Further developments
Things have developed since the last time I posted.
My mother's weight was increasing slowly but surely over previous weeks, although apparently not fast enough for the social worker, who declared in an email 2 weeks ago that she would arrange a "best interest meeting", where everyone concerned including "professionals like herself" would be invited to attend.
An email was sent to me inviting me to attend the meeting, which was to take place in less than 2 weeks, place and time to be decided. However, due to the meeting being arranged at such short notice and in view of the fact that I live abroad, I replied, stating that I was unable to attend. However, I requested that I could certainly attend the meeting via Skype, telephone or any other method at the appointed time. I made it clear that I wished to give my input and opinions to the meeting before any decision was made.
At around the same time I received notification about the meeting, our neighbours (who are 82 & 83 years of age) received a phone call (unbeknown to me) from the social worker asking them to "make themselves available to attend the meeting", as their views and opinions would be needed in reaching a decision, as they have known my mother for over 30 years. My neighbour commented afterwards that it felt as though they were being summoned to the meeting, like it was their duty.
A week before the proposed meeting, I got a surprise call from the care agency that they had arranged to have my mother taken into hospital, due to her looking dehydrated and complaining of some discomfort. It turned out however that she had a mild urinary infection which cleared up in a few days in the hospital. I was informed by the hospital that my mother was now in good physical condition although could not dicharged, until a consultation was made with social services. Until then she would have to wait in the hospital.
I still hadn't heard anything by this time about the possibility of my attending the meeting on Skype or by telephone, nor had the neighbour heard anything. I still didn't know where the meeting would even take place nor the time. Two days before this best interest meeting was due to take place, I received an email from the social worker that the meeting place would be at the hospital (surprise, surprise!) although the time was as yet still undecided. A tele-conference would in principle be possible with me, although she would have to look into it and get back to me. Our neighbour received no further information about the meeting time, venue or whether it would be even necessary for them to attend after all.
The meeting was apparently held yesterday without me or our neighbours being given any opportunity to voice our opinions. I have no idea what was discussed in the meeting nor the recommendations for my mother's future health needs (although I can guess).
As I suspected before, it seems that the social worker has her own agenda and has mangaged to manipulate things accordingly, without allowing anyone else the possibility to object or affect the intended outcome. Hence the name of this thread: "Paranoia or do LAs really try to push people into full time care to save costs?" I really do feel that my mother's "health care needs" were already decided the moment the social worker got involved and there would be just a few simple steps to go through to realise the desired result.
The question is, what are our rights now under the law? How is it possible that this social worker can ride roughshod over the the correct procedures, blatently disregarding the opinions of those who most matter? Can I demand that this sham meeting, which took place yesterday, be disregarded and a new one arranged with the correct protocols being observed? What does my mother do in the meantime, since it's her best interests that we are all supposed to be working towards? I feel quite powerless now, since the social worker seems to have all the cards and has used them ruthlessly.
Help and advice would be most welcome at this frustrating time...
Things have developed since the last time I posted.
My mother's weight was increasing slowly but surely over previous weeks, although apparently not fast enough for the social worker, who declared in an email 2 weeks ago that she would arrange a "best interest meeting", where everyone concerned including "professionals like herself" would be invited to attend.
An email was sent to me inviting me to attend the meeting, which was to take place in less than 2 weeks, place and time to be decided. However, due to the meeting being arranged at such short notice and in view of the fact that I live abroad, I replied, stating that I was unable to attend. However, I requested that I could certainly attend the meeting via Skype, telephone or any other method at the appointed time. I made it clear that I wished to give my input and opinions to the meeting before any decision was made.
At around the same time I received notification about the meeting, our neighbours (who are 82 & 83 years of age) received a phone call (unbeknown to me) from the social worker asking them to "make themselves available to attend the meeting", as their views and opinions would be needed in reaching a decision, as they have known my mother for over 30 years. My neighbour commented afterwards that it felt as though they were being summoned to the meeting, like it was their duty.
A week before the proposed meeting, I got a surprise call from the care agency that they had arranged to have my mother taken into hospital, due to her looking dehydrated and complaining of some discomfort. It turned out however that she had a mild urinary infection which cleared up in a few days in the hospital. I was informed by the hospital that my mother was now in good physical condition although could not dicharged, until a consultation was made with social services. Until then she would have to wait in the hospital.
I still hadn't heard anything by this time about the possibility of my attending the meeting on Skype or by telephone, nor had the neighbour heard anything. I still didn't know where the meeting would even take place nor the time. Two days before this best interest meeting was due to take place, I received an email from the social worker that the meeting place would be at the hospital (surprise, surprise!) although the time was as yet still undecided. A tele-conference would in principle be possible with me, although she would have to look into it and get back to me. Our neighbour received no further information about the meeting time, venue or whether it would be even necessary for them to attend after all.
The meeting was apparently held yesterday without me or our neighbours being given any opportunity to voice our opinions. I have no idea what was discussed in the meeting nor the recommendations for my mother's future health needs (although I can guess).
As I suspected before, it seems that the social worker has her own agenda and has mangaged to manipulate things accordingly, without allowing anyone else the possibility to object or affect the intended outcome. Hence the name of this thread: "Paranoia or do LAs really try to push people into full time care to save costs?" I really do feel that my mother's "health care needs" were already decided the moment the social worker got involved and there would be just a few simple steps to go through to realise the desired result.
The question is, what are our rights now under the law? How is it possible that this social worker can ride roughshod over the the correct procedures, blatently disregarding the opinions of those who most matter? Can I demand that this sham meeting, which took place yesterday, be disregarded and a new one arranged with the correct protocols being observed? What does my mother do in the meantime, since it's her best interests that we are all supposed to be working towards? I feel quite powerless now, since the social worker seems to have all the cards and has used them ruthlessly.
Help and advice would be most welcome at this frustrating time...