My dad is sectioned

[Claire_17051]

Hi newbie here, my 80 year old dad had a mental break down he was sectioned under the mental health act in London his been in there for about 4 weeks and has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. He is no longer sectioned but is still in hospital we have a care plan meeting Wednesday 14th june. I don't really know what to expect from this meeting, I know they are prob going to arrange when he can go home but his really worried about going home and do am I, he lives in a 3 bed council house which is way too big for him and i don't live that close to him and I work full time, there only me that can care for him and what I would really like to do is get him in to wardened accommodation close to me would this be possible to do this as i am in a different borough to him. just don't know where to start to be honest this is a mind field for me. Just need advice please on what to do once his out of hospital. Thanks x

[bowlingbun]

You really need to email our CUK helpline for full details, I know there are some special arrangements as far as care costs are concerned for some people who have been sectioned. You need to know what these arrangements are.
There isn't "only you" to care for him. If he needs care, then this MUST be arranged for him before he goes anywhere. Usually, there is some sort of reablement team who can give free care up to 6 weeks.

Everything needs to be properly arranged BEFORE HE IS DISCHARGED ANYWHERE. Do not let them discharge him with promises of things to come, because they may never ever happen.

Go to the meeting, listen to what they are saying, and be sure to say if you don't think he's going to be safe at home. An OT should visit his home, with him, before discharge, to see how he manages.

[jenny lucas]

I don't know whther this would be any use to you, but when you say supported living, it reminded me that when my MIL had to leave her home, because (with hindsight) dementia was starting off, I moved her into an Abbeyfield home.

The set up was a large house, adapted into what really were 'bedsits for the elderly'. My MIL had a large room with an ensuite, and a bed and sofa etc etc (ie, bedsit), plus a mini fridge and a kettle (no toaster alas as they kept setting the smoke alarms off apparently!).

The deal was that for breakfast, the residents would use the communal kitchens (there was one up, one down), (there were toasters in the kitchens!) (which also had communal laundry facilities as well) (but see below). Then, for lunch they all ate together in the dining room (There were about 15-20 residents, mostly women, with a few men), and they also ate together for dinner as well. The meals were all provided by the house-manager's wife.

There was a communal lounge as well, if the residents wanted to gather after meals, for playing scrabble, etc etc. There were lovely gardens too.

Overall, I thought it a very good 'half-way house' between living on your own entirely, and living in a 'care home'.

My MIL couldn't actually manage to make her breakfasts, so, like several others, she had a morning carer come in to help her shower and get dressed, and then to help her make breakfast. The house manager was very good and came and 'rounded up' the residents for lunch if they hadn't showed up at the time.

As for laundry, I did this for my MIL, when I visited, scooping up the laundry bag and then returning clean laundry the next visit.

My MIL was self-funding, and the cost was around £1500 a month, which sounds a lot (but this is in an area of the Home Counties where a flat can easily cost a thousand pounds a month to rent!), but it included all the electricity etc, and all the meals and the various social entertainments (eg, some visits out, and sometimes entertainers came in, like sing-songs). It was a good deal cheaper than a care home!

Anyway, just a thought, in case that might prove an option for your dad.

[jenny lucas]

PS - the bedsits weren't furnished. Prices depended on the size and 'quality' of the room - eg, my MIL was in one downstairs with French windows to a little patio opening to the lovely gardens, more expensive than one of the upstairs smaller rooms.

[MrsAverage]

Hi Claire
There are different types of section, and which one Dad has been on affects whether help after will be free or not (called section 117 aftercare)
MIND has a load of information 're sections and what happens. The pages are written as though reader is the patient, but you will get the gist.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/sectioning/#.WT8HsGjTW2d

The MIND site is well worth exploring, there are areas for friends and family

[Claire_17051]

Thanks for all your help x