Those of you who have to juggle long distance caring, work and family with visiting your loved ones like I do know how difficult it can be timing visits to coincide with appointments. Last weekend was earmarked for a visit to mum. I emailed her OT about something and mentioned I'd be going up and also said I'd be contacting her consultant's sec to see when her next appointment is due, knowing it was sometime in Nov. I got an email back - she'd organised an appointment for 4pm yesterday and said mum was also due for a financial review and she'd tried to get that on the same day but couldn't so would I be around last Friday. I was going up Friday anyway so that one wasn't a problem but Monday was a bit more difficult as I already had patients of my own booked in, and 4pm would mean I wouldn't get home till gone 9pm by the time I'd got her home and settled. (turned out to be 10.40 pm in the end) Anyhow, I managed to change all my appointments and duly toddled off 200 miles up the motorway early Fri morning.
Financial review went off ok - looks like mum should be entitled to Pension Credit but I was warned there's a 5 month backlog but it will be backdated. If she gets it she won't have to pay Council Tax, but she will have to start paying for her daycare and homecare but this should be covered what she'd be getting instead.
So far so good.
Saturday morning a letter plops onto her doormat from the hospital (dated Thurs 6th). Yep, you've guessed it. They've changed her appointment to 9th Dec!!! The letter said it was because she now goes to daycare on Mondays. Yes she does, but it had already been arranged for me to pick her up at 3.30 (which is when she leaves anyway) and take her straight to her appointment. The new appointment is with a completely different consultant too. Needless to say I was livid.
To make matters worse, I'd had to use hubby's car as mine is still in the garage (2 1/2 weeks now)which meant he and the boys couldn't do anything at the weekend (including the shopping)(we live in a village - no public transport at night and very little in the day)
Monday morning we both overslept (hightly unusual for mum who seems to get up around 7am). I took her in a cup of tea at 7.50 and she was in a bit of a panic as she had to be ready to go to the daycentre by 9am. We just made it. And then we waited (me still in my pyjamas not daring to get in the shower just in case the driver turned up).
Meanwhile I phoned the hospital and expressed my annoyance and asked why mum's consultant has changed. I was told they had a new one and mum had been shifted to his list and he only has a clinic on a Tuesday or Thursday which is of no use to me. The upshot is she's back with her old consultant and we have to wait till 19th Jan for a suitable appointment.
At 9.40 we were still waiting so I phoned the centre. 'He's on his way' - they only had one driver as the other is on holiday. He eventually turned up at 10.20 All my plans to have a good clearup while she was out went up in smoke. I had to go and buy her some warm clothes as her wardrobe seems to consist almost entirely of skimpy short sleeved blouses. The new fashion is to wear 3-4 on top of each other (but make sure they don't match and you wear them inside out please or you won't be in fashion). No warm nighties either. And as for underwear - a nice bra 2 sizes too big with rusty hooks and eyes that looks like it hasn't been washed in several weeks will do nicely, thank you!! I wonder where that one was hiding. Thank heavens for Primark Found some nice long sleeved tops in lovely colours; thought a camisole with built in bra would be the answer (nope, she couldn't get it on); couldn't find longsleeved nighties so she'll try pyjamas (but the trousers are too long and the elastic not tight enough so I'll have to alter them - then I bet she won't wear them).
Ugh! - the list goes on and I'm rambling away as usual, and I've just seen the time. Sorry for the waffle - felt like a rant. I'll be back tomorrow (oops - later today). There were some amusing moments and I'll tell you about the daycare centre.
Chris
Financial review went off ok - looks like mum should be entitled to Pension Credit but I was warned there's a 5 month backlog but it will be backdated. If she gets it she won't have to pay Council Tax, but she will have to start paying for her daycare and homecare but this should be covered what she'd be getting instead.
So far so good.
Saturday morning a letter plops onto her doormat from the hospital (dated Thurs 6th). Yep, you've guessed it. They've changed her appointment to 9th Dec!!! The letter said it was because she now goes to daycare on Mondays. Yes she does, but it had already been arranged for me to pick her up at 3.30 (which is when she leaves anyway) and take her straight to her appointment. The new appointment is with a completely different consultant too. Needless to say I was livid.
To make matters worse, I'd had to use hubby's car as mine is still in the garage (2 1/2 weeks now)which meant he and the boys couldn't do anything at the weekend (including the shopping)(we live in a village - no public transport at night and very little in the day) Monday morning we both overslept (hightly unusual for mum who seems to get up around 7am). I took her in a cup of tea at 7.50 and she was in a bit of a panic as she had to be ready to go to the daycentre by 9am. We just made it. And then we waited (me still in my pyjamas not daring to get in the shower just in case the driver turned up).
Meanwhile I phoned the hospital and expressed my annoyance and asked why mum's consultant has changed. I was told they had a new one and mum had been shifted to his list and he only has a clinic on a Tuesday or Thursday which is of no use to me. The upshot is she's back with her old consultant and we have to wait till 19th Jan for a suitable appointment.
At 9.40 we were still waiting so I phoned the centre. 'He's on his way' - they only had one driver as the other is on holiday. He eventually turned up at 10.20
All my plans to have a good clearup while she was out went up in smoke. I had to go and buy her some warm clothes as her wardrobe seems to consist almost entirely of skimpy short sleeved blouses. The new fashion is to wear 3-4 on top of each other (but make sure they don't match and you wear them inside out please or you won't be in fashion). No warm nighties either. And as for underwear - a nice bra 2 sizes too big with rusty hooks and eyes that looks like it hasn't been washed in several weeks will do nicely, thank you!! I wonder where that one was hiding. Thank heavens for Primark Found some nice long sleeved tops in lovely colours; thought a camisole with built in bra would be the answer (nope, she couldn't get it on); couldn't find longsleeved nighties so she'll try pyjamas (but the trousers are too long and the elastic not tight enough so I'll have to alter them - then I bet she won't wear them). Ugh! - the list goes on and I'm rambling away as usual, and I've just seen the time. Sorry for the waffle - felt like a rant. I'll be back tomorrow (oops - later today). There were some amusing moments and I'll tell you about the daycare centre.
Chris
