I haven't posted here for a bit as I have been so devastated by my mum's illness and the surrounding circumstances. But I need some advice. I have a lot of very well-meaning friends but I have quickly found out that until you're in it, people simply don't know "the system."
The current situation is this. My mum had to have an emergency admission to a Care Home early Feb. This followed months and months of me battling with social services to take her needs seriously. The home she went to was the only one that had a bed and, as I said it was an emergency admission. It was initially for respite and then, following the Best Interests Meeting, made permanent as my mum settled better than expected.
Back in February, I (perhaps stupidly) signed the top of fee agreement. I was just glad mum was safe. It was £30 a week and well worth every penny. But then, true to form, the Council have taken until now to sort out the contract. So today, when I went to visit my mum, I was given a set of invoices that amount to over £600 of fees for me to pay. I don't have £600!
The background is that leading up to mum being admitted, it came to light that £35,000 had moved from my mum's account to my sister's. I battled until last month with Social Services to investigate it. Their conclusion last month was that, although they don't doubt where the money has gone, as my mum can no longer say whether she agreed to it, then they can't do anything about it. My sister no longer speaks to me and won't pay any money towards anything. I have had to clear out my mum's house, put it up for sale and basically do everything on my own.
I know I could go to "battle" again with the Council and say I can't afford to pay the £600 but I just can't do it. My mum does have the money in her account to pay for her fees and once the house sells, she will be fully self-funding. Can I pay the money out of my mum's account or is there anything else I can do - other than try to sort things out with the council - which I am sure will be yet another battle that I don't have the emotional energy to fight.
The Care Home have been great btw - but I realise they have to be paid for what they are doing.
Any advice would be really gratefully received.
The current situation is this. My mum had to have an emergency admission to a Care Home early Feb. This followed months and months of me battling with social services to take her needs seriously. The home she went to was the only one that had a bed and, as I said it was an emergency admission. It was initially for respite and then, following the Best Interests Meeting, made permanent as my mum settled better than expected.
Back in February, I (perhaps stupidly) signed the top of fee agreement. I was just glad mum was safe. It was £30 a week and well worth every penny. But then, true to form, the Council have taken until now to sort out the contract. So today, when I went to visit my mum, I was given a set of invoices that amount to over £600 of fees for me to pay. I don't have £600!
The background is that leading up to mum being admitted, it came to light that £35,000 had moved from my mum's account to my sister's. I battled until last month with Social Services to investigate it. Their conclusion last month was that, although they don't doubt where the money has gone, as my mum can no longer say whether she agreed to it, then they can't do anything about it. My sister no longer speaks to me and won't pay any money towards anything. I have had to clear out my mum's house, put it up for sale and basically do everything on my own.
I know I could go to "battle" again with the Council and say I can't afford to pay the £600 but I just can't do it. My mum does have the money in her account to pay for her fees and once the house sells, she will be fully self-funding. Can I pay the money out of my mum's account or is there anything else I can do - other than try to sort things out with the council - which I am sure will be yet another battle that I don't have the emotional energy to fight.
The Care Home have been great btw - but I realise they have to be paid for what they are doing.
Any advice would be really gratefully received.