"Trying to access care for parents"

Thanks

I have tried to phone the number you left this afternoon but unfortunately reception is closed so it doesn't seem possible for me to be put through to your extension number.

I have left a message on the ansaphone.

Thanks for your call & helpful pointers.

We did check the P of A and it has been validly executed and the welfare P of A is activated if the attorneys reasonably believe that capacity has been lost. So legally no Doctor’s certificate is required.

Things have deteriorated again for us - the “carer” parent has been admitted to hospital & we are now caring for the dementia sufferer (who is in a queue to be formally diagnosed).

We have contacted the Council again who were reluctant to accept that the Attorney could act for the dementia sufferer as laid down by the legal document & have explained that as a care package was refused, the file is closed & in order to receive a care package there needs to be another assessment (and there is a waiting list for this) and then there will be a further wait for carers to be found.

There is a queue for a specialist doctor to assess the dementia sufferer and provide a certificate.

To us it seems ridiculous that a further assessment is required- it is not that we are being told there is an issue over eligibility for care & the need is now more than it was as the dementia sufferer has no carer (he is in hospital and in all likelihood will need care on discharge if he lives).

A further assessment seems a waste of public resources - and a further delay. The reality is that there is a shortage of care available so even if eligible it doesn’t exist. We have tried the private sector for care at home - in our area it doesn’t seem to exist.

To obtain help from social services it looks as if we need to abandon the dementia sufferer so she is judged to be in “crisis”. Social services appear to be content to allow vulnerable adults to put themselves at risk - it is convenient for the system if there is a delay in diagnosis & refusal of help by the frail. It means the reality of no carers being available is kicked down the road & nothing needs to be done. File closed.

We are self-employed so have more flexibility than others - but find the situation extremely stressful and believe there is a huge waste of resources - what is required is more carers (not never ending forms, assessments etc).