Hi All
I have just returned from a visit to mums. My sister and I visited the 2 care homes to speak with the home manager. Both seemed very welcoming and informative about the dementia care at different stages ( thank you for suggested questions from TP friends) It was also good to see that activities were going on in both homes ( keyboard player and singing in one, and flower arranging in the other). We decided to put mums name on the waiting list for both,there are spaces available now but we would like to keep mum at home for the summer. I have been online to order name tags in preparation and suddenly it seems more real. Already I am starting to feel guilty and questioning our decision. Mum needs help with shopping, laundry which the family sort on a weekly basis as well as bill paying, cleaning, day care , house maintenance etc . I wonder if she could cope if we got carers to do shopping, wash sheets etc as is getting too much for the family? But then I still worry about her not showering, changing clothes, brushing teeth , taking antibiotics when required etc, and know that carers couldn't be relied on to time visits for when required (they're often varying tea time visits by an hour as it is). Also there are often poo smears in the bathroom, wet floor at all times of the day , which mum sometimes walks through and transfers round the house, so then I think that she does need more care than carers at home could provide, but worried that even though we have Poa Health , the people in authority SW, SS, doctors , may not agree!!