Dear LPG, 

I understand that this website is designed so that any and all information that will help the pensioners of Lewisham and its surrounding internet world can share their experiences about any subject that may give insight to help them through those years.

I took on the responsibility of power of attorney for a family member recently and  as a result,  I think that I have a little information to share that may help anyone  who is going through the experience of having to choose a care home  on behalf of someone else at the moment. 

It often happens so suddenly; one day your older family member is fine and the next comes with a stroke, fall or some other debilitating accident that changes everything.  In our case this was followed by months of hospitalisation and then the reality that my relative would never be able to cope on their own again.

This all happened to my family at Lewisham Hospital, and it is at this point that we were faced with a meeting at the hospital and told that we would have to get in touch with social services’ brokerage department who would give us the names of care homes in our area that would be suitable to fulfil our now frailer family member’s needs.  The authorities also stressed how important it is for the bed to be vacated as soon as possible because of their situation.  My relative had some money in the bank which I learned, comes with advantages and some disadvantages.

Please remember that if the person you are acting on behalf of has worked in this country they have paid for the right to be sent to the best home possible and, from your point of view , making the best choice, no matter how long that takes, has to be your priority.

The other thing that no one, representing the authorities ever explains is that there is nothing stopping you from checking out all the care homes in the area, even the ones that don’t have immediate vacancies.  Nearly all the care homes have waiting lists, everyone has the right to view as many as they wish and, with that home's agreement, be added to it.  

I also worked out that no matter how thoroughly one researches the homes, you are never going to be sure if a care home works for the person you are helping until they get there, so being on a waiting list for an alternative placement could be a good thing.  Most of the homes have an adjustment period of about six weeks in place, and there is another advantage.

The prospective resident is going to have to pay for their care if they have more than  £23,250 in the bank ( I am not absolutely sure that this is the most up to date figure, but I don’t think that I am far out),  those weekly payments are likely not to start until the end of that adjustment period because the placement was not at the home that was officially chosen by the resident’s  family or responsible representative .

It is bad enough having to pay out all the money that is expected per week for these placements without having to spend more than you have to.  So please keep this thought in mind and pass it on to anyone you know who may be in this position.

RO,  Downham

LPG found some information that may help.

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