Help from Social Service

[jasmin26]

I am hoping someone will be able to give me an idea of any help I may be able to get from Social Services.
My 80 year old mother has to have a hysterectomy in the next few weeks and I have been told that she needs someone with her for the first couple of weeks. I work full time and also have to help my sister who has cancer. I am not abe to take a lot of time off work so I am now starting to worry about how I am going to manage.
Can anyone help me with this ?
TIA

[daffy654]

Phone the hospital where your mum is booked to have her operation and ask to speak to the medical social worker, explain the situation to him or her and ask if they can help with either a rest home place for those weeks or some sort of carer package on your mum's discharge from hospital after surgery.

[jasmin26]

thanks daffy, I have never had to do anything like this so just didnt know where to start.

[sunny-dave]

... and just to add to daffy's excellent reply - if you feel that you are not getting the support you need from the hospital, then ask for the number of their PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) co-ordinator. They will be able to push the right buttons to get an appropriate discharge 'package' arranged.

[VHG]

Also all areas with have a "Carers Centre" (usually a charity).

Phone them up and they may be able to get help, or to give you details of organizations who can help.

[jasmin26]

Thank you so much for your advice dave and VHG. I was really starting to panic as there doesnt seem to be enough hours in the day now !

[VHG]

>>> there doesnt seem to be enough hours in the day now !

My wife works for a carers centre and regularly gets calls from carers who are at the end of their tether and are approaching a nervous breakdown.

She has had them crying on the phone and so on. Being a carer (or in your case a double carer) is a very stressful thing.

Hopefully your local carers centre (or the other organizations mentioned) will be able to get you some help.

Make sure you dont make youself ill looking after everyone else.

[naomi24]

In my experience, Social Services don't offer a great deal but you could possibly top it up by getting extra help from elsewhere. Try ringing Age UK. They have contact with all the other charitable organisations who might be able to help.

[jasmin26]

VHG thank you ,your kind words are much appreciated. Naomi, i will look into that as well, thank you.