Sorry to moan but my experience may help others faced with a similar situation in the UK.
I have been caring for my wife full time and now reached a stage where in the interests of both of us I need support. This morning I contacted a company to see if I could arrange private support. They were helpful and suggested I needed to contact Social Services (SS) in the first place as this would be the best route to obtaining the support I needed as they would prepare a care plan etc. - they kindly provided the local SS telephone number. I contacted the local SS on the number only to be told they no longer have responsibilty and gave me the number of the County Council SS. A phone call to that number resulted in me being told they cannot make any arrangements until the Intermediate Care Team (ICT) have visited us. To get them to visit I need to contact our GP with a request he arranges an urgent referal to the ICT. This saga, in part, because my wife is now unable to take her weight on her own legs.
We saw our GP two weeks ago and I am very appreciative of his understanding, advice and help. At that time our GP said he would request visits to us by a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and put us on the register of the community nurse. The last time something similar was arranged (for continence support) it was 5wks before we saw the community nurse and a further 3mnths before we were visited by an OT arranged by the community nurse.
Is there any wonder I am losing my hair!!
I have been caring for my wife full time and now reached a stage where in the interests of both of us I need support. This morning I contacted a company to see if I could arrange private support. They were helpful and suggested I needed to contact Social Services (SS) in the first place as this would be the best route to obtaining the support I needed as they would prepare a care plan etc. - they kindly provided the local SS telephone number. I contacted the local SS on the number only to be told they no longer have responsibilty and gave me the number of the County Council SS. A phone call to that number resulted in me being told they cannot make any arrangements until the Intermediate Care Team (ICT) have visited us. To get them to visit I need to contact our GP with a request he arranges an urgent referal to the ICT. This saga, in part, because my wife is now unable to take her weight on her own legs.
We saw our GP two weeks ago and I am very appreciative of his understanding, advice and help. At that time our GP said he would request visits to us by a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and put us on the register of the community nurse. The last time something similar was arranged (for continence support) it was 5wks before we saw the community nurse and a further 3mnths before we were visited by an OT arranged by the community nurse.
Is there any wonder I am losing my hair!!