Future care planning

[gabnash]

My mother is 74, she lives and cares for 2 adults with Down’s syndrome (my adopted brother & sister) she is not in best of health herself. My sister has medical issues and my brother has no concept of the world around him. My birth sister and I have recently struggled to visit my sister in hospital as my mum has not registered them as special needs with health care. We want to have a care and social plan in order, for when the time my mum is no longer able to care for them.

Where do we get some advice and help for this?

[Jofisher]

Go to adult social services asap and get a care assessment don’t for them both and they will be able to advise you also try the mencap helpline and carers association so they can support you all as well and speak to their GP the issue is ideally you either need to be Lasting power of attorneys for them if they have capacity and if not a deputyship you can do this urgently if required speak to the office of public guardian for information and advice. Also you may also be able to get benefits for them and find out about suitable placement for them when the time comes for them to go into a home unless you are planning to take on your Mums role. They may be entitled to Independent mental capacity advocates they can support them and yourselves as it sounds like there’s. Lot to sort out

[gabnash in reply to Jofisher]

Hi JoThank you for your response.

It’s not easy trying to help in their best interests when mum is not fully on board. I have a letter from office of public guardian about me having power of attorney when mum is not here, not sure that is enough?

[Runragged2000 in reply to gabnash]

No, the POA that you have is for your Mum not your siblings. I have a birth brother & sister both learning disabled, unable to care for themselves and lacking capacity. In Scotland we use Guardianship awarded by the Court not Deputyship but these are similar.I have both welfare & financial guardianship for both of my siblings, this allows that I have to be involved in all decisions for their care and finances. Unfortunately, my Mum would not accept she could no longer care for my siblings until she was 94years old and blind. This was not good for my siblings. It took a change in the way that funding was assessed and the need for me to advocate for my siblings for my Mum to realise that she had to let me apply for Guardianship and support my siblings with decisions for future care and accommodation.

Both my brother & sister have long term health issues that require medical input. As their guardian I have the right to be involved in all decisions.

Guardianship or Deputyship will be essential for you in the future. Your Mum may not realise at the moment but if she does not have deputyship for her son & daughter, if they are over 18, she has no right to be involved in decisions regarding their care or finance, local authorities can technically make decisions, on behalf of them, without your Mother's input/involvement.

[SpeedyH]

I think that letter is quite important. You need to see what it says. It might be a Lasting Power of Attorney to let you handle your mum’s affairs when she is not able to, or it might be to let you handle the affairs of your adopted siblings. It might also be just for financial matters or it might be for financial matters and health matters. Adult social care should be able to help you and explain about all of your options. If you are involved in your siblings lives you are one of their carers so you can ask for social care advice so don’t be put off.