Transport from one nursing home to another

[klr31]

Hello,

I'm in the process of moving my elderly father with numerous health conditions from one nursing home in England to another nursing home in Wales. I'm unsure if I should pay for St John's ambulance to help with this and wonder if anyone has any advice or experience.

Thank you.

Karen

[Hidden]

I thought social workers help with stuff like this.

[klr31 in reply to Hidden]

No, they don't get involved when someone is self funding.

Karen

[glo42]

I don't have any experience of this situation kir31, but can only imagine how stressful and worrying this will be for you and for your Dad. I would have thought perhaps the GP/Community Nurses would liaise to make this move go as smoothly as it could be. Sending you a ((hug)) as I think you might need one. Good luck. Hope all goes well.

[klr31 in reply to glo42]

Thank you. Yes, it's very stressful and a huge leap of faith as to whether dad will be ok.

Karen

[glo42 in reply to klr31]

If your Dad is being moved nearer to you then it will be worth all the hassle and anxiety of a move to get him closer so that you can perhaps visit more often and spend lovely special times together. Keep focusing on the positives and getting the best care for your Dad and remember to look after yourself too. ((hugs)) xx

[Hidden]

Hi Karen,

I was pleased to read your post inasmuch as it seems you've found another care facility for your dad, which must be a great relief for you, even though it's brought some new problems with it.

I think you probably should seriously consider using St John's Ambulance to help transport your dad to his new home. It is a caring organisation and I'm sure will make certain your dad has as comfortable a journey as possible.

I don't know if there are alternatives or what those are, but provided you are assured your dad will be well cared for en route, then I'd pick whichever one feels the most comfortable for you that's within budget. I've never personally had experience of the St John's Ambulance in this capacity, but I guess that alternatives can be costly and would also be unfamiliar to you.

Please let us know what you decide and how dad settles in his new environment.

Very best wishes to you both.

[klr31 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I still haven't spoken to the manager of the Home where dad is - the lack of leadership and organisation isn't good and reminds me why I must move dad.

Having been told a few weeks ago that dad must leave, last Thursday - the day before the manager from the Home near us went up to assess dad - I was told he could stay. The Home have improved in staffing levels and keeping dad's blood sugars more stable but for how long. I also saw a copy of dad's care plan which has never been updated.

The new Home told me they could accept dad next Thursday but St John's ambulance don't have availability until the following week. Unsure what to do now as another private ambulance company quoted three times the price of St John's ambulance.

I do hope that dad settles ok once here and it will be good to have him nearer as we have been regularly going up to the Midlands every few weeks for two years now. We can't keep doing it.

Thanks.

Karen

[Hidden]

Hi Karen,

It just never is straightforward enough, is it? And you've definitely had more than enough of a run-around from dad's current home. I feel your decision to move him is absolutely the best one, even just for you to be so much closer to him. It's far too late in the day for you to agree to his staying there now and you would just never know when another crisis might bring up the subject of a move again.

A quote of three times more for an ambulance is significantly more than the price from St John's Ambulance, and if you can wait that little bit of extra time, it might just be worth holding out and have them take dad.

The very best of wishes for whatever you finally decide. Either way it will happen soon now and before you know it, dad will be comfortable in his new home.