She’s got complex needs to her stroke 18 months ago, and needs 24/7 care. She’s frail and very vulnerable. Especially as she struggles with aphasia and cant commicate well (inpatient carers would probably ignore her).
I’m battling the local authority to find a suitable care home for her. The ones they’ve put forward are usually awful (crowded, noisy, chaotic, run down). The better ones are full. Unsurprisingly.
We have complications as my step dad is autistic. He’d be visiting all day every day and won’t cope woth a noisy, busy place either.
I’ve been advised to use language like “psychological needs” in my justification for refusing homes.
I’m digging my heels in and need to push them to contribute more money so mum can go to a more appropriate place. We’d then top up.
Does anyone have any tips for pushing for more money? Should we get a solicitor involved?
Mum’s been in Ipswich Hospital for 8 weeks (they messed up her meds, setting her back, and she picked up a hospital aquired infection which caused more problems) so we’re desperate to get her out. Hopefully to a place closer to a better hospital (Ipswich has a terrible reputation locally).
I’m sorry you’re facing such problems trying to get the best care for your mum. I’m sure you’ll get some good answers from our members on here who may have been through a similar process. I would also suggest on top of the answers here you could give our Stroke Support Helpline:0303 3033 100 as I’m sure they will also be able to advice on this too.
Wishing you all the best with this and please do keep us posted on how you get on.
@Bobbi’s suggestion of OT is not one I had considered and regrettably our experience of the OTs is different. They certainly did not move any mountains for us and in fact they were happy to help push Mum into a home that was not ready and fit for purpose. I guess we might have been unlucky and there is nothing to lose.
You will likely know my next suggestions as they are pretty much all I can think of that may be able to help and that is
Your local MP who has already done things for you.
I am not sure how this would work because to me, the solicitor is unlikely to work for free and so if you are spending money on solicitors to help you get more money to help care for your Mum are you going to have less to top up in the event the solicitor is able to deliver?
But again, if this is something that would help and you can afford it, then it is worth a try.
I am very inexperienced with these things but I recently had a colleague who was trying to find a suitable home for her mum who had severe dementia. The local authority were tryjng to push her to cheaper places that weren’t entirely suitable. She just dug her heels in & eventually the local authority conceded. It was all a council budget issue in my opinion & whilst I understand it people need to be somewhere that is right for their needs.
