My mother has vascular dementia. She was diagnosed in 2008 and she has been living under my roof and I've been looking after her as her unpaid carer since 2009. My mother is now in the final stages of her condition and she is in a very poor cognitive state and my family and I and various healthcare professionals who I have spoken to are all in the same agreement that my mother should now be placed in a nursing home. I contacted my local council to ask them about getting the ball rolling and various social workers came out to see me and means tests and financial assessments etc were carried out. My mother has no savings, no property or any other lucrative financial means. I also have no power of attorney for my mother. The counsel appear to be dragging their feet somewhat as they have now been involved for 3 months and I feel that they are not playing ball. Everytime I talk to the social worker there's always a stumbling block. Now I know this sounds really horrible but I am seriously thinking about relinquishing my responsibilities towards my mother in order to get the council of their backsides and getting my mother placed in a nursing home. what I need to know is if I do tell the council that I no longer prepared to look after my mother, do they place her in a nursing home immediately? Or what is the procedure? Does anybody know what is the correct thing to do? I really don't know what else I can do as it is really affecting me mentally and physically and I have very little help from the rest of my family as my older brother lives abroad and it is hard for him to relate to my situation. Help me please