Continuing Healthcare

[nightwatch]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

sorry it wasn't the outcome you wanted but (Not to sound awful) let's hope she can be reassessed soon ,
how is your sister doing?

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

That's OK I understand where you're coming from. Meeting with doc just finished and they've refused free re-enablement because she's got no prospect of it working, basically she needs TLC now, care 2 people 4 times a day. They think she's getting dementia and said they can't assess that in the ward shes on however contact GP to arrange. Don't want her in a home but Sis needs to be looked after too and I think it's too much for her as she's also is waiting to hear when she can have her Operation.
Sad day

[nightwatch]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

I do know how hard that decision will be,I worked as a home care for 10 years, and watched people struggle all the time, trying to juggle work and home commitments.
It was trying to convince some of them that they had not "Failed"as a carer, Mum/Dad had turned into someone similar to a young child, who needed supervision for a lot of the day, but unlike having a young family who could be at school/a friends for most of the day while they were at work/shopping/appointments, you were expected to Manage, unless you had a large extended family who were willing to share the load and give you time off.
I wish you well in your search for further help, and hope all goes well for your sister with her op. xx NW

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Thanks for the kind words NW appreciated.
Another update today, we spoke to the carers to try to arrange the new regime with them and they were livid that the hospital are going to discharge Mum, whom they've stated cannot walk, without the correct equipment in place. i.e. the carers say she needs a hoist to get her out of bed even with two people present. She knows her stuff so is going to phone the discharge team on our behalf.

[cymruambyth]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Unfortunately it appears to be a total lottery. The hospital wanted to release my father without any care package, it was only when I asked them to try and persuade him to have help with washing himself that they noticed that he had any problems. Two weeks later he was deemed too dangerous to be at home. We spoke to the geriatric consultant who had common sense and agreed he would be best off at home with a care package. He stayed in his own home until he died.

[cymruambyth]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Unfortunately it appears to be a total lottery. The hospital wanted to release my father without any care package, it was only when I asked them to try and persuade him to have help with washing himself that they noticed that he had any problems. Two weeks later he was deemed too dangerous to be at home. We spoke to the geriatric consultant who had common sense and agreed he would be best off at home with a care package. He stayed in his own home until he died.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Update,
Mums now been given the all - clear for discharge so having asked about CH several times we met with the discharge head honco who went through Mum's details with us and said she doesn't qualify. I can't remember all the details but you need something like 2 A's and 3 B's minimum to get it under the headings.
Mum's legs which have ulcers and need dressing everyday and will never get better according to the consultant were rated B for example, when I said they surely should be an A I was told that to get that her "sores" would have to be down to the bone.
You could be bed ridden but as long as you can co-operate when being washed etc you would only get a B or C
There's lots of evidence that needs to be provided by the "team" to get it as well, she said they don't hold back and if someone's entitled they will get it.

It became apparent during our chat that even this person thought the system was unfair regarding paying for care and said she wasn't leaving any money in her account when she was older.

We can ask to be assessed again via the district nurse for example should anything change with Mum's condition.

We then met with the social worker who again said that because Mum had been assessed by the council as having to pay we had to sort out the care package ourselves, they would advise if required but can't provide.

From Mum's point of view and on a purely selfish point of view this is not what she had saved the money for, it was to give her children some money when she died. Sends out the wrong message at a time when the Gov are asking people to save for retirement that if you do they will take it but if you have no money you will get the care paid for.

Not that I have any money but I wouldn't save anything even if I did, I think you've either got to have loads or nothing at all, it's not worth being anywhere in the middle

Obviously it's difficult without seeing your mum, but judging purely on what you've told us about your Mum's leg ulcers/weeping oedema etc I think I would strongly disagree with the hospital assessment. What on earth is she talking about, "down to the bone"??!!
Here's the skin integrity criteria:

Skin integrity
C:No risk of pressure damage or skin condition.ORRisk of skin breakdown which requires preventative intervention once a day or less than daily, without which skin integrity would break down.OREvidence of pressure damage and/or pressure ulcer(s) either with ‘discolouration of intact skin’ or a minor wound.ORA skin condition that requires monitoring or reassessment less than daily and that is responding to treatment or does not currently require treatment.

B: Risk of skin breakdown which requires preventative intervention several times each day, without which skin integrity would break down.ORPressure damage or open wound(s), pressure ulcer(s) with ‘partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis’, which is responding to treatment.ORA skin condition that requires a minimum of daily treatment, or daily monitoring/reassessment to ensure that it is responding to treatment.

