Hello all,
Yesterday my mother went for a further memory test/update with her consultant, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers earlier this year after three years of early stages. She has tried three different medications and none of them have helped so the consultant decided yesterday to take her off the meds altogether.
He said he will write to her GP and notify him of this and that she wont be required to come in for further memory tests. We now have to contact him if there is a significant change in her.
I am confused because it feels like she is being let go by the system. I liked the fact that the past few years she has been under various consultants because atleast every three-six months she was being monitored. Now it seems they just want to send her home for us to deal with on our own. My mum is only 65 and physically well for her age, so it could mean years of supportive care if her symptoms dont worsen too quickly.
Is there any kind of help from the state that we can get that I dont know about. I dont mean financial, I know about Carers allowance, I mean visits or support really. My sister looks after her as far as doing her washing, cooking her a hot meal every evening, taking her shopping and to doctors appointments (she cant really go out without company incase she wanders). I have power of attorney and make sure all her bills are paid every month and she has savings for birthdays and Christmas. She also goes to her local AZ daycare centre twice a week.
I suppose I just feel helpless today because she is 2 hours drive away and I won't be seeing her for another week. I dont want to be concentrating on the negatives, I'm usually a very positive person. I feel let down by what the doctor said yesterday, because it feels like they have given up on her.
Does anyone else know what I mean? and if you experienced this with a relative, how did it all turn out and can we get any other support? Not sure if she would be able to get a CPN visit? and what good this would do?
Many thanks for any advice.
Leigh
Yesterday my mother went for a further memory test/update with her consultant, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers earlier this year after three years of early stages. She has tried three different medications and none of them have helped so the consultant decided yesterday to take her off the meds altogether.
He said he will write to her GP and notify him of this and that she wont be required to come in for further memory tests. We now have to contact him if there is a significant change in her.
I am confused because it feels like she is being let go by the system. I liked the fact that the past few years she has been under various consultants because atleast every three-six months she was being monitored. Now it seems they just want to send her home for us to deal with on our own. My mum is only 65 and physically well for her age, so it could mean years of supportive care if her symptoms dont worsen too quickly.
Is there any kind of help from the state that we can get that I dont know about. I dont mean financial, I know about Carers allowance, I mean visits or support really. My sister looks after her as far as doing her washing, cooking her a hot meal every evening, taking her shopping and to doctors appointments (she cant really go out without company incase she wanders). I have power of attorney and make sure all her bills are paid every month and she has savings for birthdays and Christmas. She also goes to her local AZ daycare centre twice a week.
I suppose I just feel helpless today because she is 2 hours drive away and I won't be seeing her for another week. I dont want to be concentrating on the negatives, I'm usually a very positive person. I feel let down by what the doctor said yesterday, because it feels like they have given up on her.
Does anyone else know what I mean? and if you experienced this with a relative, how did it all turn out and can we get any other support? Not sure if she would be able to get a CPN visit? and what good this would do?
Many thanks for any advice.
Leigh