Hi
First post for a long time here, but about a different person.
I am next of kin to my 89 year old uncle who lives 4 and a half hours drive away. We've never been close, but as the nearest relative I have power of attorney.. In June he had a stroke and has been an in-patient ever since. The hospital tell me that he had pre-existing small vessel disease of the brain, and that all things considered his prospects of rehab are very limited.
Having been in the stroke rehab unit for 8 weeks, the hospital now want to do a discharge plan, but he's flat refusing to allow a social worker to be appointed. He wants to go home, but I can't see how that would be manageable really. He can't stand without falling over, but he forgets that this is the case. In his mind, he is still capable of doing everything he was before the stroke (he lives alone since his wife died 2 and a half years ago).
Can anyone tell me the implications of refusing to appoint a social worker ? The hospital say there may have to be a best interests meeting but I'm not sure what that entails. He's very volatile and whoever he perceives as being responsible for putting him in residential care (which I'm almost certain is the only option) will become Public Enemy Number One. And I'd very much rather that wasn't me. His solicitor has agreed to visit to chat over options, but I'm really looking for any more advice anyone can give me in what both hospital and solicitor describe as "a very difficult situation" !
Thanks
First post for a long time here, but about a different person.
I am next of kin to my 89 year old uncle who lives 4 and a half hours drive away. We've never been close, but as the nearest relative I have power of attorney.. In June he had a stroke and has been an in-patient ever since. The hospital tell me that he had pre-existing small vessel disease of the brain, and that all things considered his prospects of rehab are very limited.
Having been in the stroke rehab unit for 8 weeks, the hospital now want to do a discharge plan, but he's flat refusing to allow a social worker to be appointed. He wants to go home, but I can't see how that would be manageable really. He can't stand without falling over, but he forgets that this is the case. In his mind, he is still capable of doing everything he was before the stroke (he lives alone since his wife died 2 and a half years ago).
Can anyone tell me the implications of refusing to appoint a social worker ? The hospital say there may have to be a best interests meeting but I'm not sure what that entails. He's very volatile and whoever he perceives as being responsible for putting him in residential care (which I'm almost certain is the only option) will become Public Enemy Number One. And I'd very much rather that wasn't me. His solicitor has agreed to visit to chat over options, but I'm really looking for any more advice anyone can give me in what both hospital and solicitor describe as "a very difficult situation" !
Thanks