HI all, newbie post here, so apologies if this is more of the same for you folks...So my Dad has signs of dementia now, and I am at the stage where i need to reach out for help, or at least find out what those options are for help. I have been researching but i am going in circles, overwhelmed, and frankly very confused on how to proceed. My main problem is I now live in US, i moved over around 8 years ago and my folks are still in the UK. My Dad has rapidly declined over the past month or two, has kind of blindsided me with the extent of the problem. We chat on Skype most weekends and I didn't realize how much of a problem was there until my Mum finally cracked and decided to fill me in.
My Mum is trying to cope, but she her self has an ongoing leg injury (getting on for 2 years now) which, for the most part, makes her very dependent on my Dad helping her out driving her to appointments, dressing the wound etc. Now however, my Dad seems less and less able to help, and seemingly incapable of doing simple tasks like shopping without being supervised. He is prone to confusion, agitation, forgetting what task he was doing, mixing keys up and so on.
I am trying to work out what they need to do next. Dad wont go to the docs as he doesn't think anything is wrong, and from what my mum is saying, he needs to be diagnosed before being able to receive any help in the form of a carer or any other assistance out there. (this being a major factor i simply don't know about)
Could someone shed any advise on what i should try to do to get them some help? Would they be eligible for any assistance without a diagnosis? Is it possible to get an in home assessment from a GP? Dad has started to randomly "Go to the pub" at very odd hours, he drove to the supermarket to get shopping and came back empty as he didn't know how to get out of the car, and also my mum said he has fallen a few times and not understood what was happening.
Help with resources, processes, well anything really, I have never felt more disconnected from anything being so far away. I have managed to secure power of attorney and access to their bank accounts from over here, but in regards with how to proceed with looking for aid, I am at a loss.
Thanks, and sorry for the long post...ANY advise is greatfully received
My Mum is trying to cope, but she her self has an ongoing leg injury (getting on for 2 years now) which, for the most part, makes her very dependent on my Dad helping her out driving her to appointments, dressing the wound etc. Now however, my Dad seems less and less able to help, and seemingly incapable of doing simple tasks like shopping without being supervised. He is prone to confusion, agitation, forgetting what task he was doing, mixing keys up and so on.
I am trying to work out what they need to do next. Dad wont go to the docs as he doesn't think anything is wrong, and from what my mum is saying, he needs to be diagnosed before being able to receive any help in the form of a carer or any other assistance out there. (this being a major factor i simply don't know about)
Could someone shed any advise on what i should try to do to get them some help? Would they be eligible for any assistance without a diagnosis? Is it possible to get an in home assessment from a GP? Dad has started to randomly "Go to the pub" at very odd hours, he drove to the supermarket to get shopping and came back empty as he didn't know how to get out of the car, and also my mum said he has fallen a few times and not understood what was happening.
Help with resources, processes, well anything really, I have never felt more disconnected from anything being so far away. I have managed to secure power of attorney and access to their bank accounts from over here, but in regards with how to proceed with looking for aid, I am at a loss.
Thanks, and sorry for the long post...ANY advise is greatfully received