Care Home Issues
Discussion
I'll try and keep this brief.
Elderly relative is in a care home, suffers with Alzheimer's and part of his dementia is that he is turned into the archetypal 'dirty old man'. Think Carry On level.
Recently found in his room with another resident without their clothes. Both consenting, he was blamed. Family not told for three weeks.
He has not been in the home long having been moved to be nearer to family who will actually visit.
On moving he was assessed and this part of his character was disclosed, discussed and a care plan put in place.
He has had another psychiatric assessment and was out onto constant care whilst up and about - he loved this as he had someone to chat with constantly and there are no issues with paying for this.
Fast forward to now and the care home want to evict him and have him sectioned, as the constant care contravenes his human rights and say he poses too much risk. I laughed at the human rights angle and as for risk, he is smooth tongued lothario who walks with two sticks and weighs 5 stone wet through, the staff can manage that.
The psychiatric team agree that he in no way needs sectioning and that supervised care is appropriate.
We have a meeting coming up at the home to discuss his care, the contract they entered into (pre-paid for 12 months) and our expectations of the care home in regards to reporting incidents and changes in care programmes.
Thoughts?
We don't want to move him as he likes this place.
As all this was disclosed and assessed when he moved in where do we stand with regards to the contract? He hasn't got worse according to the assessments.
If we have to move him can we recoup costs?
Elderly relative is in a care home, suffers with Alzheimer's and part of his dementia is that he is turned into the archetypal 'dirty old man'. Think Carry On level.
Recently found in his room with another resident without their clothes. Both consenting, he was blamed. Family not told for three weeks.
He has not been in the home long having been moved to be nearer to family who will actually visit.
On moving he was assessed and this part of his character was disclosed, discussed and a care plan put in place.
He has had another psychiatric assessment and was out onto constant care whilst up and about - he loved this as he had someone to chat with constantly and there are no issues with paying for this.
Fast forward to now and the care home want to evict him and have him sectioned, as the constant care contravenes his human rights and say he poses too much risk. I laughed at the human rights angle and as for risk, he is smooth tongued lothario who walks with two sticks and weighs 5 stone wet through, the staff can manage that.
The psychiatric team agree that he in no way needs sectioning and that supervised care is appropriate.
We have a meeting coming up at the home to discuss his care, the contract they entered into (pre-paid for 12 months) and our expectations of the care home in regards to reporting incidents and changes in care programmes.
Thoughts?
We don't want to move him as he likes this place.
As all this was disclosed and assessed when he moved in where do we stand with regards to the contract? He hasn't got worse according to the assessments.
If we have to move him can we recoup costs?
In this instance I don't hold power of attorney and I am the one going as the back up. I wanted to bounce this around for some ideas/experiences. I am fully, fully aware that this care home is a business and is operating as such, I do feel that the balance between care and business is a bit off.
I've a fair bit of knowledge of dealing with sectioning and the mental health system, which is why I'm going along as he does not need sectioning, he needs the level of care that was agreed at the start, and that his estate is funding. When he first became unwell he was sectioned as he was a risk to himself. He was a very accomplished artist and threatened suicide as he felt his mind unraveling - his words.
We have noticed a change in the care staff in the short time he has been there - getting on for 5 months. He was with the same company before at his previous home (and yes, they would have been happy to have him remain at that home) and the ratio of auxiliary to qualified care has changed markedly. A lot are agency care now.
There was a complaint from the family of the woman who he was found in the room with. No complaint from her, although she too has advanced dementia. I've had no answer as to why her family were told and we were not.
I am taking the psychiatric report with me, cannot get the community team to attend, the days of them having enough staff for that are long gone.
I intend to get them to do most of the talking and ask what the contingency plans are having had the money up front.
I've a fair bit of knowledge of dealing with sectioning and the mental health system, which is why I'm going along as he does not need sectioning, he needs the level of care that was agreed at the start, and that his estate is funding. When he first became unwell he was sectioned as he was a risk to himself. He was a very accomplished artist and threatened suicide as he felt his mind unraveling - his words.
We have noticed a change in the care staff in the short time he has been there - getting on for 5 months. He was with the same company before at his previous home (and yes, they would have been happy to have him remain at that home) and the ratio of auxiliary to qualified care has changed markedly. A lot are agency care now.
There was a complaint from the family of the woman who he was found in the room with. No complaint from her, although she too has advanced dementia. I've had no answer as to why her family were told and we were not.
I am taking the psychiatric report with me, cannot get the community team to attend, the days of them having enough staff for that are long gone.
I intend to get them to do most of the talking and ask what the contingency plans are having had the money up front.
Some great stuff there.
And many thanks to those who PM'd me with further ideas.
Turns out the home have dropped a clanger and forgot to inform social services he was there. (He moved from a care home in the same company and this was part of the relocation fleecing)
Many thanks for the link to the specialist solicitor group. That will get explored.
Meeting with the home once they have sorted the social worker aspect.....
I have been given some good ideas regarding different tacks and am grateful to this community yet again.
And many thanks to those who PM'd me with further ideas.
Turns out the home have dropped a clanger and forgot to inform social services he was there. (He moved from a care home in the same company and this was part of the relocation fleecing)
Many thanks for the link to the specialist solicitor group. That will get explored.
Meeting with the home once they have sorted the social worker aspect.....
I have been given some good ideas regarding different tacks and am grateful to this community yet again.
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