When is it time to get 24 hour care

[Sheffwitch66]

My father is 84 and has been diagnosed with dementia for about 7 or 8 years. For the last 6 months we have noticed that he has rapidly gone downhill. He lives by himself and can cook and clean at the moment. In the last 4 weeks he has flooded the downstairs flat leaving his tap on, he has phoned the police because he thought someone had locked him in deliberately, he says youths are getting in his flat and moving/stealing stuff, but they are not it is him hiding/moving stuff such as pens, tv remotes, wallet, bus pass, etc...
This week he things his flat is a hotel he is staying in and has on one occasion packed carrier bags with his stuff ready to go home and I had to remind him he was home. Today he got lost about 200 yards from home and approached a police car, they took him home and phoned me. We are in the middle of organising extra support for him as I am his main carer and I am going in hospital soon for an operation and they want him to have carers at home which will not go well with him. I can't guarantee that he would be in, or that he would open the door to them and another problem would be he is likely to accuse them of stealing.
I feel lost at the moment and unsure of what to do next, I don't really know where to get extra advice, he won't go to a day centre he doesn't like to socialise.
Any advise would be welcomed sorry its long winded.

 

[karaokePete]

Welcome to posting @Sheffwitch66.

I agree that a needs assessment may be needed here, if it hasn't been done already.

The time for 24hr care is when care can no longer be managed at home and/or safety becomes an issue. In the hope that they help, here are links to Factsheets about assessment and the time for a care home https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites...assessment_for_care_in_support_in_england.pdf
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites...downloads/factsheet_selecting_a_care_home.pdf

You can also check for available support services in your area by following this link https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/find-support-near-you

 

[Norfolk Cherry]

Do stress the urgency, use the words duty of care, give them all the specific examples, they may need to organise respite whist you are in hospital. My experience is that assessments can take a long time from the first request. I've had to stop visiting mum to look after my OH this week and I could not have managed without the 4 care visits a day. Good luck.