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John has lived happily in a residential care home for some years.  He has dementia and a pronounced stoop.  Recently, staff discovered that John had a health condition that was affecting his mood and he was becoming depressed and frustrated.  An appointment was made to seek help for John, and Dorset Advocacy was contacted to provide an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA).

Initially, doctors were happy to proceed with surgery to fix the condition. However, after John attended a pre assessment, they wrote to his IMCA, Bev, saying that surgery was not possible owing to potential risks caused by his stoop.

In the meantime, John’s residential home indicated that if John’s condition could not be rectified, he may no longer be able to live there.

Bev undertook research and spoke to other health professionals and identified that there was an operating chair available which would accommodate John’s stoop, thus reducing the risks of surgery.  The doctors were still against proceeding, but Bev made John’s case in writing and at last they agreed. Surgery was carried out, and John’s quality of life was restored.

Without Bev’s involvement, John may have lost his home and been left depressed and living in discomfort.

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