A lifelong friend and me

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Palerider

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Aug 9, 2015
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I too am fed up with being messed around.

After OHs spell in hospital his mobility has declined - he is much more unsteady on his feet. We have had grab rails put in the shower, but OH needs an OT to assess whether he is safe to shower and Im waiting for them to contact me. In the meantime OH has not had a shower since he came home from hospital.

I will also need carers to come in and help him shower and dress and Ive contacted several care agencies about this. One was supposed to be coming this afternoon to assess him, but didnt turn up. The rest havent even phoned back.
We will be self-funded (at least for a while), but even so it feels like no one can be bothered and Ive wasted a whole afternoon.

I guess they are simply overwhelmed with numbers, but it doesnt make me feel better.

@canary I can only say I agree, its shocking, no one else would get this other than someone with dementia
 

Lynmax

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Nov 1, 2016
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Palerider, I agree with, this waiting game is ******* appalling, no one should be treated the way some people with dementia or their carers are treated. You shout very loudly to the authorities, rant to them, make a nuisance of yourself until they get their finger out! I would! Sometimes those who shout the loudest get the attention.

Have you contacted your MP? I recently emailed my mums local Councillor about her bin collections ( totally petty compared to your current worries but still taking up my time trying to talk to her very dementia unfriendly council) and it was amazing how quickly we reached a solution with her help.

The current funding situation is a joke, each LA or SS dept seem to operate by different rules and we need a degree to understand it! I know this country cannot afford to pay for the care of everyone who needs it without means testing but there needs to be a universal fairer system which is transparent to all. Those who do have some funds subsidise the LAs by paying higher fees so that care homes can break even with the low rates LAs pay - what is all that about!

My mum will be self funding when the times comes to consider residential care but for how long before her money runs out? I have a friend in that situation right now, her mum has paid for her own care for nine years but now the money has run out. She approached the LA six months ago but is still waiting to be told where her mum can live - her current care home will not accept the amount that the LA will pay so without top ups from my friend ( not possible) a move is on the cards. In the meantime, there are three months of outstanding fees and this really upsets my friend.

Grrrr, sorry for going on but it makes me so cross when I see people like you Palerider and my friend struggling against incompetent gvt departments. I hope things get sorted out soon, what would happen if you have a breakdown with the stress and could not be there for your mum? And it's not fair on your mum either.

Hopefully you will hear something very soon so that you can get your life back. Take care and remember, sone of us on here are not too far from you if you fancy another lunch meeting.
 

Palerider

Registered User
Aug 9, 2015
4,160
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56
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Palerider, I agree with, this waiting game is ******* appalling, no one should be treated the way some people with dementia or their carers are treated. You shout very loudly to the authorities, rant to them, make a nuisance of yourself until they get their finger out! I would! Sometimes those who shout the loudest get the attention.

Have you contacted your MP? I recently emailed my mums local Councillor about her bin collections ( totally petty compared to your current worries but still taking up my time trying to talk to her very dementia unfriendly council) and it was amazing how quickly we reached a solution with her help.

The current funding situation is a joke, each LA or SS dept seem to operate by different rules and we need a degree to understand it! I know this country cannot afford to pay for the care of everyone who needs it without means testing but there needs to be a universal fairer system which is transparent to all. Those who do have some funds subsidise the LAs by paying higher fees so that care homes can break even with the low rates LAs pay - what is all that about!

My mum will be self funding when the times comes to consider residential care but for how long before her money runs out? I have a friend in that situation right now, her mum has paid for her own care for nine years but now the money has run out. She approached the LA six months ago but is still waiting to be told where her mum can live - her current care home will not accept the amount that the LA will pay so without top ups from my friend ( not possible) a move is on the cards. In the meantime, there are three months of outstanding fees and this really upsets my friend.

Grrrr, sorry for going on but it makes me so cross when I see people like you Palerider and my friend struggling against incompetent gvt departments. I hope things get sorted out soon, what would happen if you have a breakdown with the stress and could not be there for your mum? And it's not fair on your mum either.

Hopefully you will hear something very soon so that you can get your life back. Take care and remember, sone of us on here are not too far from you if you fancy another lunch meeting.

I am very stressed at the moment and have reached the point I just want this all to stop, I can't describe how I feel right now. Its bad enough dealing with the guilt trip of placing mum into respite and then on top of that waiting and waiting not being able to do anything until that step has been taken. If she hadn't become so agitated and started wandering I would say forget the whole thing and we'll carry on, but that isn't workable anymore as things are now.

Its intense at the moment, and I can't sit in peace for five mins to collect my thoughts and resolve some of the guilt I feel at what needs to happen now. Mum is constant non-stop, and that is now hard going, she wasn't like this a few weeks ago, so its a big change.

I think a lunch and chat would be great, but when this is sorted. I wouldn't be able to leave mum alone now. I have my nieces wedding next week and I don't know how I am going to attend if mum is still here, as she cannot be left alone
 

Palerider

Registered User
Aug 9, 2015
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This is really tough, I hope you hear something soon, as you say dementia is the Cinderella illness.
The symptoms are as complex it not more than other illnesses.
Like many we planned for retirement but no one can plan for dementia on a normal income.
It should be a shared risk.
Look after yourself if you can. X

Thanks @AliceA
 

Lynmax

Registered User
Nov 1, 2016
1,045
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I am very stressed at the moment and have reached the point I just want this all to stop, I can't describe how I feel right now. Its bad enough dealing with the guilt trip of placing mum into respite and then on top of that waiting and waiting not being able to do anything until that step has been taken. If she hadn't become so agitated and started wandering I would say forget the whole thing and we'll carry on, but that isn't workable anymore as things are now.

