Once she's medically fit, i.e. recovered from her infections, she needs convalescence. She needs to recover lost weight, muscle strength and fitness. This needs to be full time. Th hospital sent her home without the ability to go to the loo throughout the day or the ability to get dressed. She has a care package of three 20min visits but if anything goes wrong such as soiling herself she has to wait hours for someone to help, and not eat or drink. She is also likely to fall over and cannot get up due to existing problems with her shoulders. I have been told by a senior nurse involved with her care package that in her area they have a small convalescence hospital and this would seem ideal. We have not been offered this so do not know if it is available.
I assume the social worker role at mums hospital is provided by occupational therapists OTs. If so I have spoken at length to the OTs on the wards and being dissatisfied by two of them raised my concerns with their manager who seems to be in charge of all the OTs. I have had a lengthy phone call and received a lengthy email. However nothing meaningful seems to have been done about them and I need to speak to her again and bluntly question why they think it is acceptable to send a malnourished patient home who cannot look after herself and why did they think a minimal care package was suitable. I will ask for a single point of contact and accountability for any further release.
I know I am currently fulfilling a role of carer but I don't need to be paid for it and I also cannot provide all the care she needs. I am also not able to do it full time. Mum qualifies for state care due to her financial situation (even though the hospital initially only told me about private options).
Longer term I will sort out a care or nursing home but I believe the hospital is responsible for at least getting mum to the physical level she went in with.
