My mum has been showing some signs of mental decline for about a year, subtle at first but during the summer we persuaded her to go into a care home while we were on holiday in USA for 4 weeks as she had been having falls and had needed more support from us in her flat (she is 91, she could hardly walk, I am the only daughter) During her stay she developed a UTI (she has suffered chronic UTIs for many years) and confusion. On our return she had declined both mentally and physically and ended up only being at home in her flat for a few days before needing hospitalisation with another UTI and inability to walk at all.
On leaving hospital in November she was only at home for 3 days before she was taken into a rehabilitation care home, as again she couldn't walk so the carers that came in daily couldn't manage her (she is also incontinent).
Since then she has been in the care home. At first she seemed to be making some progress with her mobility but after a few days she seemed to decline again and another UTI was found and yet more antibiotics! Since before Christmas the home has been hampered by winter vomiting disease, so the hairdresser and physios have not been visiting and basically my mum is just in her room all day except for meals. I have been visiting daily and most afternoons she is asleep in bed and most mornings she is asleep in her chair. She is getting more and more sleepy and unable to hold a conversation. Physically, she can't hold a cup or a newspaper now and has to be fed by the staff.She is on antibiotics again for another UTI.
She should be moving to the upstairs (paying) part of the home but this has been put on hold because of the sickness. This was to be a temporary move as my husband and I are moving house at the end of February and she was going to move then to a new care
home near our new house (30 miles from where she is now). She says she likes the staff at this home - they do seem nice but I don't know whether she should be somewhere better - would anywhere else be better? I feel that the lack of stimulation may be partly causing her rapid decline. Any suggestions?
On leaving hospital in November she was only at home for 3 days before she was taken into a rehabilitation care home, as again she couldn't walk so the carers that came in daily couldn't manage her (she is also incontinent).
Since then she has been in the care home. At first she seemed to be making some progress with her mobility but after a few days she seemed to decline again and another UTI was found and yet more antibiotics! Since before Christmas the home has been hampered by winter vomiting disease, so the hairdresser and physios have not been visiting and basically my mum is just in her room all day except for meals. I have been visiting daily and most afternoons she is asleep in bed and most mornings she is asleep in her chair. She is getting more and more sleepy and unable to hold a conversation. Physically, she can't hold a cup or a newspaper now and has to be fed by the staff.She is on antibiotics again for another UTI.
She should be moving to the upstairs (paying) part of the home but this has been put on hold because of the sickness. This was to be a temporary move as my husband and I are moving house at the end of February and she was going to move then to a new care
home near our new house (30 miles from where she is now). She says she likes the staff at this home - they do seem nice but I don't know whether she should be somewhere better - would anywhere else be better? I feel that the lack of stimulation may be partly causing her rapid decline. Any suggestions?