Dad with dementia in hospital - Can they force him home

bunnygo

I'm sorry for your situation. In my opinion, the only option to be at home is a live in carer (probably two if he needs help at night), and with an upstairs toilet you'll probably need a stairlift too. These are not instant fixes so a suitable care home might be a better place for now. And 'for now' is all you can do.

Do not feel guilty. You are doing the care by advocating for him.

ian16527

Thanks for your replies.
Dad will be going into a care home on Monday after the Covid has gone. We think its free at the minute. 

I haven't been in as I think I have caught it as well, though not as severe as I had it in Sept. He has very mild symptoms. 
I will visit tomorrow to see how he is, although the nurses say he is still mobile and travelling about the ward.

I will see how mentally stable he is and if there's any improvement then I will try to get him home with carers in the near future. But if he is the same as Monday then he cant look after himself and he will have to stay. Hopefully he will settle in quickly

EnPointe

pollypenny said:

EnPointe said:

pollypenny said:

You will have a battle, which won't be helped if your father is like mine and full of pride, maintaining that he was fine and able to cope. Stick to your guns. 

Do you understand the Mental Capacity Act ? 

if an individual has Capacity that can refuse / reject/  state they  require  less input than the professional assesmsent  says  and  there  is nothing whatsoever that can be done  in law about it 

  Yes, I certainly do! 

 However, hospitals can be all too keen to believe patients who clearly will not be able to cope alone. There's physical capacity as well as mental capacity; medical professionals should not ignore the former.   Furthermore, there are still some old people who 'don't want to be a bother' and will tell staff what they want to hear. 

Quite clear from that answer you  do not understand the Mental Capacity Act. 

Just because someone makes an unwise  decision it  doesnot  directly  draw their Mental Capacity into question , also  where someone who has capacity is adamant they can cope  despite concerns  the documentation and   hassle level is  as big or greater than  if someone happily  accepts the need for   care input whether Domicillary  or a 24 hour  setting. 

EnPointe

elsien said:

They don’t have a right to be there if the relative has capacity around the assessment and doesn’t want them there. Just to be clear.

One of the most threatening situations i saw on an NHS  hospital Acute Assessment  Unit  was when an  aggreived  and misinformed adult child of  an elderly person  who had full capacity and absolutely  no questions over their mental state and  having all their marbles ,  physically  attacked a  member of the Nursing staff   for "putting  their <parent>  into a home without  asking anyone " ... 

sad fully compis mentis  elderly  adult  was going into a NHS funded rehab bed for  4- 6 weeks  and had full capacity  to make that decision  it also allowed (in addition to the rehab input )   some  equipment and simple adaptations to be done at their home address 

Next of Kin has no meaning in law,   even having an LPA is  by the by if the  individual in question has capacity. 

EnPointe

Gavin83 said:

pollypenny said:

EnPointe said:

pollypenny said:

You will have a battle, which won't be helped if your father is like mine and full of pride, maintaining that he was fine and able to cope. Stick to your guns. 

Do you understand the Mental Capacity Act ? 

if an individual has Capacity that can refuse / reject/  state they  require  less input than the professional assesmsent  says  and  there  is nothing whatsoever that can be done  in law about it 

  Yes, I certainly do! 

 However, hospitals can be all too keen to believe patients who clearly will not be able to cope alone. 

They haven’t got a choice in all honesty.

If I was to pick up an injury and end up in hospital, no matter how severe/life threatening they couldn’t stop me walking out, assuming of course I could. Thats a fundamental right. That doesn’t change just because you’re old. This does assume capacity but if they have it the hospital couldn’t stop them leaving.

it;s quite clear some people who think they understand the MCA don't you are spot on there Gavin.