NHS Continuing care

[SnowWhite]

it seems unlikely (according to the sister in hospital) that Mum will get CHC. That form is crazy and in some cases, the categories are so similar. I had suggested Mum might be A or B in some areas but the sister marked them down.

It seems that you have to be unstable and unpredictable to be awarded CHC. So if you are refusing medication, not talking at all, shouting and falling down you will get CHC. The sister told me that she has seen people literally dying and they don't get CHC.

She also said it doesn't Matter how bad a person WAS or might be in the future but how they present on the day they are being assessed.

I had to smile because my (Alzheimers) mother even said "how bad do I have to be to get A's then?"

They have obviously designed that form so that as few people as possible get CHC.

 

[Scouts girl]

I was thinking of applying for CHC funding for my mum as she is now confined to bed, not eating, not now taking any medication, has no mobility and is on end of life care. She has some lucid days and not so lucid days and it would be S**** law that the day she was assessed she had one of her more lucid days. How ill does someone have to be to be approved for this funding??? I know it is not an easy, and very long drawn out process and wonder if that stops people applying. I know it makes me think why bother!!!

 

[AlsoConfused]

Please DON'T take what the sister said as gospel on CHC.

Instead work through the Checklist on your own, citing the evidence you've got about your Mum's state (including hospital provided details of her recent behaviour - falls etc). If, on face value, you think she's got a case to get past the Checklist stage at least, contact any specialised source of free if time-limited advice.

Other possibilities might be the Alzheimer's Society helpline people, perhaps Age UK or a carers' helpline.

 

[nitram]

She has some lucid days and not so lucid days and it would be S**** law that the day she was assessed she had one of her more lucid days.

This is where EVIDENCE submitted to the checklist meeting comes into play.

 

[Kevinl]

I had to smile because my (Alzheimers) mother even said "how bad do I have to be to get A's then?"

If your mother still has the capacity to even ask that question then I think you have no chance of getting CHC on the grounds of her AZ. My wife can't speak or understand a simple question like what her name is and she doesn't qualify.
There was a woman in the home (sadly no longer with us) and in 6 months I never saw her other than as a shape under a duvet, zero mobility and fed through a tube, I ask the care home manager if she thought this woman would get CHC and she said "no, we don't even bother applying for it any more".
K

 

[Scouts girl]

What is the point of it I ask myself??? How far advanced does someone have to be to qualify for this funding?

 

[Louise7]

How far advanced does someone have to be to qualify for this funding?

Might depend on where they live according to this recent BBC news article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41187615

 

[redshank]

There appears to be no rationale with regard to applying for this. It's just ridiculous and if you've got a house then forget it! The Government just recoup their money for care for our elderly from those innocent elderly people who have already paid their taxes and worked homes and unfortunately own their own homes!

 

[Scouts girl]

There appears to be no rationale with regard to applying for this. It's just ridiculous and if you've got a house then forget it! The Government just recoup their money for care for our elderly from those innocent elderly people who have already paid their taxes and worked homes and unfortunately own their own homes!

Can't agree with you more !

 

[Kevinl]

Might depend on where they live according to this recent BBC news article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41187615

Interesting quotes in the link;
"Between July 2016 and July 2017, Birmingham South and Central CCG rejected 75% of its new CHC assessments, Manchester CCG turned down only 17% of assessments, while Tameside and Glossop CCG only rejected 5% of those assessed." and "North Norfolk CCG where 73% of cases assessed were turned down"
Postcode lottery or what?
K

 

[AlsoConfused]

Yes, it is a post code lottery. What also matters is the knowledge, professionalism and (possibly) the honesty of those doing the assessing. On TP for example we've read of distinctly unfair assessors - and also assessors who did their jobs fairly and made a horrible process much easier.

Would like to warn everyone - my local Clinical Commissioning Group is planning to cut the CHC budget by 40%, despite acknowledging the numbers entitled to receive it are rapidly increasing. PLEASE ensure anyone who is able to do so attends your local CCG meetings and questions fiercely their attempts to cut the funding for essential patients' services.

 

[canary]

What is the point of it I ask myself??? How far advanced does someone have to be to qualify for this funding?

The trouble is that the symptoms of dementia - not being able to talk, not understanding things, incontinance, imobility, confusion, needing help with dressing, washing, feeding and all the other things that we know about are categorised as a social need, not a medical one., so do will not get you CHC on their own. Its not a question of how advanced the dementia is, just having dementia is extremely unlikely to get you CHC - mum recently died of Alzheimers and never qualified for CHC