Displacing people with dementia - what can be done?

[angela hill]

Twice now in 4 months the residential home my mum lives in (in the Hull area) has evicted her, despite the last one being chosen as more able to cope with dementia. Social Services and the CPN service were involved in the latest choice. Mum is self funding but seems to have no rights. It would appear the problem is insufficient carers to help her. It is very distressing for mum when she is moved and we do not know what to do. The homes that are being offered as alternatives have very poor reputations. We are told mum has to be out within 28 days or she will be displaced and put anywhere there is a room. Mum is 85.

Has anyone else had this experience. Who can help stop this happening again and what rights does she have?

 

[one united]

I used to be a manager of a home and have worked in many homes.
I've not done so for 3 yrs now so am a little rusty.
However, has your mum had any sort of assessment?
What are the reasons for homes not being able to cope?
Have the homes been specifically for people with dementis / alzheimers?
I'm so sorry you haven't been able to find her somewhere she can stay. It must be really disruptive to your mum.

 

[angela hill]

Hello Thank you for replying. My mum has vascular dementia but now they suspect alzheimers as well. We had her assessed before the last move. She was assessed as being the right match for the current home who specialise in dementia. She is very active including at night and gets lost finding the toilet. The home has a long list of things they don't like which mainly comes from her wanderings, agitations, and toilet accidents. We have asked for a single room with bathroom, but one has not apparently come available yet. The home manager has said that the staff like her! but the home still want her out. She is on mild medication to help the agitation.

We cannot understand why these homes never give any warning of problems which would warrant the ultimatum to 'get her out' or they will have her displaced by Social Services.

 

[Bristolbelle]

Disgusting.....

I know nothing at all about such things, but I wanted you to know that I think the way your Mum is being treated is disgusting.
My cousin's father was a very difficult and abusive alzeimher's sufferer, but he was never treated like this.
I will contact my cousin and see if she has any advice, meanwhile I would suggest putting some pressure on your local MP, and contacting you LA's Equality monitoring section to see if they can help at all. Alternatively would you be willing to discuss your case with your local paper - they love a good story and i bet a few people would be jumping to help.

Good luck

 

[Clive]

Hi Angela.
Sorry you are having problems with the Care Home.
Have you looked on the web site of the Commission for Social Care Inspection to find out about the best Care Homes in your area ?

http://www.csci.org.uk/

Mum went straight into a Dementia (EMI) home and we found they had the extra Carers needed to look after mum.

I also had mum assessed for NHS Continuing Health Care (where the NHS take over paying for the Care Home). I was surprised to find that “Challenging” Behaviour… which included wondering at night… was a significant reason mum was awarded CHC which was a great help as it paid her fees.

Best Wishes
Clive

 

[one united]

Angela if she's in a home that specialises in dementia then I have to say her behaviour is par for the course.
I know how easy it is for homes to see a self funding person and want to grab their hand off and their cash of course

The homes should be doing an assessment of your mum's needs before they accept her, so that they can be sure that they can accomodate her needs and not result in your poor mum being given notice

One of the best homes I worked in that was an EMI home had sensors on all fire exits and the rooms also had sensors fitted. It was fab! As soon as someone moved in their room it alarmed staff to go and check, so noone could wander from their room to anothers by mistake, if that makes sense.
Also they couldn't 'escape' via a fire door.
Of course the garden was enclosed and the main door locked, but it stoppped someone going through a fire door, which can't be locked, for obvious reasons, and in to the cold.

Are you having help from 'experts' to choose a home? If I can be of any more help please let me know.

Jane x

 

[Skye]

Dear Angela

She was assessed as being the right match for the current home who specialise in dementia

I think the problem is that your mum is in a residential home. Most of them do have residents with dementia, but only in the early stages. Usually when residents develop more difficult dementia related problems they are trnsferred to an EMI unit.

You really need to search the csci site for EMI homes in your area.

EMI units have nursing staff trained in mental health, locked doors, and a higher staff/patient ratio.

You could also try the local branch of Alzheiner's Society, who may have a list of suitable homes. SS should also have a list.

I assume your mum has deteriorated recently, to put her outside the guidelines for her current home.

Either that or the assessment was wrong in the first place!

All the best,

 

[Tender Face]

the current home who specialise in dementia.

The home has a long list of things they don't like which mainly comes from her wanderings, agitations, and toilet accidents.

Sorry, those two just don't marry up .... I recall when looking for a place for mum I was asked at one care home 'Just how bad is she?' (with her dementia) .... the writing was on the wall and I politely asked to be let out of the building ...

Sorry if I'm wrong but I strongly suspect dementia/EMI beds attract a larger fee that some homes will declare specialist beds and units ... when actually they are not geared up for (or prepared to) provide the support that goes with them ...

I wouldn't necessarily let 'bad reputations' put you off - find out for yourself ...... see if those places might have the right calibre of staff or facilities to suit your mum which may not have suited others .... and don't be fobbed off with 'what's being offered' - as a self-funder your mother has the right to look anywhere she likes (or her 'representatives' on her behalf) ..... it has nothing to do with SSD or the CPN ...

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I'm blazing on your behalf!

Karen, x

 

[jenniferpa]

Nothing to add to what everyone has said. Karen in particular has made a valid point about the self finding aspect.

All I can say is that they almost certainly do have the right to evict her (it's appalling but there you are) because as you have said, social services will find her a temporary placement. It does sound as if you need a secure EMI facility.

 

[Jase]

Hi Angela

So sorry your mum and yourself are subject to so much upset.
You've not said what level of care your mum was passed for in the outset.
Just to clear something up. Someone can be passed as requiring residential care sympathetic to EMI needs. This means they can be placed in a mainstream residential home which has a little more knowledge of dementia and perhaps more staff.
These homes tend to manage some of the 'minor' symptoms quite well but cannot manage if people are becoming a danger to others or impacting on the care available to the other residents.

The main thing I'd suggest is to make sure your mum is having a whole new assessment rather than being transferred between homes. Usually a panel of NHS and SS staff make a decision on where someone should be most appropriately placed. At this point ensure that they are considering your mum against the continuing care checklist.

Good luck with things and take care
K x

 

[Marianne]

Hi Angela
My dad suffered from Vascular Dementia and at times was extremely agitated and aggressive, constantly believing he was working and not being paid. In your case as was the case with my dad Social Services are having too much to say and your mum is not being assessed by the correct Authority.

Social Services cannot assess your mum's health needs, they are only responsible for the social side of care, If I was you, I would be saying you want a full assessment of your mum's health needs with a view to receiving CHC full funding, which should be carried out before she moves anywhere.

Contact your PCT in writing and request this assessment urgently stating in your letter the reason for the urgency and mention that you expect your mum to receive funding as her health needs are such that two homes have given her notice, and her needs are greater than those of Pam Coughlin.

In the meantime have nothing to do with Social Services other than telling them you are awaiting an assessment for your mum of her health needs not of her Social needs. I am sorry if this sounds aggressive but I have been there and have several T-shirts to prove it,I hate to hear how SS are hoping you don't know the rules and can cheat you out of funding which your mum obviously qualifies for. Please do read everything you can on Continuing Healthcare whilst waiting the assessment, there is plenty on the internet.