This is very similar to my Mum who scoring was similar - I have a thread called 'needing help with CHC checklist'. We had the 2nd assessment yesterday and Mum was refused funding too, no surprise there I did expect it. We are awaiting the formal confirmation of the DST and their decision, and intend to go forward with the appeal, which I hope you will do too. Also the assessors comment yesterday said that we had a strong case, made stronger by the fact that the social worker did not attend (?) and at the appeal stage they are not so punitive, and verbal evidence is acceptable at the appeal. I think it is the norm on 'borderline cases to have to appeal, hope this is of help.Hello everyone!
My father in law has vascular dementia and we applied for the CHC (Hampshire). He already lives in the nursing home, because it was impossible to keep him at home. After the meeting with NHS team, we were refused for the finance. He was assessed as severe in Cognition, High in Food, Mobility, Communication, and Behavior, Moderate in Continence, Skin and Drug Therapies, Low in Psychological Needs. No needs in the other domains.
Now, even that he scored only one severe, I believe that he should be entitled to CHC. Even in DST tool, it's written where there is a severe level combined with needs in a number of other domains the careful consideration must be given.
I understand that he wasn't assessed as badly as many other people on this forum, but still, they don't want to fund him... That's a very sad practice by NHS... I will keep my posts updated on the progress...
Hello everyone!
My father in law has vascular dementia and we applied for the CHC (Hampshire). He already lives in the nursing home, because it was impossible to keep him at home. After the meeting with NHS team, we were refused for the finance. He was assessed as severe in Cognition, High in Food, Mobility, Communication, and Behavior, Moderate in Continence, Skin and Drug Therapies, Low in Psychological Needs. No needs in the other domains.
Now, even that he scored only one severe, I believe that he should be entitled to CHC. Even in DST tool, it's written where there is a severe level combined with needs in a number of other domains the careful consideration must be given.
I understand that he wasn't assessed as badly as many other people on this forum, but still, they don't want to fund him... That's a very sad practice by NHS... I will keep my posts updated on the progress...
@MaNaAk you can contact CCG team yourself. For example in our case, we contacted them and they scheduled the date for assessment.
Hi @padmag , hi @Georgina63 !
Thanks for sharing your experience! Our whole route to the CHC application was long. First, my FIL was placed into respite care for 2 weeks at our own cost, because my MIL couldn't cope anymore. At this time we had the first contact with the social services (LA).
She offered my MIL to arrange the brokerage for the care agency, so someone would come and help him with getting dressed/undressed, coming downstairs with the chair lift (installed at her own funds). No mention about how much it would cost us. NO MENTION ABOUT CHC AT ALL. She also sent my FIL file for the means test, and he is above the threshold because he owns tiny commercial premises together with my MIL, which is difficult to sell, taking into account that we'll be selling only 50% of the premises. After this means test LA sent us a bill (even that we didn't sign any contract with them) and backdated the payments (at an enormous rate, which is twice if we had arranged it ourselves). I believe LA profiteers from all that Absolutely useless, not assisting, not helpful.
At the same time, my MIL went to see her GP. She felt that she wanted to suicide, as she couldn't do anything, and couldn't cope anymore. GP said that he will contact the Intermediate Care team to assist us. They even didn't bother to contact us.
As soon as my FIL's dementia progressed even more, and my MIL couldn't really cope anymore, he became violent as well, and it wasn't safe to keep him at home, we were to place him into the care home (self-funding). We talked to the care home about financing etc, again no one ever mentioned about CHC funding, although we are in a big brand care home.
Then I found our about CHC myself through the various searches, it was so confusing, we even thought that CHC was equal to LA funding, and thought it is not applicable to us.
We first sent the request for CHC funding 13th of November 2018, apparently they said they didn't receive our letter, and we were to send one more request on the 28th of November 2018.
First CHC assessment was scheduled on the 6th of December, the result of which was the second assessment. The second assessment was done on the 16th of January, we received the rejection on the 6th of February. We have written an appeal... who knows how long it will take.
It is also so emotionally drained, to discuss the bad state of your relative, who really needs help, to beg them for the help is so humiliating and depressing. If my MIL could keep my FIL at home, I am sure she would, it just became impossible...
During the second assessment, no one told us that our case is a borderline case, even more, the MDT assessor told that he doesn't find our case complex, what he also described in DST. He wrote that neither Nature nor Intensity, nor Complexity, nor Unpredictability satisfies the requirements of the primary health needs. We think differently... I will keep everyone updated on our developments. We send our appeal today.
Hi everyone,
I have a couple of questions regarding CHC.
Firstly, when the DST is completed, is there a specific time period that is looked at? When we recently completed for my Dad, it was just over 3 months looking back from the date of the DST itself. Is that usual?
