Advice Please: Mum sectioned

[adamb]

Hi,
hoping someone can offer some sort of advice on the essential things to do. My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia about 2 years ago. She was given various courses of medication but eventually refused to take any more of them (since about February of this year) as they made her feel sick. Despite my best endeavours I've not been able to get her to engage with any kind of social support from either charities or the authorities. She then refused to see her specialist in June. Since then things have got slowly worse and her behaviour more strange.

She was appointed a weekly healthcare visit and monthly visits from a social worker since July. In between I would provide support by taking care of anything to do with bills/paperwork/shopping/maintenance and some cooking and cleaning and general support as needed.

I decided to take a short break with my partner last week and had put cover in place with members of my family providing daily cover in by absence. Sadly before I'd even gone away the weekly visit from the health care worker triggered the authorities into action after they witnessed my mum being unsafe in the kitchen. This resulted in an attempt to section the following day by her consultant, social services and another doctor. I was able to avert this by agreeing to daily visits from a care worker every lunchtime (in addition to the visits by my relatives). Sadly by last Thursday after a 'gas' smell issue on the Tuesday and then my mum being quite distressed on the Thursday she was invited to go into hospital. She eventually agreed and went in but then after attempting to leave was sectioned for her own safety.


She has now been in there for 5 days of what I'm told is a 28 day sectioning order.
I appreciate fully that this is being done over concerns for welfare but judging by her mental state when I visited on my return yesterday it's not going to help matters.

I guess I need to face the fact that she is going to need significant support moving forward as she has also had regular bouts of not recognizing her home for the last few weeks (where she's been for the last 40 years).

Sadly I also have no LPA or EPA in place despite trying to get her to agree to one when she was diagnosed. She has a small amount of savings (10-15k) and she owns her own home.

I am guessing that the hospital will recommend residential care although perhaps with medication and treatment (I suspected she may have a UTI which hopefully if so they can treat) she may improve.

Are there things I should be doing now from a legal standpoint (Court of Protection for example) or is it pointless at this stage. I understand that I have to get permission for this from the Court anyway and it is not always granted). I also understand it can be expensive to do?

I assume after the 28 days she will either be released with a home care package or will placed somewhere else.

It's very distressing to see her in such a place and leaving her behind after visiting is heart breaking but hopefully it will get easier. I know at least she's relatively safe and is getting regular meals and activities.

So I am starting the path that I guess many of you are already on... I'm worried for the future for my mum but hopefully I can have some say in what happens going forward.

any advice much appreciated.

thanks
Adam.

 

[leicester61]

Hi,
hoping someone can offer some sort of advice on the essential things to do. My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia about 2 years ago. She was given various courses of medication but eventually refused to take any more of them (since about February of this year) as they made her feel sick. Despite my best endeavours I've not been able to get her to engage with any kind of social support from either charities or the authorities. She then refused to see her specialist in June. Since then things have got slowly worse and her behaviour more strange.

She was appointed a weekly healthcare visit and monthly visits from a social worker since July. In between I would provide support by taking care of anything to do with bills/paperwork/shopping/maintenance and some cooking and cleaning and general support as needed.

I decided to take a short break with my partner last week and had put cover in place with members of my family providing daily cover in by absence. Sadly before I'd even gone away the weekly visit from the health care worker triggered the authorities into action after they witnessed my mum being unsafe in the kitchen. This resulted in an attempt to section the following day by her consultant, social services and another doctor. I was able to avert this by agreeing to daily visits from a care worker every lunchtime (in addition to the visits by my relatives). Sadly by last Thursday after a 'gas' smell issue on the Tuesday and then my mum being quite distressed on the Thursday she was invited to go into hospital. She eventually agreed and went in but then after attempting to leave was sectioned for her own safety.


She has now been in there for 5 days of what I'm told is a 28 day sectioning order.
I appreciate fully that this is being done over concerns for welfare but judging by her mental state when I visited on my return yesterday it's not going to help matters.

I guess I need to face the fact that she is going to need significant support moving forward as she has also had regular bouts of not recognizing her home for the last few weeks (where she's been for the last 40 years).

Sadly I also have no LPA or EPA in place despite trying to get her to agree to one when she was diagnosed. She has a small amount of savings (10-15k) and she owns her own home.

I am guessing that the hospital will recommend residential care although perhaps with medication and treatment (I suspected she may have a UTI which hopefully if so they can treat) she may improve.

Are there things I should be doing now from a legal standpoint (Court of Protection for example) or is it pointless at this stage. I understand that I have to get permission for this from the Court anyway and it is not always granted). I also understand it can be expensive to do?

I assume after the 28 days she will either be released with a home care package or will placed somewhere else.

It's very distressing to see her in such a place and leaving her behind after visiting is heart breaking but hopefully it will get easier. I know at least she's relatively safe and is getting regular meals and activities.

So I am starting the path that I guess many of you are already on... I'm worried for the future for my mum but hopefully I can have some say in what happens going forward.

any advice much appreciated.

thanks
Adam.

Hi Adam
Im so sorry for all of your family and mum. I havnt got any advice as we are not at this stage, but I know someone will be on soon who will offer some advice, just wanted to touch base and say welcome.
Suz

 

[jaymor]

Hi Adam,

My husband entered an assessment unit voluntarily, though had he refused he would have been sectioned.

He was there for 9 weeks and for the first few weeks walked around with his coat on and his clothes tucked under his arms. He was ready to go every day when we visited. It was a very hard time and he was assessed as needing nursing care for challenging behaviour . and he was granted CHC because of his complex needs.

As he went through his time in the unit his medication was looked at and changed or tweaked a bit. It was so much better that he spent all day with the proffesionals watching and working with him than the monthly, 6 monthly or annual appointments he had been having over the previous 7 years.

When it was time for him to go I to nursing care I would have been happy for him to have stayed in the unit but of course that was not possible.

My husband is now settled in a wonderful nursing home receiving 1:1 care and we are very lucky he has this level of care.

I hope the help will allow your Mum some peace and you will be happy with the outcome whatever it may be.

Take care,

Jay

 

[MeganCat]

I had already started proceedings to get guardianship (Scotland) when mum was sectioned. It took about 6 months all in all, and If i hadn't done it then LA would have (unfortunately she had already lost capacity so couldn't sign PoA) - she kept trying to pack her belongings and leave her home - which precipitated the section - she lived alone and 3x daily carers was no longer sufficient to keep her safe - she was terrified and hallucinating.
Having guardianship meant I was able to sell her house and have more say in where she went when she was ready to be discharged (about 3-5 months by the time she got over a bad chest infection) - I moved her to a CH near me. Cost of the guardianship can come from the estate of the person, although some had to be paid up front. I had a solicitor do it for me.
At the end of the 28 days I think they make a decision to renew the section or keep her there voluntarily - mum was quite content really and not trying to escape so she stayed voluntarily. Another court action would be needed to keep her there longer against her will I think.
At around that time the consultants advised me that she would need emi residential care and that I should start looking for a place. They didn't rush me - which was positive- it was quite a stressful time as I'm sure you are experiencing!

Mums finances were similar to yours - she had a 12 week disregard (where they exclude house from assets - and so council funding greater) until we sold her house. Now she self funds her CH.

Being in the assessment unit was the best thing for mum - she gained weight and was clean and safe. She joined in activities. She wasn't terrified any more. Being in her own home really wasn't an option anymore - although she couldn't see that at all.

I'm sure you will make the right decisions - don't feel guilty for making decisions that are in her best interests - my mum had no insight to her condition at all. I hope your mum settles soon and improves