Help after a fall

northwest1965

My Mum is 89 and had Alzheimers. She lives at home with Dad who has his own medical needs.
They have carers (home help) that go in 3 times a day (direct payment from Council and they top this up considerably)

Yesterday, Mum had a really bad fall, she is getting very frail and it's almost like she is forgetting how to walk properly. She was sent to A&E and discharged in considerable pain. My sister said that it will require at least 2 to help her in and out of bed and toilet needs etc.

Do I request extra help through the GP? The hospital have confirmed that they will do nothing further.

lisyloo

Go back to the social worker and request an urgent re-assessment of her care needs.

Is a recovery likely?
Have you considered whether she needs residential care yet?

My MIL was in a very similar position although she was kept in hospital.
Staff monitoring said she could not male sensible decisions and FIL could not care at 89 and we all felt full recovery was unlikely, therefore she went into nursing care with home being disregarded as FIL lived there.

I am surprised they sent her home without assessing whether she would be safe.

northwest1965

lisyloo wrote: »

Go back to the social worker and request an urgent re-assessment of her care needs.

Is a recovery likely?
Have you considered whether she needs residential care yet?

My MIL was in a very similar position although she was kept in hospital.
Staff monitoring said she could not male sensible decisions and FIL could not care at 89 and we all felt full recovery was unlikely, therefore she went into nursing care with home being disregarded as FIL lived there.

I am surprised they sent her home without assessing whether she would be safe.

Recovery is likely. She will just not be able to move about on her own. Her confidence has gone now. I am concerned that they will be split up if I go back to Adult Social Care. Dad would have to go into care as well as he keeps having blackouts and no doctor can get to the bottom of it.

I know I need to do the right thing, it's tough.

lisyloo

Yes it’s very tough, you have my sympathy.

It does sound as though they both now need care.
She needs constant help and he cannot be relied upon to care 24/7.
He also needs consideration. What if he blacks out and she is not able to get to the phone?

Might not be what you want to hear, but would it be a good idea to start looking for a place together and start getting their names down?
It may take some time to find somewhere suitable that can house them both and there may be waiting lists.

What is their view? Would they agree or refuse?
Many places will agree to day visits in fact they might insist for themselves to see if it’s a match.

If there is no one else living with them then their property would need to be sold. I’ve just been through that process and we had a loan from the local authority whilst the house was being sold.

But it all takes times and you may well have to wait for someone to “vacate”.
We went to 20 homes which took us many weeks as were all working.

In the first instance I'd get the social worker in. There must be one who arranged the care.

In the meantime is there some technology that might help.
There are pendants that can be used to call for help.
There are crash mats that can send an alert if someone falls out of bed.
Motion detectors that send alerts of someone doesn’t move for a period of time.
Or if the lack of privacy is justified then CCTV that you can check from home.
If they are both at risk of falling/blackouts then I’d say CCTV is justified and would give you peace of mind.

northwest1965

At the last assessment, the Social Worker said he has to assess them for a home. He said that they weren't ready. I was appalled!!. Obviously things have got worse in the last 2months.
He told me, that they have to be given the go ahead to go into care. It's not something we can sort ourselves as it would eventually be part funded after 1 year

lisyloo

I would request another assessment as things have moved on significantly if your mother can’t now move without assistance.

If your parents are reliant on local authority funding the yes the LA (or social worker) will need to agree they are beyond the help that can be offered at home. Usually this is 4x1 hourly visits but it may vary by postcode.
If your mother cannot now move without assistance then this is a significant change so justifies a review.

How are they managing right now?
Your father does not sound like a suitable full time carer if he has unexplained blackouts.
We (sadly) had to take my 89 year old FIL to a meeting with his zimmer where he broke down emotionally and said he couldn’t cope. Sad but it achieved the aim.

I was assuming they owned a property.
Can this be sold to pay for care?
Are you saying the sale of property will only last 1 year of joint care fees?

Have you taken into account their income (pensions), attendance allowance etc.
Are they claiming everything they are entitled to e.g. pension credit, attendance allowance, carers allowance?
Are they getting full council tax benefit on account of her Alzheimer’s?

My MIL only has state pension and AA but it reduces the drawdown to £640 for fees of £925.

northwest1965

They have carers 4x1hr slots a day 5 days a week. 2x1hr slits on Sat & Sun.
Yes they own their own home. Would be enough to fund for 1year for 2 people.
They claim all those benefits and use to fund care as Northamptonshire Council have no money!. Social worker wanted to cut their money but I won't allow.
Dad picks up the slack when carers not there.
Thanks for your help!��

lisyloo

Just one last thing, do you have LPAs for them both.
I had to go to the court of protection for my MIL as she refused when she had capacity.
COP is expensive, loads of paperwork and lengthy (GP took about 1 month, court took 6 months).
As well as the application fees, GPs fees, there is a bond (insurance) and ongoing mentoring fees.

LPA are infinitely preferable if there is mental capacity.

northwest1965

Just have POA for both on financial not health.

Gavin83

Do they own their own property or have significant assets?

northwest1965

Yes own property, have savings. It's not about the money, really more about procedure and getting them placed together