My 90 year old mother has been in hospital for 77 days. She has vascular dementia but went into hospital following a significant loss of mobility and associated pain when attempting to move. She is currently in what woudl once have been called a Geriatric Hospital and it is a Care Home in all but name.
Physio is not working but her mental health has improved enormously because of the stimulation provided by staff and other patients. It is amazing to see the difference. However, her mobility has worsened and she now cant move.
However, the Social Work Team is now saying she is fit to go home with a care package of 4 visits a day. the family is saying mum now needs 24/7 care and that a Care Home would be best. We had a face to face meeting last week with 10 - yes 10 - people in the room. This was not positioned with us in advance so came as a bit of a shock.
The medical team did not challenge our thinking re benefits of Care Home v Negatives of going home to be a prisoner in her own home, unable to do anything without a carer present and nobody to talk too etc.
However, the Social Worker / Discharge leader appeared to be in charge and had already made her mind up that mum should return home.
I have asked for minutes of the meeting as mum herself said she felt a Care Home would be best, and I have also requested details of the Appeal process.
Our plan is to sit tight as mum is settled and in a safe environment at present.
However, a new social worker has now spoken with mum and is revisiting questions and thoughts already covered at our face to face meeting.
We will be self funding a Care Home by selling mum's house but we do NOT want to commit to this until we get the Social Work team to agree that mum requires 24/7 cover. The reason being our funds will only cover 3 years and clearly we dont know how long mum will live.
Are we following the correct path?. Any experience of assessments being challenged or appeals processes?. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Physio is not working but her mental health has improved enormously because of the stimulation provided by staff and other patients. It is amazing to see the difference. However, her mobility has worsened and she now cant move.
However, the Social Work Team is now saying she is fit to go home with a care package of 4 visits a day. the family is saying mum now needs 24/7 care and that a Care Home would be best. We had a face to face meeting last week with 10 - yes 10 - people in the room. This was not positioned with us in advance so came as a bit of a shock.
The medical team did not challenge our thinking re benefits of Care Home v Negatives of going home to be a prisoner in her own home, unable to do anything without a carer present and nobody to talk too etc.
However, the Social Worker / Discharge leader appeared to be in charge and had already made her mind up that mum should return home.
I have asked for minutes of the meeting as mum herself said she felt a Care Home would be best, and I have also requested details of the Appeal process.
Our plan is to sit tight as mum is settled and in a safe environment at present.
However, a new social worker has now spoken with mum and is revisiting questions and thoughts already covered at our face to face meeting.
We will be self funding a Care Home by selling mum's house but we do NOT want to commit to this until we get the Social Work team to agree that mum requires 24/7 cover. The reason being our funds will only cover 3 years and clearly we dont know how long mum will live.
Are we following the correct path?. Any experience of assessments being challenged or appeals processes?. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
