Hi everyone
I wondered if anyone had come across a situation like ours and could offer some help. My husband and I still have some contact with his former Mum-in-law (his late wife, this lady's daughter, died some 15 years ago). We do not live close by and the lady's only other daughter lives in Singapore. We got called out of the blue by the local police to say they had found this lady wandering the streets. She had locked herself out (this was at about 5 in the morning). We cancelled work, went over and got the damage repaired where the police had re-entered the house for her, and found the place a mess and the phone cut off. Mum doesn't know if it is night or day and is sleeping in a chair in the same clothers every day. She doesn't eat anything but bread and butter as she has forgotten how to cook. Social services were called in(5 weeks ago now). They took details and kindly got meal on wheels in place. We contacted the daughter in Singapore who cannot afford to fly back to the UK, but who is keen to try to sort things out for her Mum. Mum is very anti social services and is refusing to tell anyone details of her bills, finances etc. Daughter called and she won't tell her either. Soc services say she needs help to set up direct debits or she will fall behind with the mortgage or have her electric cut off. We live too far away to get over much and when we do go she refuses to talk about it. Daughter tried to activate EPA but the solicitor says he thinks Mum will not consent. Soc services are demanding we sort it out but we have no real power and daughter has asked if social services can't put some sort of order in place. They have requested assessment for Mum, but it still hasn't taken place. They say they cannot offer any more. What can we do? We can't offer this lady a home or any degree of care. Any ideas?
I wondered if anyone had come across a situation like ours and could offer some help. My husband and I still have some contact with his former Mum-in-law (his late wife, this lady's daughter, died some 15 years ago). We do not live close by and the lady's only other daughter lives in Singapore. We got called out of the blue by the local police to say they had found this lady wandering the streets. She had locked herself out (this was at about 5 in the morning). We cancelled work, went over and got the damage repaired where the police had re-entered the house for her, and found the place a mess and the phone cut off. Mum doesn't know if it is night or day and is sleeping in a chair in the same clothers every day. She doesn't eat anything but bread and butter as she has forgotten how to cook. Social services were called in(5 weeks ago now). They took details and kindly got meal on wheels in place. We contacted the daughter in Singapore who cannot afford to fly back to the UK, but who is keen to try to sort things out for her Mum. Mum is very anti social services and is refusing to tell anyone details of her bills, finances etc. Daughter called and she won't tell her either. Soc services say she needs help to set up direct debits or she will fall behind with the mortgage or have her electric cut off. We live too far away to get over much and when we do go she refuses to talk about it. Daughter tried to activate EPA but the solicitor says he thinks Mum will not consent. Soc services are demanding we sort it out but we have no real power and daughter has asked if social services can't put some sort of order in place. They have requested assessment for Mum, but it still hasn't taken place. They say they cannot offer any more. What can we do? We can't offer this lady a home or any degree of care. Any ideas?