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Would you willingly go into a care home .

(218 Posts)
Shandy57 Tue 21-Jun-22 22:58:36

My neighbour opposite was 85 and had lots of health problems, and I think she waited too long to go into a nursing home. Her daughter lived over an hour's drive away, and my neighbour often rang her late evening to ask her to come. Very difficult. She did agree to have carers, but didn't like being 'put to bed' upstairs at 9 pm. I do understand her reluctance, it is a huge thing to give up your home and lose most of your possessions to live in one room.

I was very sorry she couldn't come to the Jubilee street party, but it would have been painful for her. Her family cleared the house and it was put on the market and sold almost immediately, hasn't completed yet.

welshchrissy Tue 21-Jun-22 22:55:17

My husband has just gone into a care home and believe me it was not a decision we wanted to make. I have cared for him for 20 years and would give everything to have him at home but more important than what I want more than any amount of money is his comfort and safety. I and his grown up children would give every penny we have to make sure he is safe and well looked after. Money does not mean anything when it comes to someone being safe and cared for

MissAdventure Tue 21-Jun-22 22:45:58

With dignitus, you still have to have a measure of ability, so they can be sure you yourself consent freely, without coercion, and so on.
So, in effect, some people have to go there a little sooner than they would have chosen.

BlueBelle Tue 21-Jun-22 22:36:31

But what if you aren’t capable of taking your own life or do you mean ‘dignatatus’ ?

BigBertha1 Tue 21-Jun-22 22:30:30

I won't be doing any of that. I will be taken by a more permanent solution.

BlueBelle Tue 21-Jun-22 22:29:46

I never want to rely on my daughter who s the only one near me but I don’t want to go into a care home ……
I ve worked in them.
Care in the home that would be the best options for me if possible

MissAdventure Tue 21-Jun-22 22:26:42

All a person does by sitting tight at home when they are too frail to be there, is cause no end of problems for their family members.

NotSpaghetti Tue 21-Jun-22 22:22:20

Well, Flora, whilst we may all like to leave things to our children, if the option is to leave them the money but in doing so, have them care for you if you are incapable/potentially incontinent/suffering dementia or worse or for you to spend it all in a care home, I think they would prefer you to be less "generous " with your money and opt for the latter!

Cabbie21 Tue 21-Jun-22 22:14:25

At the age of 92 my mum told me that if Dad died first, she wanted to go into a care home. He did die first and she did go into a care home, self funding ( though she had no idea about the money side of things). She had a new lease of life for six months, no worries about shopping, washing, cleaning, plenty of company and entertainment if she wanted it, or her own space if not. Sadly she became ill and died in the seventh month. The Home was not perfect, but was a good one.
So yes, based on mum’s experience, I would go into a Home if I needed to.
Based on the care home where my sister lives, I would fight tooth and nail to avoid it.

MissAdventure Tue 21-Jun-22 22:10:16

I know someone who moved into a similar set up, run by a housing association, after her husband died.

She absolutely loves it, and has made a couple of really close friends there. smile

GrannySomerset Tue 21-Jun-22 22:09:16

Providing 24 hour care 7 days a week for someone, however much you love them, is simply impossible over an extended period. My DH did not want to go to a nursing home but I could no longer care for him safely at home and we were inches away from a serious accident, possibly to both of us. Cope at home as long as possible, certainly, but remember the phrase I learned as a student teacher about taking children out of school - “What will they say at the inquest?”

Grandma70s Tue 21-Jun-22 22:07:40

That’s well said, imaround.

I live in a sort of ‘sheltered’ flat. Different levels of care, or no care at all, are options. Someone is always on hand should you need them, but nothing is intrusive. I choose to have lunch provided most days, but no other meals. It seems ideal to me. I was finding it difficult to manage in my rather large house and garden, and was paying so many people to do things for me (cleaners, gardeners, handymen, window cleaner and so on) that it seemed more sensible to move somewhere where all these things are part of the service.

I wouldn’t dream of expecting my children to look after me in my old age.

Redhead56 Tue 21-Jun-22 22:03:06

My mum was at home with a care team to help her. My sister and I went to help as much as possible.

When her health deteriorated we had to arrange a care home. She went in there kicking and screaming but there was no alternative.

My husband and I have discussed in detail we will look after each other until there is no alternative.

imaround Tue 21-Jun-22 21:49:08

I will be planning on paying for a care home.

After taking care of my Grandmother for 6 years before her going to a care home, I would NEVER ask family to care for me. I would never even if they asked me to move in. The way this has disrupted my life and, more importantly, my kids lives has been way to much.

No one should be burdened with having to give up major aspects of their lives in order to care for a relative who simply refuses to go into care. Especially when they need extensive medical care.

MissAdventure Tue 21-Jun-22 21:48:36

If that was the best option for the level of care I needed, then I would grit my teeth and go into a home.

In theory, it should be a home from home, with freedom of choice, and the option to involve yourself as little or much as you see fit, so I'd hope to get a place somewhere like that.

crazyH Tue 21-Jun-22 21:46:16

Same as Elizabeth27……..

Elizabeth27 Tue 21-Jun-22 21:44:47

I would rather stay at home and have carers in if needed unless I needed 24hr care then would rather a care home than someone moving into mine. I would never live with relatives nor rely on them for help, I would feel a burden and would not want to disrupt their lives.

Floradora9 Tue 21-Jun-22 21:25:21

DH and I were discussing an old friend who really like to make and keep his money. Now he has dementia and is in a care home . I said that it would break his heart if he knew where all his savings are going and DH said he personally would not mind a home with people to talk to and every meal cooked for him. He does not care that it was eat away most of the money we might leave to our children . I am adament that I will never go into a home regardless of how infirm I am .