Hi all. My dad is booked in for two week's respite from this Wednesday, to allow my mum to have her cataract op, and some rest. Care home carefully selected, on the basis that they were 'PSP aware' (first question I asked them), and great CQC reports, etc. They came out and did an assessment of dad's needs (I wasn't there, they just talked to mum). All was fine, they offered him a lovely double room right by the nurse's station so that they could 'keep an eye on him all the time'. Great , we thought. Then a phone call last week to say the people in the room dad is due to have have decided to extend their stay, and dad is going to be moved to another room. My sister went to check out this new room, to find that it's at the end of a corridor, tiny, nowhere near the nurse's station. She asked if they would be able to check him as regularly, due to his very high risk of falls. They said, no, he may be on his own for up to an hour at busy times. I rang to complain about this, stating that he'd had an assessment and they should know his needs. They've told me that they haven't got him down as high dependency, and simply "cannot guarantee that he won't fall" (their words). Surely, if I put dad in to a care home offerring 24/7 nursing care, they can keep him safe? They say they can't guarantee it. What's going on? Any one offer any suggestions please? I'm scared to let him go. But he has nowhere else!
Care home chaos!: Hi all. My dad is booked... - PSP Association
Care home chaos!
I should add that since I complained, they've now offered dad's original room again. So he will be by the nurse's station. But they're still maintaining they can't guarantee he won't fall as there are 'only 6 staff'.
Good that he is in better room.
To be honest , I am there for my husband and he can fall when I'm in the room and just turned !
I don't see how anyone can guarantee he won't fall.
I agree with Jean!! It's pretty much impossible to avoid the falls unless you virtually chain yourself to the Psp patient i.e. Don't let them out of your sight for even 5 seconds ! That as we all know, is sadly impossible!! X
Yes, I can see that they can't guarantee no falls, in all honesty. What I can't quite get my head around still is the fact that even after the assessment, they thought he'd be ok in a room at the end of the corridor and leave him for so long. On one hand they said they understood PSP, and on the other, they said they had him down as 'low dependency'. He's incontinent, needs feeding, at high risk of choking and falling.....how can they class that as low dependency?! I'm starting to appreciate just how hard it must have been for all of you to let go and hand your loved ones over to a home - it's not easy!
I'm sorry to say that sounds very familiar. My hubby had to go into a care home when I hurt my back, (I made the short walk and visited him every day) and he fell 6 times in the first 8 days. I offered them my monitor so they could see him at all times but they said that wasn't permitted as it violated his human right to privacy. 😡 They put pressure pads on his chair, and on the floor under his feet but by the time they answered the alarms it was too late. If staff are dealing with someone else, they can't be in two places at once. At home it is 1/1 care and even then falls can't always be prevented as you have probably already found out. My darling never broke anything but returned home with many bumps, cuts and bruises. Not a very reassuring reply but hopefully your dad's experience will be better and your mum recovers from her op quickly.
X
Hi
Had exactly the same when Rog went for respite last year, shown the newly decorated bright room he would be in, when I was dropping him off room not ready ! Dark grim room at the end of a corridor no foot traffic, get them to put an alarm mat in so when he moves it will alarm thus reducing risk of falls.
Rog now has live in care when I am away, much safer.
It is criminal what they get away with, preying on vulnerability and not telling you before.
Julie
Hi Julie, thanks for sharing that. Can I ask if you manage with just one live in carer, or does your hubby need two? I did price this up, but it was much more expensive than the care home, as dad was assessed as needing two carers. This is where funding would come in useful! We have the checklist tomorrow....feeling nervous!
Hi
Bizarrely same price! Hoist through floor lift etc is all for single carer use so we have one guy comes in. Best of luck with CHC assessment you will feel afterwards like you have been running a marathon.
CHC will fund up to 20% more than nursing home fees for home care, if there is a shortfall you can always top that up, this is where the attendance allowance comes in useful. CHC will also fund equipment like hoists, as long as assessed by OT's as a need.
I would query the need for two carers , OK for getting out of bed etc but not all day and night.
Julie
Continuing care question
Finally an answer to the Continuing Care question.
Hi-Dad diagnosed with PSP
