Hi, I am a dementia nurse specialist, I work with people with BPSD, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia who live in their own homes. I am also a Carer of my 94 yr old dad who has dementia and lives on his own.
So, work wise we have been told no visits only phone, text ,email support. If however emergencies occur when we have PPE we will visit. I will share this forum with Carer’s who use the internet. I often feel impotent when trying to support families affected by this debilitating condition but now I am very frightened for people. This week is the first time we are recommending prescribing night sedation, but what does an older person caring for an agitated partner do? Lots of advice given in regards to non pharmacological interventions and strategies, the fact sheets on this website are excellent.
So, onto my dad, I and his Carer’s have to keep visiting him, he does his own personal care but is a risk in the kitchen and needs help in orientation and just basic help in holding onto himself. He hallucinates and this increases when he’s socially isolated and has called the police or wandered out side with his Zimmer frame looking for someone. So, well keep going, taking all precautions we can. I wonder if the d/n s will visit to do his compression bandages? Without this he ends up in hospital. When I talked to him about the risks of people visiting and bringing Covid19 he was pragmatic saying, “I’m going to have to die of something”. At 94 I guess he does.
It such a hard time for everyone and we must all do what we can to support one another
So, work wise we have been told no visits only phone, text ,email support. If however emergencies occur when we have PPE we will visit. I will share this forum with Carer’s who use the internet. I often feel impotent when trying to support families affected by this debilitating condition but now I am very frightened for people. This week is the first time we are recommending prescribing night sedation, but what does an older person caring for an agitated partner do? Lots of advice given in regards to non pharmacological interventions and strategies, the fact sheets on this website are excellent.
So, onto my dad, I and his Carer’s have to keep visiting him, he does his own personal care but is a risk in the kitchen and needs help in orientation and just basic help in holding onto himself. He hallucinates and this increases when he’s socially isolated and has called the police or wandered out side with his Zimmer frame looking for someone. So, well keep going, taking all precautions we can. I wonder if the d/n s will visit to do his compression bandages? Without this he ends up in hospital. When I talked to him about the risks of people visiting and bringing Covid19 he was pragmatic saying, “I’m going to have to die of something”. At 94 I guess he does.
It such a hard time for everyone and we must all do what we can to support one another
