mmse

storm

Registered User
Aug 10, 2004
269
0
notts
Hi Sandy,We have been to visit a home near by which the CPN arranged but i feel that mum would come out worse than she went in she would have no idea where she was not that she seems to grasp were she is now!but the one constant thing she is aware of is me and the routine we have.I have weighed up the options and have decieded against respite now because she as gone down so much,i am in the lucky postion of only being 49 fit and healthy ok then most of time! anyway i think if the worst came the dr would admit her to the local hospital as i dont the the home would take her.I am waiting to hear from the OT who is looking in to getting a hoist if she can beg the funding for it her words not mineas the main problem is getting mum up from a sitting position once shes standing i can manage. STORM
 

Sandy

Registered User
Mar 23, 2005
6,847
0
Hi Storm,

Sounds like you have carefully thought out where you need to be at the moment. It's good that the OT is working on getting you a hoist, even if she didn't put in in the best way. Given how much you have already put into caring for your mother-in-law, to be made to feel as if the few external resources that you are asking for rely on someone else's "begging" doesn't feel right.

Take care,

Sandy
 

Norman

Registered User
Oct 9, 2003
4,348
0
Birmingham Hades
Storm
I am not sure which route you took for the hoist.
I found the quickest way was through the consultants team to his OT.
I had several things sorted in very quick time
Best wishes
Norman
 

storm

Registered User
Aug 10, 2004
269
0
notts
NORMAN,What consultant? mum doesnt see any consultants at all for her dementia or mobility the CPN sent the OT out apart from the monthly visit by the CPN which only started earlier this year we see no one else except if i have to have the GP out.The social services are useless they opened a file on mum in june came once then phoned and said they were closing said file! i told the CPN this and even she couldnt understand it i must say the CPN is lovely and she is starting now to come every 2wks.Sometimes i think we have been totally over look or slipped through the net or maybe we are living in a third dimension and havnt realised yet?STORM
 

Brucie

Registered User
Jan 31, 2004
12,413
0
near London
Hi Storm

Mum will have been diagnosed originally by a consultant, when referred by her GP.

After the diagnosis the consultants bow out unless called in again by the GP, so, depending on when she was diagnosed, she may not have seen the consultant for years.
 

storm

Registered User
Aug 10, 2004
269
0
notts
Bruce,Mum as never seen a consulant to be diagnosed,it all came to light 3yrs ago after she had a bad fall and a series of mini strokes she was fitted with a pacemaker and it was then her own GP said she had A/D looking back before the fall i would say it had been coming on for2yrs or so its not till you look back and all the little things seem to fall into place all the forgetfulness pans left on etc its easy to be wise after the event.Her GP just said she had A/D and she could no longer live alone so thats when she came to live with us,she was supposed to have an assement before she was discharged from hospital but once they found out she was coming to live here they sent her home the next day,we had nothing prepared and it was a mad rush to get a bed downstairs etc and we have just fumbled along since then.It was not till i found this site and realised we should be getting help and support that i started to look in to things likeS/S ETC but everything as been a battle from getting mum and me assesments to getting a commode knowbody as ever volentered information or help i would have gave up many times if it hadnt been for this site .STORM
 

Brucie

Registered User
Jan 31, 2004
12,413
0
near London
Hello Storm

I have limited experience of these things, but I always thought a referral was needed and that only a specialist could officially diagnose AD or dementia. The GP is then there to act on the information, on a day to day prescribing basis.

It is often the opinion that GPs are woefully limited in their knowledge of AD, and therefore in their ability to make a diagnosis.

Perhaps someone else on TP can clarify this business of whether or not a consultant is needed.
 

Michael E

Registered User
Apr 14, 2005
619
0
Ronda Spain
Could someone tell me exactly what the MMSE test is please? Monique refuses to take the 'test' in the book... not sure of the name even in French... The neurologist does however ask Monique a series of questions. Day of the week, department we live in, calulating backwards from 100 subtracting 7 etc etc. is this sort of test MMSE?
 

emscub

Registered User
Dec 5, 2003
124
0
Bath
I have a little experience of the MMSE as I carried them out when working at a local hospital last year, and yes 5 would be considered as a 'low' score, when considering that the highest possible score is 30 (which would not result in a diagnosis of dementia) and the lowest score is 0.

I think the categories Norm referred to - sorry not Norm, Hazel - (mild, moderate, severe) can be used as a very basic idea of how severe the dementia is, but on the other hand, as has been pointed out, the MMSE is a very limited test. This is why, hopefully, those with dementia and their carers are spoken with by the GP/consultant when making any diagnosis/reviews to gain a better picture of cognition and ability. It is quite clear from what we all are experiencing that those we are caring for have significantly better days than others!


Hope that helps

Emma
 
Last edited: