how can i make move happen quickly...no POA social care

marsh03

Registered User
Oct 15, 2012
9
0
I was badly advised and got only finicial POA for my mum she now has dementia and of course it could be harder..the only reason I wish I had got it is that I want to move her from the care home she is in to another specialist one. Her fees are paid by social services. I have had to move her twice once to inappropriate placement ( the other clients had worse dementia which upset her) and once from a "normal " care home which didnt meet her needs...I moved her to third home where there have been on going issues with poor personal care, inexperience in dealing with dementia and not enough stimulation ( random tv on evenings and weekends) no daily life skills etc...just not enough staff for someone with dementia..so after much trying and frustration trying to get things right I want to move her to a specialist unit. After 2 weeks following my call I am still on a list to get allocated a social worker and was told it could be months when I spoke to the manager. We have now missed out on an ideal room for my mum at the specialist home. I was told that until she has a soc worker there is nothing they can do..I cant even pay for an independent assessment according to them...any advice..I wouldnt move my mum a third time lightly, its been bad luck and lack of support and of course general poor standards and expectations about what people with dementia should get...but all I want is a specialist unit where she stands a better chance of getting proper input/care..why is it so difficult to get from a-b and no flexibility in the system to allow for doing things any other way such as with privately paid assessment...? Can I challenge soc services if I find that their waiting list standards say 2 weeks and they are saying months?! possibly....ok thanks everyone
 

canary

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
25,018
0
South coast
Im sorry you are having so many difficulties finding a suitable care home for your mum, but unfortunately, if the fees are being paid for by the LA you have to work with SS, however frustrating that is. TBH, I dont think that having a POA health and welfare would make any difference as I doubt it would speed up the red tape.
I do hope you manage to get it sorted soon.
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
0
London
I agree, POA makes no difference at all to the speed Social Services regrettably often work to. They will not see "not enough stimulation in care home" as an emergency, hence you're not top of the list.
 

Jessbow

Registered User
Mar 1, 2013
5,680
0
Midlands
how much more is the specialist home going to cost, and who is going to foot the additional cost if its not within SS budget.
You say she is in her 3rd home- in what sort of timeframe?
 

marsh03

Registered User
Oct 15, 2012
9
0
how much more is the specialist home going to cost, and who is going to foot the additional cost if its not within SS budget.
You say she is in her 3rd home- in what sort of timeframe?
its been over 5 years I think..the first one she was not assessed properly so level of dementia was worse then hers but was a good home, I then moved her to care home that seemed ok..again it was me visiting and the manager assessed but then a week or so in was told my mum stank and and been aggressive to another resident and she never was aggressive..they used to sit them all round the tv when activities weren't on which wasn't often...looked for another care home was really clear about what mum needed and went in on more than one occasion..basically was promised everything ..I just feel the managers just want to fill a space..I don't think "normal" care homes should be allowed to take people with dementia. I wouldn't choose to move her as its stressful for both of us but now the specialist unit has 4 separate lounges so can accommodate all personality types etc and there is always a carer in each lounge then it seems a much better option esp as my mums dementia gets worse. They will then provide sensory input should things get very bad whereas in many care homes this just never happens...unless we start expecting better for dementia care it will never improve and this does not always mean more money. thanks..and yes I will just have to wait for SS there is nothing else I can do but at least if she receives specialist care it will be worth waiting. I have a therapeutic background so am quite on the ball in terms of stimulation and input. If we treated children or adults with learning difficulties as badly there would be an outcry...although Im not sure if the situation in learning disabilities is ideal in some places...hey ho.!
 

marsh03

Registered User
Oct 15, 2012
9
0
Im sorry you are having so many difficulties finding a suitable care home for your mum, but unfortunately, if the fees are being paid for by the LA you have to work with SS, however frustrating that is. TBH, I dont think that having a POA health and welfare would make any difference as I doubt it would speed up the red tape.
I do hope you manage to get it sorted soon.
thank you...yes Ive done all I can to get her assessed asap so now will have to wait:(