Hello everyone x
Grace , good for you Hun - its just fab to read that you are standing firm
{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}} Amy - so hard when a loved one is so far away and they are poorly xxxxx
Slugsta, I think lemony is right, and the only way that the carers would be able to prepare your Mum's food too is if you paid for a 15 minute slot for her - however, it may be that they wouldn't be able to do it at the same time as they do for D (because that slot is allocated to D's needs)
. You would think that its such a simple thing that it shouldn't be an issue, but I would imagine their reluctance is down to a combination of insurance issues, having to adhere to a care plan that says their visit is purely for D - and the fact that TF is on their case about it means that they would have to be especially careful. Such a shame as I would imagine the company at meal times is as nice for D as it is for your Mum - a pity that TF isn't a little more reasonable. It would be relatively simple, I would imagine, to organise the microwaving of a meal for your Mum, under the heading of facilitating social interaction for D, and having it added to the care plan, which would cover any insurance and 'risk' concerns too. I've had tasks performed for clients' spouses, other relatives, and even friends, included in a care plan before now, on the grounds of 'social interaction', so I'm sure it would be possible.
A failed attempt to visit Mil yesterday afternoon, as once again, after driving round all the car parks at the hospital (twice), I had to give up
Back home I phoned to see how she was, and spoke to someone who seemed awfully 'wooly' - I wanted to know was Mil any better, and got told 'She's been out of bed to go to the toilet and sounds a bit chesty', which doesn't tell me much
As I was about to hang up, this numpty decided to add that
'By the way, she got moved to another ward last night' - so how she would even know that Mil was 'chesty' still, is a bit beyond me!
Had to pick youngest up from her after school DOE classes, so decided to have another stab at going to see Mil for evening visiting on the way back, and actually managed to get a parking space this time! Found the new ward - you have to ring to get in, but its simply a case of pressing a large and well marked button to get out, so I think that its as well that Mil has 24/7 supervision! Mind you, thats not too much of a worry just now, as Mil was in bed, and looking really rough, and her breathing if anything, sounded a lot worse
She now has an oxygen 'tube' around her head and nostrils, which she didn't have yesterday. Still confabulating madly, mainly she was back in the days when she worked for a holiday camp again and there were mentions of everything from her being warned that her dad would kill her if he found out she was courting, through to how on 'our' nights off we go round the pub but she has to watch me because one drink puts me flat on my back! An awful lot of half formed and garbled sentences and comments that made little sense. Talking was leaving her awfully breathless, but its like she can't switch off and stop at all. One of the student MHN's was with her, and I think she must be quite new to dementia care as she once or twice attempted to correct Mil's more obvious inaccuracies - at one point laughing and asking Mil how could she be '19 next birthday', when her grandddaughter was nearly 15? Mil firstly just pointed at youngest, then me and told her that ' its because that's the daughter, and that's the Mother', but this nurse repeated the question and Mil was very suddenly aware that she was getting 'something' wrong, IYKWIM, and looked awfully upset and bewildered. I dived in and said it didn't matter and changed the subject, and Mil seemed to instantly forget the confusion, thankfully. The Nurse wasn't being nasty or anything, I just got the impression that she was struggling with Mil saying something that was so obviously 'wrong' that it was almost instinctive to correct her. I guess (hope) she will learn.
On our way out, I asked to speak to the staff nurse, as honestly Mil really did look and sound worse. However, she told me that the IV antibiotics have been stepped down to oral medication, which is a good sign, and the hope is that Mil will be able to go back to the dementia unit on Friday - so it sounds like appearances were deceptive, and she must be on the mend. Giving up on afternoon visiting for now, OH and I will pop in this evening and see how she is - if she continues to improve and does indeed go back to the dementia unit on Friday, then I'm going to push for us to have the weekend 'off' from visiting, as OH is now on A/L for just over a week and I think that he (and probably I) could do with a break.
Mixed news on the job - 3 T.A.s are leaving from a local school and through a friend who worked there and who knows I am thinking of going back to work, I was asked to put in my CV - having done that, the current status is that the LA are now considering not filling the posts - ARRRGGGGHHHHHHH !. All is not lost, as its possible that will change, I'm told. There is also a unit for kids with special needs attached to the school and my details have been passed to them as they think I may make a good 'one to one' support staff - and of course, there are also other schools in the area that I can try. I'll just keep pursuing it, and hope, I guess.
I've encouraged OH to go out on his bike with a mate for a good run today, and I intend to make the most of this suddenly sunny and gorgeous weather by pottering in the garden and green house - I have lettuce ready to be 'potted on', and a profusion of flower seedlings that I'm going to have to start finding space for in the garden and tubs - I suspect that finding room for the 18/20 sunflower seedlings might just be a bit of a problem
Hope you guys all have a good day xxxx