Finally after bumbling along trying to manage to care for my Mum, my brother & I admitted that we needed help. She was diagnosed with mild Alzheimers in 2015. She is supposed to take I donepezil a day max. strength. So, I went to see her doctor on my own initally because I knew when asked that my Mum would say she's fine & that she cooks for herself, shops, cleans & all the other things she doesn't do!! Which she did when I took her under the pretence of having a general check up. By the way she hadn't been seen by a doctor since her diagnosis 2 years ago. I went back to see the doctor after again on my own to see how she found her.
She had a blood & urine test, was weighed, blood pressure etc & for someone of 83 who still smokes, she is as fit as a fiddle really.
The doctor has referred her to Croydon Social Services. Someone from their Duty Team duly rang me within a couple of days & I had a long chat with her. Quite impressed at this stage. She referred Mum to Telecare for safety in the home assessment & to key safe & has asked if we want meals on wheels for her. So all that is good & I'm waiting for these people to contact me. But, she also told me that they get 200-300 referrals a week & it could be months before she has a proper assessment to decide what level of care she needs.
Whilst the practical stuff above is great my Mum struggles to get dressed now, doesn't eat properly & in the social workers' words has difficulties problem solving. My dilemma is do I wait for social services or do I go a different route & contact a private carers?
She had a blood & urine test, was weighed, blood pressure etc & for someone of 83 who still smokes, she is as fit as a fiddle really.
The doctor has referred her to Croydon Social Services. Someone from their Duty Team duly rang me within a couple of days & I had a long chat with her. Quite impressed at this stage. She referred Mum to Telecare for safety in the home assessment & to key safe & has asked if we want meals on wheels for her. So all that is good & I'm waiting for these people to contact me. But, she also told me that they get 200-300 referrals a week & it could be months before she has a proper assessment to decide what level of care she needs.
Whilst the practical stuff above is great my Mum struggles to get dressed now, doesn't eat properly & in the social workers' words has difficulties problem solving. My dilemma is do I wait for social services or do I go a different route & contact a private carers?