Discharge home when mum requires 24/7 care

SharonH79
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:47:49 +0000
Discharge

Hello,
My mum was admitted just over 5 weeks ago having suffered a stroke (clot). She also has AF.
We had a meeting with my mum’s care team (sorry not sure if that is the right terminology- but basically, Dr, physio, - the nutritionist and speech therapy failed to turn up. They advised mum (82 years next week) is medically fit however she has aphasia, is not eating or drinking, doesn’t move out of bed (pain or fear - probably both), has a catheter and unable to open bowels. She appears very confused too and as if everything outside of where she is doesn’t exist. We show her photos of her garden and family etc but she doesn’t seem to recognise anything.

We left the meeting on the understanding that the discharge team would be in contact and give us support on where she can be safely moved to. This is fine, I have no objection to her being moved to a care/nursing home as she may do better there.
I received a call from the discharge team thinking ok this is good news - we will be advised on options and what would be best for mum and us. To my horror was told that she only has the option of being sent home and can leave right away.
The house has not been inspected. I advised she lives alone with my disabled dad who is also elderly and going home in the above state is not an option. I was then repeatedly told it is the only option and even when I said I have seen other patients in the ward who were in a better state move to nursing homes - I was told everything had changed last week.

I left the call as I needed to speak with my husband as this is a total shock and cannot believe that they are discharging her home which is totally unsuitable at this stage. She needs care 24/7. My dad will not be able to cope at all and I cannot live with them. I have to work and cannot be on call to help dad every time he goes into panic.

I am at my wits end and have gained some advice from other groups but was also advised to join here. Surely there is criteria involved when discharging a patient?

It isn’t a case that I do not want my mum home but a strong case that she is not suitable for home at this point in time. There was no mention of physio or speech therapy which she so badly requires in addition to standard care.

Any advice on questions I should be asking, people I should be talking with would be gratefully received.

9 posts - 7 participants