Putting case forward re care home choice

[betsie]

my mum has been in a residential, supposedly specialised, dementia care home for the last 3 1/2 yrs.(37 residents) that are refusing her back on grounds of her being at high risk of falls and prone to sundowning. Social worker had agreed she needs enhanced residential care. Mum is currently bed blocking in hospital.

Now have a list of 10 homes from social services, I’ve discounted 3 as too far away( social worker has accepted this). Of the other 7 practically all of them are larger or the same size at the home she was at. I can’t see she’d be any safer as staff ratios were no better either and there was just as much if not more places for her to roam about in unsupervised and fall. The one on the list which is smaller (16 residents with 4 staff) is one if the dearest. I can’t top up as I don’t work ( stay at home parent). Has anyone been in this situation? I have to email the social worker as to why the homes on the list are no good ( I wouldn’t have left my dog in 2 of them they smelt so bad) and why I want the one I’ve picked. Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[canary]

Unfortunately, not all care homes are the same and many of them (sadly, even the ones that say that they specialise in dementia care) only want residents in the early, easy stages of dementia and as soon as they start displaying typical dementia symptoms like being up at night, wandering, agitation, going in and out of other rooms or incontinence, the resident is given notice. Other care home (like the one my mum was in) looks pretty shabby, but the care was excellent. Often you have to look past the decor and look at the actual care and how situations are dealt with.

I would certainly discount the ones that smell of wee, but have you talked to the managers of the other homes about how they would cope with your mum? My mum was in a care home of about 30 people, but the staff knew how to deal with people in the more advanced stages. It isnt always about ratios - although very low ratios is not a good sign - but a lot of it is about training. I can see why you want the smaller home, but if the other homes can meet her need, I honestly think that you are onto a sticky wicket.