Continuing Healthcare funding for young onset?

[BungleGirl]

I know that there is a separate forum for this kind of thing but I was wondering if anyone had specific experience of trying to get it for someone with young onset. My cousin has just turned 40 and is now at the stage where we feel that a nursing home is the only option for her. She currently lives alone and we are very concerned for her safety and also the anxiety that spending time alone has on her. She is struggling with stairs (thankfully there is only two steps in her flat), cannot take her medication herself, cannot prepare food for herself, goes wandering and suffers with major anxiety and also psychosis (she believes bad things have happened/been done to her and also thinks that people want to kill her and she hears voices too).
Did anyone manage to get CHC at a similar stage? Was it a battle to get it? Any tips?

 

[Kevinl]

You might as well read the (long) and comprehensive thread on CQC as it's awarded on merit not age so the fact she's 40 isn't relevant to whether she'll get it or not.
Based on what you've put here I doubt she would get it as the issues would be deemed "social" care not health but I'd ask the experts on the specialist thread they'd be best place to give you the advise you need and any tips. As I say age won't count for anything, 40 or 140 it's done on merit and circumstances not how old you are.
K

 

[BungleGirl]

Thanks Kevinl, I'll head over there and have a read.

 

[nitram]

Age, type of disease, makes no difference.
CHC is granted on the establishment of a 'primary health need'.

All the problems you have listed with your cousin would be classed as social, not medical, CHC would not be granted.

On introduction the concept behind CHC was that a person in hospital had medical needs in excess of those which could be handled in the community. If their needs did not warrant a hospital stay with high overhead costs the person could receive adequate care in a setting other than hospital and at a reduced cost to the NHS.

Using the above reasoning do you think that your cousin has a condition that requires a hospital stay?

 

[SashasGrandad]

You might need a lawyer

Getting CHC (in my opinion) is being restricted by available finances. The NHS is doing everything it can to transfer responsibility to local councils by making it virtually impossible to get CHC unless the person is virtually at death's door.

I was about to get a solicitor involved when sadly my mother's condition deteriorated and she died 2 weeks ago.

Assessors do not follow procedures and have various "tricks" to make it more difficult. They can hide behind the "criteria" and will move the goalposts every time you get near to qualifying.

 

[Jumpforjoy]

Explore unpredictability

I know that there is a separate forum for this kind of thing but I was wondering if anyone had specific experience of trying to get it for someone with young onset. My cousin has just turned 40 and is now at the stage where we feel that a nursing home is the only option for her. She currently lives alone and we are very concerned for her safety and also the anxiety that spending time alone has on her. She is struggling with stairs (thankfully there is only two steps in her flat), cannot take her medication herself, cannot prepare food for herself, goes wandering and suffers with major anxiety and also psychosis (she believes bad things have happened/been done to her and also thinks that people want to kill her and she hears voices too).
Did anyone manage to get CHC at a similar stage? Was it a battle to get it? Any tips?

I suggest keeping a diary of your cousin's behaviours and anxieties also look at the CHC domains and look at behaviour and unpredictability. If you can demonstrate this by providing examples it will help. I have recently been successful with obtaining CHC for partner with early onset dementia. Care to Be Different website is excellent for information and support.