Sal,
since the carers main aim seems to be to be in and out as quickly possible, I can’t see them not wanting to use the shower chair, nor the manager not adding it to the care plan.
I hope you find a better agency and get the new package in place asap. Agencies vary so much and the attitude of the managers filters down.
Melly1
Melly I don’t know how to change agencies, the social worker who deals with Nan is on leave, nobody else will speak to me and as Social Services pay I don’t think I can just call around and find another can I? It really would make things a little quicker so I really hope your right…Monday is the decision day so until then we just have to wait and see which is the hard part.
Hi Sall,
Think carefully how you “sell” the idea to the care manager. Shouldn’t have to be the case, but seems like it is.
In our area, social care use a broker who circulates the care package requirements to agencies on their books (agencies purely selected because they are cheap, regardless of CQC rating …) Our first agency using this system was fine, turning to very good with a change of manager. They were unfortunately part of a National chain that went bust. I think the only way social care would agree for you to select the agency yourselves would be if you switched from commissioned care to direct payments. This would give more choice - but as most social care departments set a limit on the amount they are prepared to pay, this in turn would limit your choice. No harm in ringing around and finding out what the services and charges are and what rate the social care dept are prepared to pay. Commissioned services often cost the dept less as they get a deal from the agency.
Melly1
I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to choose. We are waiting on more details on the direct payment system or PA but haven’t yet heard anymore. I stupidly assumed that once the agency were not able to cover the care required social services hand would be forced but they aren’t interested at all. My next move depends entirely on if they accept the shower chair and what their plans are in filling in the gaps where there is no cover. I fear I have been far too nice and understanding so now it’s serious they won’t take me seriously.
Thank you for your help it’s really appreciated.
I recommend selecting a care company based on CQC rating rather than worrying about the price. You can call or email the provider to ask questions. Research care companies online. Have you had a social worker come out to your property to do a needs assessment yet or not? My advice is to trust your instincts and also read inspection reports carefully as well. You need to be able to trust the provider. Find out as much as possible about services. If possible, ask them to give you a complete list of clubs etc.
Social worker is still on leave…hoping things change on monday on that front! I don’t know of many companies around here so looking to see what’s out there is a good idea. I cannot imagine them funding a high rating cqc inspected agency though and can’t see at this point how we can top it up. 
Why not? It is in their best interests to do so surely?!
Well yes in theory it is but due to declining mobility we are having to argue for the duration of the shower to be increased. They want assessment from current carers and at least 2 of them say a shower does not take 45mins regardless of mobility so getting the hour long term is a struggle. The reason it needs increasing is due to cellulitis and a decrease in mobility due to edema and pre-existing joint issues that have deteriorated {TB, Arthritis etc}. If the carers won’t support the lack of mobility and continue to take risks {showering before Nan is holding both grab rails so she isn’t firm on her feet and is likely to fall/slip} then they won’t increase the duration let alone pay more for a different agency.
I had a duty team manager do the shower a couple weeks ago and we timed it, it took 1hr 5 mins including hair wash…however the regular carers say 35min including hair is the maximum.
Will the team manager’s opinion count or not?
Possibly, possibly not, it will depend on if they go with the majority.
Well either way good luck! Is it possible to show them pictures or not?
I wondered at filming the shower, yet to find a way to stop lens steaming and thus preventing any picture. Time will tell on this I think.
Sadly the shower chair is inappropriate for Nan’s needs thus we are back to where we started. The worst offending carer is now on holiday for two weeks so we have a little time now to work out the next move between care agency/OT and ourselves. The care agency are in favour of the hour visit it’s just persuading some carers to actually use it.
Thank you so much for your support, it means an awful lot and I will apologise now incase I come back with strange questions as we move forward with this.
Can you request another one? Thanks for the update! My suggestion is to ask the occupational therapist to help you.
Yes another one has been requested, it’s just waiting now on what, when etc. One of those time will tell things I guess.
I’m curious as to why the shower chair didn’t suit your nan’s needs?
She’s unable to sit in it, the height is too high and cannot be adjusted but also the biggest problem is the depth {front to back} which cannot be altered either. The only way she can sit on it is perch on the very edge which isn’t safe. I’m not overly sure there will be a solution to this as even with an adjustable height the depth will be a major issue.
We have the same depth issue with toilet seats, dinning chairs, arm chairs in fact all chairs because of a fixed hip, there is no movement at all in her left hip joint and as it’s cause is TB a new hip isn’t possible as it also impacts the femur. The femur was unable to grow because of the TB too so one leg is shorter than the other. This means that hoisting her further back into the chair wouldn’t work either as it would force the joint, break the hip/femur and cause more problems. A pillow wouldn’t help as the depth is too great and even if I could afford to purchase it Dad {whose so far been great at adapting furniture} seems to think little can be done to make it suitable.
The OT is currently on leave so we have some time to work out what to do next.
Oh, my, that is unfortunate! Thank you for explaining. It would be best for the OT to visit. Would some sort of bathroom remodeling help. Extreme I know but I think sometimes the LA might pay?
we have had a bathroom remodel it’s now a wet room kitted out with lots of rails…to be honest I fear it’s not so much an equipment issue as carer issue, they rush and won’t use the allotted hour and don’t wait for Nan to stand and be holding the rails. I blocked one but it’s almost like a “cold” one does it and the rest copy.
It does look that way. Can you ask the OT to come out for a morning call and observe what the carers do? Mum had the OT visit on see if mum could use the sit to stand device. Whilst there, the OT also trained the carers (well the two who were there!).