ChatterBank0 min ago
When do you involve Social Services?
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Socail services are generally very helpful. I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to give them a ring.
10:28 Thu 24th Sep 2009
My neighbour, who is 48, was looking after her elderly mother in their family home. She was receiving Carer's Allowance, in addition to Incapacity Benefit, as she has poorly controlled diabetes along with other health issues. The mother had a series of TIAs which left her confused and unpredictable, and so was forcibly placed in a residential care home 'until she got better'.
My neighbour now has only Incapacity Benefit on which to live, with which she has to meet her bills, feed herself and her animals, which she refuses to get re-homed. She is just not coping. Her house is not just filthy, it is piled high with papers and furniture she will not get rid of because they belong to her mother, and her mother will need her things around her when she gets home. The animals, although well-loved, are starting to suffer, and although we have all offered to help, the offers have been turned down.
On top of this, my neighbour's diabetes is worse, and she has just started on a new insulin regime of 4 injections a day, which she is trying to get her head around.
She does not drive, her mother's care home is an 8 mile round trip and she cannot get a bus.
I have been going into my neighbour's house every morning for the past five days, and found her having a hypo on two occasions. This morning, the dogs had not been out, and had messed all over the kitchen floor. She was oblivious to this. I cleaned it up (which I don't mind doing), but what if she had slipped and knocked herself out when she was on her own?
Financially, the house is in her mother's name, and there are other assets in her mother's name. Her mother's finances are handled by an advocate with power of attorney, who is not interested in my neighbour's situation, and her mother is not able to comprehend the situation. BUT my neighbour insists on buying her mother expensive fruit and vegetable to take when she visits, because her mother 'won
My neighbour now has only Incapacity Benefit on which to live, with which she has to meet her bills, feed herself and her animals, which she refuses to get re-homed. She is just not coping. Her house is not just filthy, it is piled high with papers and furniture she will not get rid of because they belong to her mother, and her mother will need her things around her when she gets home. The animals, although well-loved, are starting to suffer, and although we have all offered to help, the offers have been turned down.
On top of this, my neighbour's diabetes is worse, and she has just started on a new insulin regime of 4 injections a day, which she is trying to get her head around.
She does not drive, her mother's care home is an 8 mile round trip and she cannot get a bus.
I have been going into my neighbour's house every morning for the past five days, and found her having a hypo on two occasions. This morning, the dogs had not been out, and had messed all over the kitchen floor. She was oblivious to this. I cleaned it up (which I don't mind doing), but what if she had slipped and knocked herself out when she was on her own?
Financially, the house is in her mother's name, and there are other assets in her mother's name. Her mother's finances are handled by an advocate with power of attorney, who is not interested in my neighbour's situation, and her mother is not able to comprehend the situation. BUT my neighbour insists on buying her mother expensive fruit and vegetable to take when she visits, because her mother 'won
Good luck with Social Services. THe service you receive depends upon where you live, the age of the person, the problem, how much its gonna cost and the actual workers assigned to the case.
If this relates to family contact them, there is not the same "stigma" as years ago. When you call you will speak to a duty officer and basic details will be taken over the phone. Depending upon the situation will depend upon what happens next and how quick. This is followed by an assessment of the family member, this can be a phone assessment followed by a visit where a full assesment takes place. Medical history, benefits, needs etc are discussed. No two cases are the same. Age groups are treated differently and yes, old people are not shown much respect unless someone kicks social services up the backside.
It is good to have the GP on your side plus any other agencies involved.
I deal with SS on my mothers behalf, she is 85 and seriously disabled, very frail with early dementure. My aunt aged 81 is her career with her own health issues. If I did not yell at SS they would not bother with either of them.
Some social workers are cold and uncaring others take time and actually care - this is a lottery. I have complained about social workers in the past, not a lot happens but another case worker is assigned.
The general view during my mothers last assessment earlier this year was i) I should worry about my own life ii) put my mother and aunt in homes iii) this would take the presure off me, iv) the council would love to have the house back.
I was very angry, my view was they would not dismisss a younger person with similar medical condition so why should they dismiss my mother.
If you are concerned about someone outside your family, call them, but you will have to provide evidence as to what is going on.
Sorry if this sounds like I am moaning but this
If this relates to family contact them, there is not the same "stigma" as years ago. When you call you will speak to a duty officer and basic details will be taken over the phone. Depending upon the situation will depend upon what happens next and how quick. This is followed by an assessment of the family member, this can be a phone assessment followed by a visit where a full assesment takes place. Medical history, benefits, needs etc are discussed. No two cases are the same. Age groups are treated differently and yes, old people are not shown much respect unless someone kicks social services up the backside.
It is good to have the GP on your side plus any other agencies involved.
I deal with SS on my mothers behalf, she is 85 and seriously disabled, very frail with early dementure. My aunt aged 81 is her career with her own health issues. If I did not yell at SS they would not bother with either of them.
Some social workers are cold and uncaring others take time and actually care - this is a lottery. I have complained about social workers in the past, not a lot happens but another case worker is assigned.
The general view during my mothers last assessment earlier this year was i) I should worry about my own life ii) put my mother and aunt in homes iii) this would take the presure off me, iv) the council would love to have the house back.
I was very angry, my view was they would not dismisss a younger person with similar medical condition so why should they dismiss my mother.
If you are concerned about someone outside your family, call them, but you will have to provide evidence as to what is going on.
Sorry if this sounds like I am moaning but this
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