Nursing home mistake.

[AniaSM]

I think a terrible mistake has been made with my mother. She is 75 and had a fall so she was in hospital for a few months and she went downhill overnight. She was incontinent, didn't know where she was or what day it was. She was violent with the nurses and generally in a terrible state mentally. The community psychiatrist assessed her and decided she needed to go into a elderly mentally impaired nursing home. Now she's been there about a week and is so much better. She's mobile and just a little confused but nothing like as bad as the other patients. I want her reassessed and sent to a place for people with less severe problems. I'm talking to the social worker tomorrow but I'd like it if anyone knows what my rights are regarding my mum and getting her reassessed and moved? Thanks.

[banned-dot]

my cousin is going through this process at the moment with my aunt, she is 93 and has terminal cancer and from being in hospital very poorly, she has been moved to a hospice and is comfortable and contented and her pain is controlled, she is weak but is able to enjoy the garden view and the whole place is geared towards peace and quiet. Now the social service feel , on medical assessment , that she should move into a nursing home for the short term until her condition deteriorates. the thing is she is happy where she is, but the decision is not based on her choices but the needs of the hospice regarding the bed spaces.
We all think moving her will cause her more harm, but that is what is going to happen, it is bad enough not being able to spend your last weeks at home, but to be moved about because of the care requirements seems harsh, i had no idea there were so many regulations in these places.

[O'Reilly]

Ania, I see the point you are trying to make BUT you said yourself that your Mum being in an elderly mentally impaired home was because a community psychiatrist thought it was the best place AND she has responded well being there. You say she is still confused, well she will be even more confused if you push to have her moved again. Most retirement/residential homes cater for the sick and elderly but they are not equipped to give 24 hour care to those confused/bewildered, and many of these homes do not have registered mental nurses as part of the staff.

Your Mum has a Doctor - get him to visit and assess her. She may well be in the early stages of dementia (hence confusion) and if she has settled well and is getting the attention then why uproot her all over again? She may be better where she is rather than somewhere else that is new which will only increase her anxiety and confusion even further.

[AniaSM]

Thanks O'reilly but shes not as bad as any of the other residents. Shes the only one who can have a cogent conversation. I think they gave drugs at hospital that made her bad. Having her moved may unsettle her but its no good where she is.

[cruella]

Hi AniaSM,
The fact that your Mum had a fall and was in hospital could be part of the reason she was wrongly assessed.
She may have had a UTI at the time, which I would have thought the hospital would have tested for while she was a patient.
As your Mum has only been in this Nursing Home for a week, they have to wait 6 weeks until a final decision is made as to where is best suited for her. Home or Nursing Home.
As her Daughter, you will be invited to the meeting along with the staff and her Care Manager. If you feel she has been wrongly placed, then I advise you to speak with her Care Manager. The staff will have everything noted on your Mum's behaviour since she arrived at the Home. It is possible to have your Mum re-assessed, but I would not rush into anything just now. Speak with her care Manager and the Staff before you decide to do anything. Things may be happening that you know nothing about.
If not, then they may move her if she continues to make good progress.
Good Luck.

[bednobs]

this answer is for banned dot rather than the original poster (sorry i dont know your answer)
Anyway, the hospice probably has a policy of accepting people in their last 2 weeks of life or something similar. if people go on longer than expected, then they have to be moved elsewhere - this is so that that the hospice can accept people with specialist symptom control needs or people who have chosen the hospice as their preferres place of death. Hospices are nice, but if you dont fit their criteria, then you dont fit it. most hospices have a measure of independance, being as they are not usually funded entirely by the nhs. if her pain is now controlled then she needs to give up her place for someone whose pain isnt controlled. I suppose it sucks, but if everyone who feels better stayed indefinately then there wouldn't be any spaces for people who don't feel better

[devil99]

as cruella said your mum may have had a UTI (urinary tract infection) this can make someone very confused and appear to have dementia, get her doctor to give her a full check up, including, bloods, urine test, i hope it works out for you both

[AniaSM]

She did have a UTI. It was supposed to be all cleared up.
Ill have to see what the social worker says tomorrow. Thanks everyone. I feel a bit better.