Social care experiences

Lucky girl - I’m surprised at the mums et group saying social care is working. I wonder if they’d say that if they were on the receiving end. My experience of social care for elderly friends/ relatives has been you need to know the system inside out to get it to work . We’ve helped friends get essential care packages they’d been refused

The same goes for children and families . That’s made worse by lack of experienced good quality social workers

i guess they have to tell themselves that.
certainly not my observed experience.
reminds me of the, lessons will be learnt, mantra.

Not my anecdotal experience either.

Unless you are exceptionally lucky you need to organise and pay for care yourself, and even then it’s something of a lucky dip and carers come at the wrong time for the recipient, or are late because too much is expected of them. As far as I have observed, only the seriously well off can afford really good care.

A neighbour living alone and immobilised after surgery following an accident was told social care could not be provided on discharge as it would be 14 weeks before an assessment could be carried out. As she said being entitled to something does not make it available.

Nothing good to report here.
Neither my mum nor my daughter got anything like respectful, appropriate treatment.

I could write a huge list of failings.

In the “good old days” of 4 1/2 years ago we got 6 weeks of free carers up to 4 times a day, starting with a home assessment and the first visit the day after Paw came home, plus visits from a physio and all disability aids fitted for free.
It seems those days are no more

In my ignorance I thought that I may get some help from social workers. On one occasion my mum was in hospital and was assessed to see if she was fit to go home. If she could make a cup of tea and a piece of toast, she was fit to go home. They took her to her kitchen and she couldn't manage to do it so the lady who was assessing her helped and then said she was fine!

My mother had dementia and I explained that she could sound fine for a couple of minutes and please talk to her for longer as she would just repeat herself. They spoke to her very briefly and decided she was fine.

My mum was unable to stand when she was sent home.
I pointed this out and managed to delay for a while, but home she came, where she sat in her chair and was unable to get out of it.

We then had to take her back to A and E, and were told that she now didnt qualify for the 6 weeks support, as she had been discharged.

She had to move in with me for 9 months.

After years of deliberate under-funding by the Government social care is on its knees. Of course most people only realise this once they need it for a loved one. I speak from both experience of having to navigate the system for my elderly father and also the fact that I have a close family member who was a social worker, although they're retired now.

A lot of the problems that the NHS is experiencing at the moment with the delays in operations are due to being unable to discharge elderly people needing social care. So there's a knock-on effect all round. Add in the effects of Brexit where so many dedicated European people who used to work in care have gone home, and you've got a perfect storm.

There's no immediate answer here, it's taken years for the Tories to destroy public services and it will take years of reinvestment and strategic planning to get them back being fit for purpose. Personally I also object to the fact that not only are we funding social care via the council tax but a double whammy of working people having to pay increased National Insurance purportedly for social care too, once they've initially used it for the NHS.

The lady over the road came out of hospital after breaking her hip late last year and had 6 weeks of care. Maybe it depends on your postcode?

It has to be set up before you leave hospital.
I kept asking to speak to the duty social worker and it never happened.

They discharged my mum late one night when nobody was there to speak up.

Good Heavens! Where are these people with such good social care that Mumsnet people mention? I've never heard anything but complaints about how bad things are post discharge. After my 90+ year old MiL was discharged she was assessed as was I as carer. All the social worker came up with was that I'd benefit from a support group and an apology that she couldn't locate one. As if I'd have time to go to one anyway!

I have felt very frustrated by the Mumsnet thread as those responding are social workers who are adamant that it all works fine. There is a new system called D2S - yes really - which stands for Discharge to Assess. It's the latest government buzz "word".

I was a SW many moons ago was employed to do a research project on discharge from hospital, and the basic principle was that assessing for care should happen before discharge so that a return home could go smoothly. They are saying that they get everything in place beforehand, but what happens if the stuff put in is inadequate and the patient then has nowhere to go? I know what happens - some relative finds themselves trying their best to provide care with inadequate equipment and support.

My OH was initially offered the 6 week free package - he was assessed as needing 2 carers 4 times a day. At the last minute this was withdrawn as the agency the SSD used could not provide that level of care. So I had to stand in for 2 carers 4 times a day!!!

What has got under my skin is the complacency of these posters on Mumsnet - they are sure it is all fine.

Not my professional or personal experience either. A wildly tortuous system beset by unnecessary bureaucracy, constant change, staff shortages and exhuastion.

My experience of so called social care started five years ago when my mother became incapacitated, and I know it has become a good deal worse since then.

Elderly people are discharged into the community without adequate care or resources, and local authorities are struggling with lack of funding.
Many will only know when they or relatives are impacted.

There are insufficient qualified social workers and care staff, both domiciliary and in care homes.

What is worse is the goalposts have been moved so that people who previously could expect assessment before hospital discharge now no longer can, and NHS funding is practically non existent for those who should qualify.

Years of lack of funding during austerity badly affected social care, before the pandemic and Brexit impacted, and I can only say it is a reflection of how the elderly and disabled are valued and viewed in our society.

My main support and advice has come from helpful posters on Gransnet.

I have 2 neighbours who are both in 80s and who have been in hospital and now at home. Both had free 6 weeks care and following that they both have carers that attend twice a day.

I was a carer myself and that is the side of the fence that i am knowledgeable about. Regarding the hit and miss times, i can only agree, it was extremely common and i would say it was top of the list for complaints. I used to complain myself to the co-ordinator in the office on behalf of Mrs A B and C, i used to ask them "HAVE YOU NOT GOT A MAP IN THAT OFFICE ???" Not that it did the slightest bit of good !

I would love to agree with mumsnet ? but sadly in my experience it’s just not true. My mum broke her hip and was sent home 8 weeks later still unable to walk, luckily the physio called in to see her the same day , ordered an ambulance and sent her straight back ! They kept her for another 7 week and organised the enablement team to visit for 6 weeks. I then had to have her assessed, she was awarded Carer’s 3 times a day from then.
My dad years ago after suffering a stroke was regularly sent home unable to walk, mum and me had to manage him ourself.
Mum was taken in to hospital a few weeks ago with chest pain, they sent her home at 3am without letting me know. She was distressed and confused next morning when I eventually found her. ?

I'm sitting in a hospital bed reading this. I've broken my ankle and my partner is not able to do much for himself., I'm his carer.
I will be immobile for a few months.

The social package being put into action is amazing. I'm not sure who's involved, but OT have organised 2 carers to come and help 3 times a day, commode and walking frame are being delivered. I won't be discharged until the package is put into place.

As far as I'm aware, Social Services haven't been involved yet - perhaps it'll all start going pear shaped if they are.

It is good that you are not being discharged until it is all in place. The new government scheme does it the other way round!

I do hope your ankle will mend speedily.

Get well bohemian. OT’s offer great practical support

Get well soon Boheminan

Have a speedy recovery Boheminan ?

Refuse to leave until it's all guaranteed to be in place. Hope your poor ankle isn't too sore.