to the other comments that you must take care of yourself as well.

My dad has vascular dementia and sometimes he does not know me and other times he knows me and asks me why I haven't been to see him for days...it is very hard and I spend a lot of my time between upset and angry. Anger is an odd thing and you may well feel it. I'm angry that dad has gone from me , and very suddenly as he had a stroke so lost his memories and mental functions over night. I'm also angry that he left me to deal with all this and to have to put up with social services fighting me for money every step of the way. Then I get upset as I have been so angry as it isn't his fault and when he recognises me he is desperate for me to stay in the residential home and not leave him alone which makes me sad.

I know dad will have to use his money to fund his care, but at the moment I am just making sure he has everything he needs. Most of his old clothes were damp and mildewey due to his living conditions so I am replacing all them, and keeping receipts. I've also made sure he has a good razor, and all the bits and bobs he needs for the next few years.

It is a hard situation that anyone with a parent to care for has to deal with and I wish you well.

Errata

margaretclare wrote: »

Hello Mark_b



If your Dad was 'insane' enough to need shock treatment, ECT (electro-convulsive therapy) then he MUST have been sectioned. So do follow up Ed's suggestion. Also apply for DLA for him, do it online, do it today!!

HTH

Margaret

This is incorrect, voluntary patients can agree to ECT treatment.

Mark, your dad's CPN or ASW can help your dad and you through this thicket.
There may a branch of MIND local to you, they'll also be able to help with accurate information and support. There is also a national MIND helpline for information and advice.

ritabill

Hello Mark, If your dad's primary need is a health need and that is why he has been placed in a care home, the law say's that all his care costs including accommodation must be paid for by the NHS. However Social Services will not tell you this.

If you want expert advice on your issues absolutley free and you are willing to fight for your's and your fathers right's, then visit the websites listed below.

NHS funded Continuing Care and the Coughlan case

Post your query again on this website, Free nursing care information

For all others that are reading this post, if you have been forced to sell the family home to pay for care then visit the above sites. To be made aware of whats happening read paul burstows site here. Liberal Democrats : SICK & ELDERLY LOSE OUT IN HOMES FOR CARE SCANDAL - BURSTOW

If you want any further advice then send a privete message

Regars Steve.

Mark_b_2

I struggle to get anything out of my dad, but after mentioning what has been said in this thread, I have found it he is already getting Disability living allowance, aswell as Incapacity benefit.

He was not sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Errata – what does CPN and ASW mean? (I did try searching to find out)
And I shall look into finding a branch of MIND, cheers.

Steve – Thanks for the links, I shall investigate

Savvy_Sue

I know CPN is Community Psychiatric Nurse. I would expect SW to be Social Worker but not sure what the A might stand for ...

I guess you'll be off back to Uni soon, can I suggest that you tell your personal tutor what's been going on over the summer (if they don't know from last year) and also see if you can talk regularly to someone from student support / counselling services. These are huge issues to be dealing with: you need all the help you can get!

Mark_b_2

My tutor is pretty useless to be honest, i tried to get a different one, but no luck.
I'm not to bad really. I've been through worst stuff in my wee life time.

Been through a long nasty divorce age 10 to 15. Caring for my older depressed brother with aspergers - a type of autism (had to stop him jumping out of his bedroom window when I was 9). Dealing with a depressed high blood pressure mother. Turning depressed and fat myself through my teens - antidepressants and seeing a shrink monthly, didn’t even go to school for the last 3 years of secondary, but decided to take gcse's anyway without any knowledge.

Managed to get some c's and d's. This is when life started to get better. Did a First Diploma in Animal Care - top grades. Lost all my weight, got undepressed. Then did a National Diploma in Animal Management - top grades. And if I pass my recently taken retake i shall be going into my third and final year of my Zoology Degree

Sorry to blab on, felt like telling my story, don’t get the chance really :P

Errata

Mark_b wrote: »

I struggle to get anything out of my dad, but after mentioning what has been said in this thread, I have found it he is already getting Disability living allowance, aswell as Incapacity benefit.

He was not sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Errata – what does CPN and ASW mean? (I did try searching to find out)
And I shall look into finding a branch of MIND, cheers.

Steve – Thanks for the links, I shall investigate

Sorry Mark, I should have been clearer. A CPN is a Community Psychiatric Nurse and an ASW is an Approved Social worker who has had special training and gained qualification to work with people with serious mental health problems. Your dad should have both, or either, of these assigned to him as his mental health problems are serious enough for him to need residential care. HTH

Ohtoobedebtfree

So sorry to hear about your situation. I'm in a similar boat to you.
Your dad can give £250 away tax free as a 'gift' to any one person a year and to any number of people so he could give you and you and your grandparents £750 (not alot but it helps). If you do any errands for him could paying you be another solution.
Also check out www.carers.org.uk as they usually have loads of info on anything to do with health and care issues.
Also how old are you as if you are an dependent student(under 25 years) the law might allow him to make parental contributions to cover your uni & living costs.

Mojisola

Has your father given you Power of Attorney? It sounds as if he is going to need help. The rules about POA change at the end of the month so it's worth seeing about it soon.

There are several threads about it on the Silver Saver board with links to sites where you can download the forms. It doesn't cost anything to set it up.

I'm impressed that you're doing so well with your studies when you have all this to deal with in your life!

Mark_b_2

Ta for the replies again

Margaret - I did my diplomas at Sparsholt College, Hampshire and Im going my Zoology Degree at Swansea Uni, Wales. You just have to keep postive, when I think about it compared to other people, my life hasnt been that bad, its not like I have a life long disease that I have to cope with, or any of my close relatives have died. (I have friends with these issues)

Ohtoobedebtfree wrote: »

Also how old are you as if you are an dependent student(under 25 years) the law might allow him to make parental contributions to cover your uni & living costs.

I'm 21! Where would I find out about this?

Mojisola - What would Power of Attorney allow me to do? (i did try searching, but I dont exactly get it)