Hello.
My mum is currently in hospital after breaking her hip. This is her second admission this year and in total I think she has only been at home for about 5 weeks since the year began.
She has past history of mental health problems, two to three years ago she was diagnosed with mixed Alzheimer's/Vascular Dementia (they also suspected Lewy Body dementia but, she refused to be scanned for it). Her mobility is shocking as she has zero cartilage in her knees, which is probably how she fell and broke her hip. She has depression and her mood is very unstable. While waiting for the hip op she was seen by a cardiologist who diagnosed a historical silent MI (heart attack), her blood pressure, despite meds, is unstable.
On the ward she has fallen and suffered from dehydration.
She is going home this week. We are reinstating her carers (*4/day), district nurse etc. We have moved the bed downstairs and basically rearranged the house to accommodate her walking frame and other equipment. However, this isn't going to work. She's already fallen on the ward because she's forgotten she has broken her hip and forgets to use the frame. It's not a case of 'if' this doesn't work it's a case of 'when' this doesn't work. She is adamant about going home, she hates the idea of a frame, toilet chair, bed down stairs (we've done it anyway) - before admission she had been found by one of the carers beating up the bath chair we had put in! She is anti anything that is only used by 'old' people. She refuses to leave the house now anyway as she doesn't want anyone seeing her in a wheel chair.
She also self neglects when at home, between admissions she lost one stone in four weeks despite the carers best intentions - she won't wash, change clothes, eat etc.
Anyway, 'when' this all goes pear shaped she will have to go to residential - my question is - How does that work when it's against someones will?? Which it will be.
Who can we turn to? Who does it? Is it a section under the mental health act? Or is it just 'in her best interest'. She was assessed last week for capacity and it was negative. The ward then said it was up to us (her family) to decide where she goes as we could go against her will and put her in residential from the ward. Instead we've decided to give her one last ditch attempt at being at home, it is where she wants to be, even though it's a huge risk!
I'm just scared now because, when it goes wrong who do we turn to? How do we get her in to a place of safety? She has already been on the mental health ward twice in the last couple of years - they won't admit her again, they just recommend residential but, what do we do when she refuses? Does anybody else have experience of this?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post
My mum is currently in hospital after breaking her hip. This is her second admission this year and in total I think she has only been at home for about 5 weeks since the year began.
She has past history of mental health problems, two to three years ago she was diagnosed with mixed Alzheimer's/Vascular Dementia (they also suspected Lewy Body dementia but, she refused to be scanned for it). Her mobility is shocking as she has zero cartilage in her knees, which is probably how she fell and broke her hip. She has depression and her mood is very unstable. While waiting for the hip op she was seen by a cardiologist who diagnosed a historical silent MI (heart attack), her blood pressure, despite meds, is unstable.
On the ward she has fallen and suffered from dehydration.
She is going home this week. We are reinstating her carers (*4/day), district nurse etc. We have moved the bed downstairs and basically rearranged the house to accommodate her walking frame and other equipment. However, this isn't going to work. She's already fallen on the ward because she's forgotten she has broken her hip and forgets to use the frame. It's not a case of 'if' this doesn't work it's a case of 'when' this doesn't work. She is adamant about going home, she hates the idea of a frame, toilet chair, bed down stairs (we've done it anyway) - before admission she had been found by one of the carers beating up the bath chair we had put in! She is anti anything that is only used by 'old' people. She refuses to leave the house now anyway as she doesn't want anyone seeing her in a wheel chair.
She also self neglects when at home, between admissions she lost one stone in four weeks despite the carers best intentions - she won't wash, change clothes, eat etc.
Anyway, 'when' this all goes pear shaped she will have to go to residential - my question is - How does that work when it's against someones will?? Which it will be.
Who can we turn to? Who does it? Is it a section under the mental health act? Or is it just 'in her best interest'. She was assessed last week for capacity and it was negative. The ward then said it was up to us (her family) to decide where she goes as we could go against her will and put her in residential from the ward. Instead we've decided to give her one last ditch attempt at being at home, it is where she wants to be, even though it's a huge risk!
I'm just scared now because, when it goes wrong who do we turn to? How do we get her in to a place of safety? She has already been on the mental health ward twice in the last couple of years - they won't admit her again, they just recommend residential but, what do we do when she refuses? Does anybody else have experience of this?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post
