NHS Continuous Care Meeting for Mum

[stanleypj]

Welcome to TP Caroline.

Have a look at this thread which contains a number of links which should provide the info you're looking for:

http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?86059-CHC-(Continuing-Healthcare)-support-thread

Sadly, there are many people who, most of us believe, should be getting CHC funding but who have been refused it. It's very hard to 'second-guess' what a particular Clinical Commissioning group will decide, however strong the case appears to be.

 

[jimbosmith]

Things have been going well but, unfortunately, we have been thrown a curveball in that my Dad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

A MacMillan nurse has been involved and, as a result, my Mum will be going into her care home full time, which to be honest has gutted me. I was hoping that we could have someone come in and help us at nights and weekends, while keeping her there during the day hours.

I am concerned that she may not take coming back here after a few months away. I feel like I am letting her down as well as I have seen her every day up until these recent weeks. Also, am I even able to get her back after my Dad has passed? Could CHC or the NHS block me doing that?

Is it possible to discharge her from the home for a few hrs maybe twice a week and bring her back? The home is 20 miles away as well as it's a specialist unit and only one in our area that does 1 to 1 care.

Its great that we have the help and I feel bad for grumbling, but I also feel like bad that I can't be helping her.

Am I right in thinking she will lose her attendence allowance but not her state pension or private pension? Amazingly this is my Dads biggest concern right now.

Sorry this is a jumbled post, but my head is just 'splat' right now.

 

[Pickles53]

Things have been going well but, unfortunately, we have been thrown a curveball in that my Dad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

A MacMillan nurse has been involved and, as a result, my Mum will be going into her care home full time, which to be honest has gutted me. I was hoping that we could have someone come in and help us at nights and weekends, while keeping her there during the day hours.

I am concerned that she may not take coming back here after a few months away. I feel like I am letting her down as well as I have seen her every day up until these recent weeks. Also, am I even able to get her back after my Dad has passed? Could CHC or the NHS block me doing that?

Is it possible to discharge her from the home for a few hrs maybe twice a week and bring her back? The home is 20 miles away as well as it's a specialist unit and only one in our area that does 1 to 1 care.

Its great that we have the help and I feel bad for grumbling, but I also feel like bad that I can't be helping her.

Am I right in thinking she will lose her attendence allowance but not her state pension or private pension? Amazingly this is my Dads biggest concern right now.

Sorry this is a jumbled post, but my head is just 'splat' right now.

If your mum is self-funding she will keep her AA plus all her pensions. If the LA are part-funding she will lose AA plus most her state pension and 50% of private pension. It may be different if this is a respite stay rather than a permanent move, so ask your LA about the finances asap.

Many people do take their relatives out for a few hours when they're living in residential care, but I would discuss this with the care home staff when you see how she settles in. It works fine for some, but for others bringing them out seems to be very unsettling and can be distressing when the time comes for them to go back.

 

[Kevinl]

Many people do take their relatives out for a few hours when they're living in residential care.

I take my wife out sometimes, the home have asked that I don't take her in the car alone, that she goes in the back of the car with another person and the child locks on.
One guy in the home gets taken out for a walk in the park and a McDonalds most weekends, I guess they might not want to if they thought she may be a danger to herself or others or that it wouldn't be in her best interests.
K

 

[tigerlady]

Things have been going well but, unfortunately, we have been thrown a curveball in that my Dad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

A MacMillan nurse has been involved and, as a result, my Mum will be going into her care home full time, which to be honest has gutted me. I was hoping that we could have someone come in and help us at nights and weekends, while keeping her there during the day hours.

I am concerned that she may not take coming back here after a few months away. I feel like I am letting her down as well as I have seen her every day up until these recent weeks. Also, am I even able to get her back after my Dad has passed? Could CHC or the NHS block me doing that?

Is it possible to discharge her from the home for a few hrs maybe twice a week and bring her back? The home is 20 miles away as well as it's a specialist unit and only one in our area that does 1 to 1 care.

Its great that we have the help and I feel bad for grumbling, but I also feel like bad that I can't be helping her.

Am I right in thinking she will lose her attendence allowance but not her state pension or private pension? Amazingly this is my Dads biggest concern right now.

Sorry this is a jumbled post, but my head is just 'splat' right now.

If your Mum is getting NHS continuing care she will lose her attendance allowance, but surprisingly keep her pensions, as its the NHS funding the care and not the government via the LA. You will be able to take your Mum out of the care home if it doesn't unsettle her too much. She will probably have a DoLS order, if she's been assessed as having no mental capacity to make such decisions, which will enable her to be kept there, even if she asks to go home but there should be no restriction on you taking her out for a few hours.

 

[Amy in the US]

Jimbo, I don't have information or advice for you re: the care home/funding situation, sorry. I hope others here know some of the answers or the right direction in which to point you for information about the financial side, so you can sort that out and perhaps relieve your and your dad's concern about those issues. Perhaps the care home or Age UK might be able to advise you?

I'm very sorry to hear about your father's diagnosis.

My FIL was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and, like your father, his first concern was not for himself, but for his wife, my mother-in-law (not with dementia).

I don't think you are letting your mother down if you don't visit her every day, although I can see it would feel that way to you right now. Please try to be kind to yourself.

Thinking of you.