My dad was diagnosed with dementia about four years ago. He continued living at home, with my mum providing an increasing level of care as his condition worsened. Over the past six months, however, dad's condition deteriorated drastically. He was admitted into hospital after seemingly reacting badly to anti-psychotic medication he had been prescribed. Over the course of a month long stay in hospital, dad's condition degenerated much further. He was given 1 to 1 care for much of the time spent in hospital, primarily owing to his falls risk. It was decided that dad would have to move permanently to a care home upon leaving hospital. We struggled to find one which would accept dad and even then, they said that he really needed 1 to 1 care which they could not provide. They agreed to accept him on the basis that we understood that there was an unavoidable risk of falls. Without any other options, and under considerable pressure from the hospital and social work, we agreed to dad moving to this care home.
Within less than a week of dad moving to the care home, they contacted our social worker and re-iterated the need for 1 to 1 care. The social worker has submitted a funding application for this but we have no realistic expectation that this will be granted. As an interim measure, the local authority agreed to fund 1 to 1 care for a two week period which expires next week.
Living in Scotland, we have been advised that the local authority is under no obligation to provide funding in excess of £249 per week for personal/nursing care. We have been told that 24/7 1 to 1 care in the current nursing home would cost approximately £10,000 per month. While dad has some savings, they would obviously be consumed very quickly and there doesn't seem to be any onus on the local authority to continue this level of care once dad's money is gone.
We have asked about NHS Continuing Care and have been told that dad wouldn't qualify as he does not require regaular 'clinical interventions'. I don't believe that the checklist assessment has been completed, but from what I understand, the odds are very much against dementia patients being considered eligible.
It has been suggested that if the current care home is insisting that 1 to 1 care is necessary, it isn't the right place for dad and perhaps another home would be better suited to his needs without the extreme of 24/7 1 to 1 care. We intend to investigate other care homes, but as the current care home is supposedly a 'specialist in dementia care', our hopes are not high.
Fundamentally, my mum and I are at a loss on what to do. Plainly, my dad's care needs are not unique, but it seems that the only way he will get the 1 to 1 care he supposedly needs is to pay for it ourselves. We can do this for a time, but after the money runs out, it seems that it will be withdrawn regardless of my dad's needs.
If anyone can offer advice regarding 1 to 1 care for dementia patients based on their own experiences I'd be very grateful.
Within less than a week of dad moving to the care home, they contacted our social worker and re-iterated the need for 1 to 1 care. The social worker has submitted a funding application for this but we have no realistic expectation that this will be granted. As an interim measure, the local authority agreed to fund 1 to 1 care for a two week period which expires next week.
Living in Scotland, we have been advised that the local authority is under no obligation to provide funding in excess of £249 per week for personal/nursing care. We have been told that 24/7 1 to 1 care in the current nursing home would cost approximately £10,000 per month. While dad has some savings, they would obviously be consumed very quickly and there doesn't seem to be any onus on the local authority to continue this level of care once dad's money is gone.
We have asked about NHS Continuing Care and have been told that dad wouldn't qualify as he does not require regaular 'clinical interventions'. I don't believe that the checklist assessment has been completed, but from what I understand, the odds are very much against dementia patients being considered eligible.
It has been suggested that if the current care home is insisting that 1 to 1 care is necessary, it isn't the right place for dad and perhaps another home would be better suited to his needs without the extreme of 24/7 1 to 1 care. We intend to investigate other care homes, but as the current care home is supposedly a 'specialist in dementia care', our hopes are not high.
Fundamentally, my mum and I are at a loss on what to do. Plainly, my dad's care needs are not unique, but it seems that the only way he will get the 1 to 1 care he supposedly needs is to pay for it ourselves. We can do this for a time, but after the money runs out, it seems that it will be withdrawn regardless of my dad's needs.
If anyone can offer advice regarding 1 to 1 care for dementia patients based on their own experiences I'd be very grateful.