What help can I get for my elderly fragile uncle, who can't cook, do laundry, or clean his own home himself?
My elderly uncle is 75, and is due to be discharged from hospital next Monday, after having all his toes amputated on one foot, and having 6 stents fitted during an angioplasty.
Before he went into hospital, he had 3nr visits per day from carers, where they would change his catheter bag, give medicine and make him a cup of tea. He refuses to be washed, despite telling him how important it is (he's quite stubborn). He lives on his own and the place is a mess - his bed sheets need washing and are full of urine/blood stains (from blood in his urine), there are sheets in his washing machine which have faeces on them, there are cobwebs everywhere. He used a walking frame to shuffle around, and sits in his chair all day, or sleeps all day in bed. His diet is shocking, and has takeaway's every day, which he used to order himself with his mobile. He also smokes. Needless to say, the level of self neglect is awful to witness, but he is refusing to get washed by carers, or eat better.
Now, my mum loves in the same social housing over-55s building (it has 3 flats, and she is in top one). My mum is 73, lives on her own too, and is generally quite fit. She has helped my uncle/her brother occasionally, by arranging either a deep clean of the flat, via a cleaning company, or she'll spend hours cleaning it herself. She'll pop out now and again and get him bits of shopping, and she's tried to fix his broken freezer, to no avail. Problem is, now she can't cope anymore, and it's badly impacting her mental health.
When my uncle went into hospital 8 weeks ago, I have been liaising with the local council deputy social worker. In fairness, he did his best to ensure the on-site assessment discharge team are doing their job before he is discharged. I have had to fill out consent forms and email them to different stakeholders, so I can make certain decisions /seek info regarding his health whilst in hospital. It has been incredibly stressful, both on my mum and I (I work away from home 4 days a week).
The thing is, he has been assessed as 'having capacity ', because he understands his decisions. He knows when something is right or wrong. So we are very limited as to what we can control to better safeguard him.
He is due to be discharged on Monday and , whilst he has a care package for 4nr visits per day, they do not include;
- buying /stocking food.
- cleaning the flat (hoovering, dusting),
- laundry services (he just sits and sleeps in his dressing gown for weeks, and never has his bedding changed unless my mum steps in to help when it gets bad).
I have absolutely no idea where to get help for these things? I mean, ok I might be able to arrange a cleaner to visit once a week, but what about food? Is there a meals on wheels service still for the elderly? What about a laundry service?
I am extremely concerned when he arrives home to his flat on Monday, that he'll have no food in, a dirty bed, in a dirty flat.
What the hell am I supposed to do, as the hospital social worker and OT don't seem to grasp how dire it is for him at home - REGARDLESS if he has capacity and can shuffle on his feet for 10 meters with a frame!
I'd really appreciate anyone's help and advice, because neither my mum or I can take on these responsibilities ourselves.
Posted Jan 9, 2026, 12:02 AM UTC