Council help with 24 hour home care

lisyloo

Unfortunately you cannot expect to get an ambulance for many hours for an indoors fall.
they might come more quickly for an elderly person on their own but they’ll still be prioritised below people with suspected heart attacks etc.
pits normally many hours waiting.

why none of the children attend in an emergency?
ongoing - yes I get that if it’s a regular occurrence.

I think she will only be safe with residential care and she need to be sold this.
some of them may let her attend for a day.
go when there’s bingo, singing etc. or activities that she enjoys.
you’re going to need to sell this to her.

if she’s of sound kind and refuses then she’s likely to face an unsafe siutation.
if she ends up in hospital after a fall then they may not be willing to discharge her to home, so this can either be voluntary or forced on her.

if I was the daughter (and I’ve had a little experience), I’d be mobilising siblings to check out all the homes.
short list a few and then ask for a day visit.
this is MUCH better planned than unplanned but I’m afraid it’s inevitable.
then only variable is how she gets there.

the nicer ones have waiting lists so get her name down on a few. People give up places all the time, so you can always give it up when it becomes available.

no councils will not pay for 24 hour care when a residential home is about half the price.
she could of course fund it privately perhaps through equity release but you have to worry about what happens when the money runs out.

There are homes that are very nice (obviously more expensive).

KxMx

vigman said:

Thanks again, everyone. All home improvements done and she has an alarm system. 

Very hard to get short term respite care round here. Mostly one month minimum but not available for many months. 

Is that timescale looking to arrange that yourselves or with social services involvement? 

You are entitled to an assessment of your own needs as a carer via SS, entirely separate from an assessment of your Mum's needs. 
Ring them and let them know you are struggling and need respite asap on a short term basis, before more long term arrangements can be sorted. 

vigman

KxMx said:

vigman said:

Thanks again, everyone. All home improvements done and she has an alarm system. 

Very hard to get short term respite care round here. Mostly one month minimum but not available for many months. 

Is that timescale looking to arrange that yourselves or with social services involvement? 

You are entitled to an assessment of your own needs as a carer via SS, entirely separate from an assessment of your Mum's needs. 
Ring them and let them know you are struggling and need respite asap on a short term basis, before more long term arrangements can be sorted. 

Thanks. That’s interesting to know. I am actually blue badge disabled and my wife had liver cancer surgery last year and although older siblings are helping, we urgently need a break!

KxMx

There is some information here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/support-and-benefits-for-carers/carer-assessments/

Savvy_Sue

Good call from KxMx: and the idea of a day visit sounds like a good start. Where my parents lived, there was a daily lunch club at an Age UK centre on the premises of a residential care home. When Dad wanted respite care, that was the obvious place to look for it (although they were run quite separately). Each afternoon there was a different activity at the Club, with transport to and from home if you needed it. It gives the opportunity for other people with more experience than you to see your mum, and perhaps suggest to her that she should consider whether it's safe for her to be at home. 

It is very difficult, but I guess the thing to bear in mind is that ALL of you have 'capacity' to make your own decisions. Your decision could be that you are no longer able to assist mum in her own home. Your siblings could make the same decision. This forces the situation somewhat. 

Cyclamen

Hello Struggling to read everyting so far but my thoughts

I have friends who receive 24 hour care or live in care funded by the council.. it does happen but can be a fight.

Have YOU had a carers needs assessment for you and your siblings. This is not means tested but my provide you with some support as you look after Mum.  Google the word carers followed by your county to find your local carers support charity, they will have a phone line you can chat on to get info.

Mum is entitled to a care needs assessment even as a self funder from adult care.  This is probably worth doing to get her on the system.  The financial team can then advise you what to do when her savings drop low enough to trigger funding.. 

I start with 'anything is better than nothing' in terms of getting help then fight up from there to what is actually needed. 

greyteam1959

Cyclamen has it right.
I have been through all l this with elderly parents.
You need to contact your local council.
Ask for a Needs Assessment & a Financial Assesment.
Get her bank balance below the £23500 threshold before you do that by legitimate means ie by something nice for her well being !!
My local council will for example fund up to 5 hours care per day.
That's around £1000 per week.
Does you mum claim Attendance Allowance??
If not get it claimed now.
Higher rate is £369 per month.
Do you or your siblings claim Carers Allowance??
If not get it claimed now.
£67 per week for one of you if eligible.
Have you claimed all her council tax benefits??
If not go onto the Ageuk website & use the benefits calculator.
You may be surprised at what discount you can get.