Arranging An Emergency Care Home

[Barmaid]

I need to arrange emergency respite for an elderly gent with advanced dementia - he cannot be left for even a minute. It may well be that his wife (who has shockingly high blood pressure and a broken foot) will also need short term care.

Social Services are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard and have refused to send an overnight carer on an emergency basis - although there are now provision in place for tonight at least.

Gent has been assessed as eligible for continuing health care. Lady has no such assessment. However, family are content to top up his fees and pay for her privately.

It seems the only answer is either short term respite for the chap and possibly also for his wife. But how does one organise this? Just call up a nursing home (he needs nursing care) and ask if they can take them? Obv I have checked for CQC reports. Any other pointers? This is urgent, ie this needs to be in place within a day or so!

[ubasses]

Yes, phone around for vacancies. You will probably have difficulties in finding them somewhere together, ensure you are looking at care homes with nursing for him, and preferably a dementia specialist place. Go and inspect them, the CQC reports do not say it all, you need to see the place, keep your eyes and ears open, see how they speak to the residents and how the residents react to the carers.
If very urgent get somewhere for respite and then take your time in finding a permanent place.

[TonyV]

BMaid when we were in similar situation called local GP and 111. Got really good response or if you are really concerned 999

[Ellipsis]

https://www.carehome.co.uk/ is good for finding a care home.

[bednobs]

if chap is eligible for CHC thn social services have nothing to do with it - the NHS must arrange the care for him. call them in the morning, they should be able to get him placed tomorrow. As regards t her, either wit and see where hes places if they want to be together, or do as suggested above and ring round to see who has vacancies. If you want in-home care, call some nursing agencies

[Tuvok]

Try the Marie Curie nurses - they do more than you think/the name implies.

[Peter Pedant]

this is something the GP shold be doing / helping over

[anneasquith]

Contact age UK .

[Barmaid]

Well the gp passed the buck to SS. SS were sending someone and then at the last minute didn't. Hospital transport "forgot" to pick up. So we've temporarily lost her and no one quite seems to know where she might be. Altho she cant frickin walk so she must be where they left her. I really despair.

[TonyV]

Barmaid feeling for you, don't know what to suggest xx

[TonyV]

Thinking on my feet BM do you know or access to her national insurance number or NHS number?

[rowanwitch]

He needs a specialist dementia unit, (horrendously expensive)) but places are so rare it is unlikely you can keep them together. Private care in the home is the best short term solution. Because there are fewer overheads it can be better value . If they have a usable spare room, live in care plus a relief carer to cover his or her breaks would be doable and he should receive financial support for his assessed need. Social services will need chasing hard, also community disability teams for aids including safety equipment for the kitchen, and see purity devices to stop him wandering if that is a problem

[rowanwitch]

Hospital discharge teams should have arranged aids before she was sent home and district nurse follow up as well.
Start drafting the complaint now. They should not have discharged her to an unsafe environment

[AuntLydia]

I would go down the Private In Home care. It would be best all round for both the man and woman as they will be in their own home, and much cheaper in the long run. As the man is eligible for continuing healthcare this will go towards his home care.

[Barmaid]

Thanks all. We cant do private in home because of no of bedrooms. I think we may have averted the immediate crisis - I shall know by noon. I've got an assessor coming with a view to somewhere tonight for him and help in the home for her.

Whilst I am waiting I shall be drafting complaints.

[Peter Pedant]

wait for successful / satidfactory patient disposal first

then complain and of course exhaust local remedies first - with any doctor remember to say - "complaints to the GMC I dont have to do that first you know!"
and watch him go white and his knees turn to mush

( will screw the doctors career for two years even if the complaint is piffle)