Hi forum, Not sure if anyone can give any advice but I am struggling with this. A long story cut short....my dad is well on with dementia and in a care home.
He has a tendency for UI (and has enlarged prostrate), but about 5 weeks ago, he got a bad infection and ended up in & out of A&E every couple of days - they put a catheter in, and he kept pulling it out.
The infection does not improve & he gets 'No 3 Sectioned' and taken in the local hospital special dementia unit so they can deal.
He is still pulling the catheter, and still has infection. I can see he is in terrible pain & the doctors keep upping doses on morphine patches, but doing nothing else?
Poor chap is wearing boiler suits the wrong way round, to avoid fiddling. Urology unit did test when he got to hospital but we are still awaiting results, despite banging the table....
He cannot stand unaided now, eats really badly compared to 6 weeks ago, and has lost ability to speak any words we can understand (he could speak in the care home, not sentences, but at least words, not slurred).
it is terrible to see him being treated worst than you would an animal - at least an animal would be put out of its misery. He is really suffering (mum and I can see that from his face & body language) and I have no idea what to do bar shouting more! I don't want to do that and am so stressed and upset.
regarding a prostate op, the hospital say he is too weak - but it has to be worth a try I would have thought - and possibly stop the suffering either way.
if anyone has any similar experience or could offer any thoughts, I would be just so so grateful.
thanks from a very miserable Tara x
He has a tendency for UI (and has enlarged prostrate), but about 5 weeks ago, he got a bad infection and ended up in & out of A&E every couple of days - they put a catheter in, and he kept pulling it out.
The infection does not improve & he gets 'No 3 Sectioned' and taken in the local hospital special dementia unit so they can deal.
He is still pulling the catheter, and still has infection. I can see he is in terrible pain & the doctors keep upping doses on morphine patches, but doing nothing else?
Poor chap is wearing boiler suits the wrong way round, to avoid fiddling. Urology unit did test when he got to hospital but we are still awaiting results, despite banging the table....
He cannot stand unaided now, eats really badly compared to 6 weeks ago, and has lost ability to speak any words we can understand (he could speak in the care home, not sentences, but at least words, not slurred).
it is terrible to see him being treated worst than you would an animal - at least an animal would be put out of its misery. He is really suffering (mum and I can see that from his face & body language) and I have no idea what to do bar shouting more! I don't want to do that and am so stressed and upset.
regarding a prostate op, the hospital say he is too weak - but it has to be worth a try I would have thought - and possibly stop the suffering either way.
if anyone has any similar experience or could offer any thoughts, I would be just so so grateful.
thanks from a very miserable Tara x