Following scans, tests etc my mum was recommended Aricept by her psychiatric consultant, after a home visit in April. As mum lives alone with no carer or care package, the Dr can't start medication. His Old Peoples Team have been visiting mum with a view to getting a care package in place which must involve at least one visit a day, but 7 days a week, so that the carer can dispense the Aricept. Months have gone past and any (rare) phone calls with the Team involves everyone muttering that mum is fiercely independent and that getting a carer 7 days a week is hugely problematic. I am 200 miles away and have been trying to keep a low profile as mum would explode if she thought I was even in the loop. Mostly she maintains that there is nothing wrong - it is such a shame. My getting involved and pushing the Team will cause ructions with Mum and myself and, no doubt the Team. Mum doesn't want any help of any kind but is it worth pushing that brick wall - are there benefits from the medication that would make it worth making noises? Sadly I fear that without my making waves nothing will happen (and we say that we are the 3rd richest economy in the world). It is 5 months since I managed to shoehorn Mum in to see her Doctor and actually nothing much has happened via the NHS to assist her. Is this a common problem or is Mum in a bad postcode area in Scotland?
Any practical findings on success or otherwise of Aricept would be of interest to me. Mum is described as having good going moderate dementia. Her short term memory is all but gone (mini mental state test 15 out of 30)and she is having difficulty articulating. The consultant's opening words to me were that someone with her level of difficulty would normally be in a care home by now - yet 5 months later she has survived another 5 months where she wants to be - in her own home which she keeps tidy and in her beloved garden.
Thanks for this, pebble
Any practical findings on success or otherwise of Aricept would be of interest to me. Mum is described as having good going moderate dementia. Her short term memory is all but gone (mini mental state test 15 out of 30)and she is having difficulty articulating. The consultant's opening words to me were that someone with her level of difficulty would normally be in a care home by now - yet 5 months later she has survived another 5 months where she wants to be - in her own home which she keeps tidy and in her beloved garden.
Thanks for this, pebble