A: Pressure damage or open wound(s), pressure ulcer(s) with ‘partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis’, which is not responding to treatment.
OR Pressure damage or open wound(s), pressure ulcer(s) with ‘full thickness skin loss involving damage or necrosis to subcutaneous tissue, but not extending to underlying bone, tendon or joint capsule’, which is responding to treatment.
OR Specialist dressing regime in place which is responding to treatment

This was a pre assessment, if you're not happy you can apply to the PCT for a FULL assessment.

Did they give you a copy of the assessment, and details of how to apply to the PCT if you don't agree?

Whatever the outcome, assessors should record written reasons for the decision and should sign and date the Checklist. Assessors should inform the individual and/or their representative of the decision, providing a clear explanation of the basis for the decision. The individual should be given a copy of the completed Checklist. The rationale contained within the completed Checklist should give enough detail for the individual and their representative to be able to understand why the decision was made.
22.
Individuals and their representatives should be advised that, if they disagree with the decision not to proceed to a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare, they may ask the PCT to reconsider it. They should be given details of whom to contact should they wish to pursue this course of action.
4

When carers come in, what do they need to do for your Mum?
Also has her sister applied for Carers Allowance?

Elsa xx

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Obviously it's difficult without seeing your mum, but judging purely on what you've told us about your Mum's leg ulcers/weeping oedema etc I think I would strongly disagree with the hospital assessment. What on earth is she talking about, "down to the bone"??!!
Here's the skin integrity criteria:

Skin integrity
C:No risk of pressure damage or skin condition.ORRisk of skin breakdown which requires preventative intervention once a day or less than daily, without which skin integrity would break down.OREvidence of pressure damage and/or pressure ulcer(s) either with ‘discolouration of intact skin’ or a minor wound.ORA skin condition that requires monitoring or reassessment less than daily and that is responding to treatment or does not currently require treatment.

B: Risk of skin breakdown which requires preventative intervention several times each day, without which skin integrity would break down.ORPressure damage or open wound(s), pressure ulcer(s) with ‘partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis’, which is responding to treatment.ORA skin condition that requires a minimum of daily treatment, or daily monitoring/reassessment to ensure that it is responding to treatment.

A: Pressure damage or open wound(s), pressure ulcer(s) with ‘partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis’, which is not responding to treatment.
OR Pressure damage or open wound(s), pressure ulcer(s) with ‘full thickness skin loss involving damage or necrosis to subcutaneous tissue, but not extending to underlying bone, tendon or joint capsule’, which is responding to treatment.
OR Specialist dressing regime in place which is responding to treatment

This was a pre assessment, if you're not happy you can apply to the PCT for a FULL assessment.

Did they give you a copy of the assessment, and details of how to apply to the PCT if you don't agree?



When carers come in, what do they need to do for your Mum?
Also has her sister applied for Carers Allowance?

Elsa xx

That's interesting thank you, however When I pushed on the leg issue she said that even if that was upgraded to an A there still wasn't enough points to qualify and no we haven't as yet been given a copy of the assessment.

Prior to the admission we'd only had the new carers for a week but they were coming in x 2 to get mum washed first thing and getting her dressed and given breakfast and helped to her chair. Then 1 would come in lunchtime to check she was OK, take her to toilet, clean and change pad as required, and get lunch.

Doc says she can't now walk so will need 2 carers each time 4 times a day

Carers allowance is received

We will see how she is ourselves once she's home but it's not looking good they say that she's giving up slowly and there's no chance of her getting better now. In some ways I want her to let go as she has no life now, sad for the family but better for her. All stemmed from a stroke

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

It must be awful for you. All you can do then is push for a reassessment when the time is right.

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

The carers we had set up are a small team set up by an experienced carer but newish and hence some £5.00 per hour cheaper but seemed perfect for the care as needed before hospital, however sis got call today to say that they couldn't carry on because social worker at hospital is saying Mums need is 2 carers x 4 times a day and at the moment they just can't provide that. Social worker was supposed to ring back with suggestions that he could provide at a cost but hasn't as yet, so another night in hospital for Mum.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

What a state this country is in!!!

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Very true, we seem to want to sort out other countries issues before our own.

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Mums been in a care home for about 3 weeks now as my sister can't cope. Mums paying the full amount for her care in the home. I've just found online about NHS nursing care contribution which is apparently £110.89 per week and not means tested. It's paid directly to the home so should reduce the amount Mum has to pay.
Does anyone know if she will lose her attendance allowance if she claims this ?

Thx


Edit....Just found out you can still get AA in these circumstances

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Time to ask for a reassessment?

[lookingforward]

Re: Continuing Healthcare

Time to ask for a reassessment?

I'm not sure at the moment, but I'm going into see her today and I'm going to ask the home about the other payment as it would be £110.00 off the bill per week at least, not sure if it can be back dated, but why oh why do we have to find out about all this on our own, how many people must be missing out ?