Just found out Nursing home is closing in 5 days time

[jane43]

My mother has been in a specialist dementia nursing home for the past two years, she has advanced vascular dementia. We found out from Social Services yesterday that the owners of the home are closing it this week and we urgently need to find her a new home. My mother is self funded and whilst Social Services have said because of the exceptional circumstances they will give us some help finding somewhere, we need to start searching immediately. Social Services do have a last resort back up plan to open a ward at a local hospital and move the residents there on Friday, if they haven't been rehomed by then.

My mother can't communicate or take part in any activities, she can't walk unassisted but she can feed herself and drink if prompted, she is incontinent and needs help with all personal care but no longer has the challenging behaviours she had two years ago. We spoke with a nurse at her home yesterday who feels she needs a nursing home but doesn't need a specialist dementia home because her behaviour has changed.

I have started looking for nursing homes on the CQC site but some don't mention dementia in their registration. Does anyone know if nursing homes that aren't registered for dementia will accept someone with dementia, if that person doesn't have challenging behaviour?

Thank you

 

[Pete R]

I have started looking for nursing homes on the CQC site but some don't mention dementia in their registration. Does anyone know if nursing homes that aren't registered for dementia will accept someone with dementia, if that person doesn't have challenging behaviour?

Thank you

What an horrendous thing to happen.

Some homes do take dementia patients even without the registration but it will be on a case by case basis and after an assessment. Whether that can be done in this time scale is unlikely. You will just have to call the ones you like and ask.

Good luck.

 

[jane43]

Thank you for your reply, Social Services should be assessing my mother tomorrow and I hope will be working with the homes to get things pushed through quickly.

I am concerned as Social Services gave me the names of 5 nursing homes yesterday that have reportedly have spaces. I have checked on CQC and two don't mention dementia in their registration (one actually states "no dementia" on another website) and one is actually a residential home so I'm not sure how much faith I have in any information from them. I am also concerned as it transpires Social Services started moving funded residents out to homes with spaces last week, before they notified the self funding residents so trying to find a space will probably be more difficult as a lot will have already been taken.

 

[Bod]

Get on the phone, talk to all the homes, go see them.
Don't rely on published reports, that may be out of date.

Bod

 

[Slugsta]

5 days?? It takes me longer than that to choose a cattery for when we are away short-term. Trying to find a permanent home for loved ones in that time sounds totally impossible!

I wish you all the very best in your search. Here's hoping that the loveliest place imaginable has just had an unexpected vacancy. xx

 

[jane43]

Thanks for the responses. We saw a nursing home yesterday, that has only recently opened so has vacancies and we really liked. The nursing home is part of a large group with a good reputation and good assessments. The nursing home was already aware of my Mum's home closing and the urgency to move her quickly, they will be visiting her and assessing her today, so hopefully we may be able to avoid moving her to the hospital.

I am angry with the owners of her current home, we have had no communication whatsoever from them to inform us they are closing and only know because of Social Services. I'm horrified we trusted these people with my Mums care and actually really relieved she is leaving. Worryingly I think the owners have two other homes, I hope their residents are never put in Mums position.

 

[canary]

I cant believe that you were only given 5 days - thats completely irresponsible!
So glad you have found this new place. I hope all goes well and she can be transferred smoothly