Its intense at the moment, and I can't sit in peace for five mins to collect my thoughts and resolve some of the guilt I feel at what needs to happen now. Mum is constant non-stop, and that is now hard going, she wasn't like this a few weeks ago, so its a big change.

I think a lunch and chat would be great, but when this is sorted. I wouldn't be able to leave mum alone now. I have my nieces wedding next week and I don't know how I am going to attend if mum is still here, as she cannot be left alone

That's a plan then, once your mum is in a safe place, I'll arrange a Meetup and you can vent as much as you like! Or we can talk about other lovely things such as holidays, cooking, music and books. And I'll bake a cake!

Just remember, you will get through the stressful situation, there is a life when all this is over and you deserve a happy one. In the meantime, keep fighting the system in the loudest way you can, get your voice heard.

I hope things are a little better today.

Anne
 

Palerider

Registered User
Aug 9, 2015
4,160
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56
North West
That's a plan then, once your mum is in a safe place, I'll arrange a Meetup and you can vent as much as you like! Or we can talk about other lovely things such as holidays, cooking, music and books. And I'll bake a cake!

Just remember, you will get through the stressful situation, there is a life when all this is over and you deserve a happy one. In the meantime, keep fighting the system in the loudest way you can, get your voice heard.

I hope things are a little better today.

Anne

Thanks Anne, its hard to realise life does go on when in a situation like this.
 

Palerider

Registered User
Aug 9, 2015
4,160
0
56
North West
Its hard going, still haven't heard anything and its now Friday. I am beginning to give up on this plan now as I am the only person that seems to be stressing. The SS haven't even called me to update me, I have to chase them and my brother hasn't been near all week, nor offered help, despite saying he would come and visit at least.

What is the point?? I should have stayed at work, and allowed this situation to reach crisis point
 

DesperateofDevon

Registered User
Jul 7, 2019
3,274
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Its hard going, still haven't heard anything and its now Friday. I am beginning to give up on this plan now as I am the only person that seems to be stressing. The SS haven't even called me to update me, I have to chase them and my brother hasn't been near all week, nor offered help, despite saying he would come and visit at least.

What is the point?? I should have stayed at work, and allowed this situation to reach crisis point

Oh my lovely my heart goes out to you. The unfairness of the situation ... no words can express it. Only other option open to you is when your poor Mums next agitation period happens call 999 or 111! 999 will get a quicker response but I know myself that’s a hard choice to make

the system is broken beyond belief, the franchising of care has led to this situation & we are left to struggle on.

I had to walk away from Mums care & let crisis after crisis happen. Horrid experience!

keep posting
Sending (((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))
 

Lirene

Registered User
Sep 15, 2019
243
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Bless her and all the great grandparents, grandparents, mums, dads, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, children, friends, acquaintances neighbours - everyone we know, don’t know and are yet to meet. We care, worry and howl in the night when no one can hear. Try and keep going dear friends, it’s tough, so very tough, but we are strong and have to keep going for the weak and weakened. Hopefully inner strength will come. At the end of the day it can happen to any one of us - there but for the grace of God. As charge nurse said yesterday ‘ I hope my wife would fight as hard for me as you have for your husband’. Don’t give up, keep fighting, at the end if the day they only have us. My love and prayers xx
 

Woo2

Registered User
Apr 30, 2019
3,652
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South East
It must seem that way . I think you have done your very best for your lovely mum and even this plan that you have started to try and get in place is the best for her too as you have tried to head off a crisis and save her any unnecessary stress. Hang in there , hopefully won’t be much longer fingers crossed . Not a shock about your brother , is he burying his head in the sand or always been this way ? My sibling is much the same :( .
 

DesperateofDevon

Registered User
Jul 7, 2019
3,274
0
It must seem that way . I think you have done your very best for your lovely mum and even this plan that you have started to try and get in place is the best for her too as you have tried to head off a crisis and save her any unnecessary stress. Hang in there , hopefully won’t be much longer fingers crossed . Not a shock about your brother , is he burying his head in the sand or always been this way ? My sibling is much the same :( .

sometimes I’m really grateful I’m an only child!!
 

Bunpoots

Volunteer Host
Apr 1, 2016
7,344
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Nottinghamshire
I feel your frustration @Palerider . I had the same problems with SS last year when I was trying to get care sorted out for my dad. They seem to have no sense of urgency.

In his case it did end up as a crisis...
 

DesperateofDevon

Registered User
Jul 7, 2019
3,274
0
I sometimes wished I was :( I get no help just criticism , that is more to do with their own failings I feel .
It’s easier for some to pass criticism than step forward. Yes that’s there failings, I have tried ignoring it & rising above it ...grrrrr......is the best description I have to express the emotion that brings!

I even tried - well if you can do better then please feel free to..........yes then the excuses flow !!!!

so I now say very bluntly - it’s easy for you to say but you aren’t willing to put your words into practice! I then hold my hand up & say no please no excuses, if you can’t support me then don’t comment!

yep it’s a sure way of leaving that annoying opinionated person with an open mouth ...but I recommend running shoes for a hasty retreat!
 

Woo2

Registered User
Apr 30, 2019
3,652
0
South East
It’s easier for some to pass criticism than step forward. Yes that’s there failings, I have tried ignoring it & rising above it ...grrrrr......is the best description I have to express the emotion that brings!

I even tried - well if you can do better then please feel free to..........yes then the excuses flow !!!!

so I now say very bluntly - it’s easy for you to say but you aren’t willing to put your words into practice! I then hold my hand up & say no please no excuses, if you can’t support me then don’t comment!

yep it’s a sure way of leaving that annoying opinionated person with an open mouth ...but I recommend running shoes for a hasty retreat!

All very good responses :D. Unfortunately situation deteriorated so I no longer have any contact . Would like to say that it’s easier now but it’s not, hey ho on we go.
 
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