New to forum

[Faith34]

Hi there
Am hoping this forum will give me some inspiration, strength, courage. In the future, I hope that I can supply to others.
My dad has vascular dementia (also a shunt for normal pressure hydrocephalus) - he's been living with us for 18 months - he's deteriorated greatly since Christmas. He's not had a shower for over 5 weeks as always not up to it ... does this mean it's time to get carers in?
Thank you.

 

[Cat27]

Welcome to TP

I think it's defiantly worth trying carers to give you a hand.
You may find this helpful. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=155

 

[Izzy]

Hello and welcome from me too. I do think it's could be time to look into getting carers organised. This Factsheet describes the assessment for support process. It might of interest you you. I'm glad you found this forum.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=131

 

[2jays]

Always a good idea to get carers in, even if they only chat. The sooner someone gets used to others being in the house, the less likely it's going to be really hard to do so if a crisis happens

Welcome from me too xxxxx


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point

 

[balloo]

Hi there
Am hoping this forum will give me some inspiration, strength, courage. In the future, I hope that I can supply to others.
My dad has vascular dementia (also a shunt for normal pressure hydrocephalus) - he's been living with us for 18 months - he's deteriorated greatly since Christmas. He's not had a shower for over 5 weeks as always not up to it ... does this mean it's time to get carers in?
Thank you.

why would get carers in we have been looking after MIL f0r 3 years and has Vascular dementia and from day 1 I had to supervise bath and now we have a bath lift and have one every day MIL went through not wanting one is was because she did not feel safe on her own getting in and out the bath lift is a god send.
carers are £20/ hr where we are and as we had to sell her house she would have to pay. attendance allowance does not go far buying incontence pants now

 

[AnneED]

Hi,

Hope you find the forum useful, many of us do.

I guess the answer to your question is, it depends.

If you are finding it too hard to manage your dad without help, yes, try assistance from care staff.
If your dad needs more than one person to move him around or manage him, then, again yes.
If you are hoping that care staff will be able to manage to get him to do what you can't do, then I'd say it depends. There are skilled carers who are very accustomed to dementia and can be very good with their carees; but there are also people who aren't very good with dementia and sometimes it is so hard, it's difficult for anyone to make progress with an issue.

I'd encourage you to have a look at the stuff signposted as it can help you to short cut towards a better understanding of what works generally. Most posts on the forum get some sort of answer from someone who knows about a particular issue from their own situation so I'm sure you'll find it useful generally and it's certainly supportive.

If your dad is more likely to agree to have a bath, some hospices have baths 'with technology' and if they have a dementia day or times when dementia patients are welcome they might be able to help out with this.

My criteria with mum and showers are: does she smell? If not I don't worry too much.