Anyone Applied for Deputyship (when there is no LPA)

[WorriedDD]

My 93 year old father has been in hospital for the past 3 weeks, (he has dementia), pending assessment and then finding a care home for him. He has been assessed as being 'without capacity' and there is no Power of Attorney (as he refused point blank to do one, even though we discussed it with him and he was advised by 2 solicitors, prior to his dementia becoming as bad as it now is). We are having to apply for Deputyship (which I understand can take up to 6 months) and doing this through a solicitor. In the meantime, we are in the hands of the hospital social worker, who is suggesting possible care homes for him. We have so far viewed 2 and they were awful. Couldn't put him in there. The (expensive!) home that he's been in for several weeks of respite this year, have refused to have him back on a permanent basis. I am feeling very stressed, not only about the money situation but about placing him in a suitable care home. I feel that the social worker will soon be putting us under pressure to accept one of the homes she is suggesting. Just wondered if anyone had been in a similar situation and could offer any advice or pass on their experience, please? thank you!

[Chris From The Gulag]

One recommendation is to take a close look at CHC / NHS Continuing Healthcare :

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/support- ... read-35998

A SW in the driving seat ... what's their view on the possibiliy ???

If I were to add that such care is FREE , would that further spark your interest ?

Your father is in no position to safeguard his own interests.

Deputyship ?

The Government web site :

https://www.gov.uk/become-deputy

Alzheimers Society on the same :

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-suppo ... y-dementia

[Elaine]

Hi WDD,
Can't help with deputyship. but from my experience of looking round and choosing a Care Home (which I got wrong) the most important thing is the staff.
You are looking for a good ratio of staff to residents, a policy and experience with dementia residents and a kind and caring attitude. Also will he be able to understand them? (Accents and lack of English?)
Next is food. How will they cope with his likes/dislikes and what do they do when/if he cannot feed himself or cope with solid food.
Next is surroundings. The room may be small but is it light and cheerful. What is in place for toileting, personal hygiene etc.
How much time will be given to getting him out of bed, washed and dressed, making him comfortable?
Then there's occupation during the day. Where can he go? What will be happening? Will there be plenty of staff around. When you visit a Home sit for a while in the 'lounge' or 'day area'. Observe.
Other things would be important for you, if you were living there, but not to your Dad who will be deteriorating steadily. Kind, calm voices, gentle handling, someone nearby at all times are much more important now than views from the window, jigsaws and games, outings and film shows.
Visit as many Homes on the list as possible. Go with your instinct (and sense of smell!).
It's so hard, this choice. Very hard.

[bowlingbun]

Does dad own a property? Have over £23,000 in savings as far as you know? Anyone else living in his old home? Does he even have a home of his own anywhere? You may not need deputy ship.

[WorriedDD]

Does dad own a property? Have over £23,000 in savings as far as you know? Anyone else living in his old home? Does he even have a home of his own anywhere? You may not need deputy ship.

We do need deputyship. He does have over £23k of savings so we are going to have to self-fund. My mum is living in their home, so I know that's not taken into consideration. But thanks for replying.

[WorriedDD]

Hi WDD,
Can't help with deputyship. but from my experience of looking round and choosing a Care Home (which I got wrong) the most important thing is the staff.
You are looking for a good ratio of staff to residents, a policy and experience with dementia residents and a kind and caring attitude. Also will he be able to understand them? (Accents and lack of English?)
Next is food. How will they cope with his likes/dislikes and what do they do when/if he cannot feed himself or cope with solid food.
Next is surroundings. The room may be small but is it light and cheerful. What is in place for toileting, personal hygiene etc.
How much time will be given to getting him out of bed, washed and dressed, making him comfortable?
Then there's occupation during the day. Where can he go? What will be happening? Will there be plenty of staff around. When you visit a Home sit for a while in the 'lounge' or 'day area'. Observe.
Other things would be important for you, if you were living there, but not to your Dad who will be deteriorating steadily. Kind, calm voices, gentle handling, someone nearby at all times are much more important now than views from the window, jigsaws and games, outings and film shows.
Visit as many Homes on the list as possible. Go with your instinct (and sense of smell!).
It's so hard, this choice. Very hard.

Thank you, Elaine. I agree with you about the level of staff and care. One of the homes we visited had 'one nurse' on duty at night, for 46 residents (I forgot to ask whether that just meant one person in total or whether there were other staff there too). That didn't sound good to me - especially as the rooms had no ensuites and he would have to be ringing the buzzer for someone to take him out to the toilet. No, it was just a clear no to me! But the other issue is that it needs to be a local home so that my mum can get there to visit him. So we are limited with the number of available homes anyway. It's not easy.

[Chris From The Gulag]

In case it's needed ... AGE UK ... care home fees guide :

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-ad ... care-home/

They don't come more comprehensive that this one.

[Honey Badger]

In the short term, you could try applying for an emergency deputyship order which may be granted in relation to helping a caree with a decision which may immediately impact their health and well being, which you have demonstrated in your post

In the long term, i have to tell you, actually putting a permanent deputyship in place (becoming a deputy) even in circumstances where everybody is cooperating/collaborating in the best interests of the individual, it can be prolonged and take potentially years for them to grant it. Being blunt people die in the time it takes.. my main (sibling) caree almost died in the time it took to put ours in place.

I would encourage you to seek out a solicitors which specialises in dealing with the MCA, POA, Deputyship and elder care (should not cost anything to ask questions) you should also see if there is any legal aid available

[bowlingbun]

If one of a couple, then £46,000 is the relevant figure, and make certain a proper financial assessment is done in writing, as there may be allowances too. The first ?12 weeks consider income only, if I remember rightly.