Secondly, in a situation where CHC was granted and the LHB (funding body) suggested the person with PWD move to another home, what powers do the LHB have, i.e. could they insist against the wishes of the PWD or their representative? I understand you could challenge such a decision, but wondered what the implications might be.
Thanks. Gx
Hi Georgina, in the case of my dad, I was advised by the Social Worker to allow dad 4-6 weeks to settle into his new care home before she would do her initial CHC assessment, this was also so the Care home staff could gather evidence and get to know dad. But when she did the assessment and when the CHC team did theirs, they both asked for details on dad’s background and the progression of his Dementia going back a couple of years and the reasoning for going into care, as well as the evidence gathered in that care home and the previous care home, this was detailed in the DST report.
Regarding your second question, I would look at why they are suggesting the PWD be moved. Is it due to the Care home cost in which case you can appeal this and it is possible that full funding can be agreed, (this happened in my dad’s case) If it’s because they feel the PWD is in the wrong type of care home for their needs I’m not sure. It may depend how settled the PWD is in that care home and if the care home can actually meet their needs. If you challenged their decisions I’m not sure what the implications would be, maybe others with experience of this may know.
Thanks @Katie_Fr, I wonder if 3 months is the standard. Still awaiting the DST report at which point I will appeal. Good luck with yours. GxHi @Georgina63 !
When we had our DST assessment in January, they looked at the period of 3 months as well... although when we placed my FIL to the care home in October, the reason for placing him was because it wasn’t safe to keep him at home any more.
Thanks @Katie_Fr, I wonder if 3 months is the standard. Still awaiting the DST report at which point I will appeal. Good luck with yours. Gx
Sorry @Katie_Fr, I don't have any experience of that. It would be good to hear from anyone that may have had experience. It's difficult to make a decision on the unknown! The 3 month period fits with what I have read in the Alzheimer's Society factsheet 'When does the NHS pay for care?' which is very useful regarding the appeals process.I don’t know @Georgina63 , who knows about their standards at all.
I have an update on my side. Today we received a letter from NHS, offering to transfer the appeal process to a third party provider (___ ltd.), promising a more streamlined experience...
I don’t know how to take it. It’s written also if they don’t hear anything from us within a week, they will automatically transfer our file to a limited company.
It is also written that the period of appeal review is three months from allocation the case to them.
Did anyone have an experience of allocation the case to the third party?
All it says in the Framework is that ALL relevant evidence must be reviewed, including the ‘totality of relevant needs’, ‘all relevant health and social care records’, ‘relevant and up-to-date information’, ‘all the relevant information’, and ‘relevant evidence’ from ‘all relevant people’. The 3-month thing is unfounded if there is other relevant information they should be aware of.
However, as there is no actual specific time frame written in the Framework then it leaves it up to the assessor and how much 'relevant' information they are willing to regard and document. All you can do as a 'relevant person' is provide as much relevant detailed evidence as possible regardless of time frame and hope they include it.
I found this information online regarding the types of evidence that can be considered.
Evidence for Continuing Healthcare assessments
Risk assessments could include things like:
And, aside from the usual stats (blood pressure, temperature, etc.), other charts and records could include:
- Waterlow Risk Assessment Tool (to assess risk of skin breakdown/pressure sores) – or the Braden Scale
- MUST Tool (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
- Moving & Handling & Falls Risk Assessment or a FRASE (Falls Risk Assessment Score for the Elderly)
… and of course:
- the Barthel Index – to assess degree of dependency/daily functioning
- oxygen saturation/absorption notes (SATS)
- pain charts
- weight charts
- medication charts
- SALT assessments (Speech & Language Therapy)
- wound/pressure sore assessment charts
- behavioural assessments
- specialist nursing/medical assessments (such as tissue viability, breathing, dementia, psychiatric assessments, etc.)
- assessments from therapists
…and input from any other relevant medics, nurses and other clinicians.
- daily care notes
- care plans
- GP input
- hospital notes
- community care notes
- social care reports
- health needs reports
- mental health reports
I am too awaiting the official DST result and was told by the assessor it will be fairly quick should be within 4 weeks - (we were told not eligible).Thanks for that @Elle3, all useful info.
I still haven't received the completed DST report, despite chasing multiple times. Watch this space......Gx
Thanks Louise7 it's just something I read on a legal website, although it may be old and the rules changed now.The appeal process can take months (even years), with no guarantee of success, and in the meantime the home needs to be paid. If you are successful at appeal the funding will be backdated. Nhs funding stops at the point it is no longer deemed to be necessary, not at the point when all avenues to appeal have been exhausted.