Care At Home After An Operation

[Mammar]

My sister is just back home after a hip operation. Her husband, who was going to care for her, was admitted to hospital during her hospital stay and is still in there awaiting tests. Her daughter has been here for a few days but apparently has to go back home for work on Sunday but has done nothing about care for her mother after that. I'm disabled so am no use at all and the only other person, my niece, is also recently recovering after an operation. She could stay with my sister at a push but I'm worried it will set her recovery back.
Don't know whether to contact her doctor or county council. Can someone advise? There's only one day left to sort this

[bednobs]

why can't she look after herself? That's not meant to be be rude, i just mean what are her exact requirements? could she wash at the sink? Get dressed herself? make a cup of tea? Make food? get to the loo? get to bed? if the answer to all that is yes she doesn't need anyone. could she afford a nirsing agency to pop in?

[Mammar]

She's 86. Is managing to get to toilet on her own and wash but not up to preparing meals unaided yet. Bed has been brought downstairs as she,s not safe on stairs yet. Can't do the injections herself.
I believe she probably could afford an agency nurse. I intend to talk to her daughter about that tomorrow. I'm Unhappy about her being unattended at nights

[Buenchico]

There should be an emergency number for your local Social Services department in your BT Phone Book (and on the council's website). Give them a call. Even if 'it's not their pigeon' they should still be able to point you in the right direction.

As Bednobs indicates though, it's important to establish what her exact needs will be. My friend (then aged around 70) did some major shopping in Tesco a few hours after being released from hospital with a new hip! (Before anyone asks why I didn't volunteer to do it for her, I'll point out that I did but she refused my help, other than pushing the trolley for her).

[jourdain2]

If it was a hip replacement, she should be able to manage the basics herself. I write as one who has had both hips replaced, the last one was in May. Honestly she should be OK as long as someone fetches and carries shopping and transports her around. You can't drive for at least a month. I was up and down stairs before I left hospital after 5 days and, honestly, if you take care you can do everything! :)

[jourdain2]

You mention injections Mammar - if they are the anti-clotting ones then the district nurse should be visiting to give them daily.

[Mammar]

I believe they are the anti- clotting ones but my niece offered to do them for her and the district nurse wouldn't be able to stay and make meals for her .
Going to look for that emergency number

[EDDIE51]

The hospital has to check that there are suitable care arrangements in place before allowing a vulnerable patient to be discharged. Phone the hospital and tell them what has happened. The hospital should either keep her in or make suitable alternate arrangements, they are the people who have to sort this out! It happens all the time so they will have plans for this. Do not contact the doctor or the council it is the hospitals responsibility!

[ladyalex]

I would contact both.

[bednobs]

could she just use ready meals till her husband comes home? microwaveable food the daughter could fill the fridge before she goes?. Get a chair in the kitchen?
What help does she need overnight?

[bednobs]

eddie, the hospital won't help - she is at home! If hospitals had to sort out people who weren't their patients as well as the people who were, they'd never get anything done!

[EDDIE51]

Sorry misread it thought she was due home. But a hospital can not discharge a vulnerable person unless suitable care is in place. This person should never have been discharged when it was known that her carer was himself in hospital, unless they had established that suitable alternates were in place. They could be forced to readmit her.

[Mamyalynne]

She was discharged into the care of her daughter, this is now about to change.


Try phoning someone if only for guidance.

[pixie373]

Or someone like meals on wheels or Apetito to bring hot food round. They aren't too expensive either.

[bednobs]

it doesn't really matter wht should have happened eddie - mammar is dealing with the situation as it is.

[anneasquith]

social services, at her age she is vulnerable and was assessed for home with someone to care for her.

[boxtops]

Her GP can liaise with social services if need be - if the district nurses are already going in (for the injection) you could try there too.

[DTCwordfan]

Don't push on one front, Mammar, push on the GP, social services and the hossie - bring them 'together' to get a satisfactory solution to this that meets her needs and capabilities. I don't envy you though - patience in spades and all that.

[ladyalex]

As it is now Friday night, I think I would phone the duty social worker at your local authority.
There will be one. Do. ot let anyone stop you from getting through to one.
They can get the ball rolling over the weekend which will give you a bit of a head start for Monday.
But, as DT says, be prepared to be patient and determined.

[askyourgran]

It's no big deal if she has been in hospital for 4-5 days she will have had some rest. The hospital usually supplies aids to help people living alone, things to help you put your socks on with, walking sticks, crutches, picking-up tongs, special toilet seats and chairs. They check out your bed to see it isn't too high or low. A special chair to sit in the kitchen to do the washing up or making dinner, and a trolley with wheels to carry cups and plates into the room. They even took time to supervise me washing myself at the bathroom sink as you cannot take a bath or shower for a while, unless you have a wet room shower. It is of course better to have help, but as long as she rests and does her exercises she should be OK. All she really needs is someone to call in to see she is OK every day.

[askyourgran]

Ah serves me right for not reading all the posts here. I see that she is an elderly lady which may be more difficult to manage on her own. My apologies. I hope she will be OK.