Before everything that happened over the past year, our dad, Keith, was fully independent. He loved simple routines: daily walks around the local country park, stopping at Wetherspoons for a limeade, listening to music, and settling in to watch a good film.

He would call us every day just to check in. Those small conversations were part of the rhythm of our lives, and they meant more than we realised at the time. We miss those phone calls more than anything.

In February 2025, our dad experienced a severe bipolar episode. As his condition worsened, we were left trying to manage the situation at home while repeatedly asking services for help. Despite numerous contacts with emergency and health services, he was not admitted for psychiatric care during this time.

It was only when he began to develop serious physical complications, including urinary retention and severe constipation, that he was admitted for further treatment. Over the following months he was in and out of hospital for around two to three months as his health deteriorated.

During this period our family experienced several distressing events while trying to support him. At one point he was discharged from hospital without the family being informed and went missing. He was later found by a member of the public having sustained a head injury. On another occasion, while an inpatient in hospital, he became lost again and was later located outside the hospital grounds.

These events were frightening and deeply upsetting for our family, and we often felt that we were struggling to advocate for his safety and wellbeing within a fragmented system.

Sadly, our dad’s physical and mental health have declined significantly during this time. He now lives in a nursing home in Castle Donnington and requires full-time care. He is also subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation and no longer has the capacity to make decisions about his own health and welfare.

While the staff caring for him are doing their best, there have been incidents that have caused us concern for his safety and wellbeing, which makes it even more important for us to remain actively involved in decisions about his care.

Recently we encountered another serious issue following a hospital stay at Leicester General Hospital. Our dad had taken lithium (Priadel) for many years to manage his bipolar disorder. During his hospital admission this medication was stopped, but neither our family nor the nursing home were given a clear explanation for why this decision was made.

Because our dad no longer has the capacity to make decisions about his care, we are unable to apply for Power of Attorney. The only way for us to legally advocate for him, access the information needed about his treatment, and be properly involved in decisions about his care is to apply to the Court of Protection for deputyship for health and welfare.

Unfortunately, the deputyship process is complex and costly. As a low-income family living some distance away from the nursing home, we are already struggling with the financial demands of travel, administration, and ongoing advocacy for our dad.

We are heartbroken by what has happened over the past year. Watching someone you love decline so dramatically is incredibly painful. We know he may never return to the person he once was, but we want to do everything we can to ensure that he is safe, treated with dignity, and given the best possible care for the future.

We are therefore asking for help to cover the costs of the deputyship process so that we can legally advocate for our dad and ensure that his health and welfare decisions are made in his best interests.

How you can help

If you are able to donate, any contribution towards the cost of the deputyship process would mean a great deal to our family and will help us ensure that Keith’s care and wellbeing are properly protected.

If you are unable to donate, you can still support us by sharing this page or by contacting the local MP for Melton and Syston, Rt Hon Edward Argar MP, to ask for his support in reviewing Keith’s situation. A template email is included below that you are welcome to copy and send.

Even small actions, whether donating, sharing, or sending an email, help us continue advocating for our dad and ensuring that his care is taken seriously.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you are able to give.

Please use the below template and send to Edward Argar. Contact email address can be found here

Subject: Request for assistance regarding constituent’s care and advocacy

Dear Rt Hon Edward Argar MP,

I am writing to ask for your support regarding the situation of Keith Horton, who currently resides in a nursing home in Castle Donnington, and whose family have been trying to advocate for his care following a serious decline in his physical and mental health.

Keith experienced a severe bipolar episode in February 2025 and since then has faced a series of complex health challenges, including multiple hospital admissions and a significant loss of capacity. He now lives under a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation and requires full-time care.

During this period his family have described several distressing incidents and ongoing concerns about communication and coordination between services, including occasions where Keith went missing during hospital care and a lack of clarity around changes to long-standing medication that had previously been part of his treatment for many years.

Because Keith no longer has the capacity to make decisions about his own health and welfare, his family cannot obtain Power of Attorney. They are now required to apply to the Court of Protection for deputyship so they can legally advocate for him and be involved in decisions about his care.

I understand that the family have previously attempted to contact your office but have not yet received a response. Given the seriousness of the circumstances, I would be grateful if you could review this case and consider whether your office might be able to assist or offer guidance to help ensure that Keith’s care and wellbeing are properly safeguarded.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for any support you may be able to provide.

Kind regards,

[Name]

[Postcode]