The competency assessment process

[Michael54]

Despite my mother's strong desire to stay at home and our best efforts to honour her wishes by organising comprehensive nursing care for her in her home, the rapid deterioration in her behaviour due to progressive Alzheimer's Disease makes this increasingly problematic. As she has become increasingly paranoid, angry and aggressive, and as her moods swings have become more sudden, the pressure on both professional and family carers has increased dramatically. Unfortunately my mother has no insight into her condition and regularly refuses help from her carers at home and clearly will not consent to residential nursing care, even though that might be a better option than admission to a psychogeriatric ward. Unfortunately this looks increasingly likely as it becomes more difficult to care for her at home, and should a crisis may be precipitated if one or more of the carers no longer want to be involved with her care.

Last week she was assessed by the local psychogeriatrician and placed on medication to help alleviate her psychiatric symptoms. He, together with social services, are moving the competency process forward. Despite this we are concerned that events may overtake us (e.g. some of the carers may pull out) or she may deteriorate quickly before the process is complete. Since we are self-funded, we have a little more flexibility on the financial front.

We would be grateful for information from forum members, particularly those who have been through this process, as to how long it takes and what, if anything, we could do to expedite it. Also any other advice or tips would be most welcome.

Many thanks,
Michael

 

[Kayla]

Dear Michael,
When my mother was living at home, she became very confused about the time of day and did not take her medications correctly. She was very depressed and started to have hallucinations. After several falls she eventually decided to move into a local family run care home, where she was very happy and could still keep in touch with her friends.

She seemed to be much better in a structured environment, where her tablets were given to her at the right time and she enjoyed the company of other residents. Unfortunately she later fell and broke her hip and had to go into a nursing home. Her nursing care was partially funded because she was in an unstable condition, but she was carefully monitored and her medication seemed to help her moods.

Mum died suddenly last year, but we felt that she was being well looked after and she had made a friend in the nursing home. She seemed to like the nurses and carers and she said that everyone was very kind to her.

Kayla