My Dad is in hospital under section 3 and is going to be discharged in the new year to a care home (EMI). He has a long standing partner (unmarried) who lives in my dad's house and has done for many years although the deeds are in my dad's name. My sister and I have deferred to her all the way since my dad was admitted, as we felt that she was closest to him and it was the right thing to do. The problem is that she is not really sharing any information with us. Both my sister and I visit Dad in the hospital twice a week but the staff don't tell us anything. I have been to one meeting to discuss Dad, and I have another one next week, but the information is pretty general, not detailed, and we don't get any paperwork as it all goes to Dad's partner.
Now that his discharge is approaching she has said that she is going to choose a care home and doesn't seem to welcome any input from me or my sister. She doesn't have his power of attorney but has recently engaged a solicitor and applied for deputyship. In theory, I don't have an issue with this but I am getting increasingly concerned by her reluctance to include my sister or me in any decisions. I suppose I have let things go by because I thought that my sister and I are his next of kin and so would be the people who would be involved in decisions but it doesn't seem to be the case.
I am very reluctant to do anything that would cause bad feelings but I need to know what rights, if any, my sister and I have regarding Dad's welfare.
Now that his discharge is approaching she has said that she is going to choose a care home and doesn't seem to welcome any input from me or my sister. She doesn't have his power of attorney but has recently engaged a solicitor and applied for deputyship. In theory, I don't have an issue with this but I am getting increasingly concerned by her reluctance to include my sister or me in any decisions. I suppose I have let things go by because I thought that my sister and I are his next of kin and so would be the people who would be involved in decisions but it doesn't seem to be the case.
I am very reluctant to do anything that would cause bad feelings but I need to know what rights, if any, my sister and I have regarding Dad's welfare.