Aspirating and now covid

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
It's been a long 9 years since mum was diagnosed with advanced dementia. At 85 I did not think we would get here.

I haven't been able to visit my poor mum for 12 Months, and today received a call to say she's covid positive. No cases in the home staff or patients but somehow she's positive..no visits for 12 Months.

Been told today she's been choking on food and aspirating on water intermittently for'a while'. GP today prescribed thickening agent. My mum's usual GP is off long term.

I am not allowed to visit.

She has no symptoms of covid but I'm told tested positive.

I've got a care review booked for tomorrow. It's been booked a couple of weeks ago.

I have no idea what to ask for. No professional has seen my mum.

I asked for a therapy assessment as mum's arms and legs are contracted but was declined as she's 'too far gone' for anything to help. I said I just wanted to make sure she's comfortable.

Do I ask for a dietician referrel or am I kidding myself she is going to get through this immediate situation.

I'm overwhelmed by the anticipatory grief, not knowing what to fight for, being unable to visit.

I feel so weak and don't know if we are near the end of this nightmare, or the beginning.
 

MartinWL

Registered User
Jun 12, 2020
2,025
0
67
London
Certainly ask for a dietician to be consulted, but surely your mum should be seen by a GP face to face? I'd be demanding a visit by a GP to start with.

The covid positive result might not be anything to worry about in the absence of any symptoms. It could be a false positive or she might be infected but asymptomatic. It isn't necessarily the case that she'll develop the disease. I would be more concerned about the choking, my mother has had similar problems and at one time it led to her being put off eating and life-threatening weight loss, but her care home have succeeded in turning things around now.
 

Quizbunny

Registered User
Nov 20, 2011
156
0
You should speak with the Gp and ask for an urgent speech and language referral. They are the experts when it comes to deterioration of a persons swallow. My mums swallow has been unsafe for quite some time now and all her food is puréed and her fluids thickened. I am sorry that you are having to deal with this worry, and that the CH are not being very helpful or keeping you informed.
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
Thank you so much for your replies..I will ask for a GP to come out, and a referral to speech and language.

I will post an up update after the meeting/phonecall from the care home.
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
The manager said they don't do speech and language referrals as the service is more of a remote one and they can do a test of her swallow. Basically put a stats monitor on her finger and see if it drops.

She also had never heard of the therapy team who can advise on management of her contractures and said it was up to me if I want to speak with the GP. I have already spoken to the GP and he said he would consider it in December but nothing has happened.he actually said thier wasn't much merit doing anything as it's the profession if the disease.

I feel fobbed off and feel the manager doesn't want any professional from visiting the home.

I eventually received the care plan after multiple emails and chasing.

No chiropody as she left to have a baby and haven't got anyone else.
 

Susan11

Registered User
Nov 18, 2018
5,064
0
Regarding the chiropody, if you get her GP to refer her for Chiropody at as she's housebound an NHS chiropodist will come to the Care Home to see her and cut her nails etc. This service worked very well for my Mum. The referral has to come from the GP. I recommended this action to another reader a while ago and she messaged me to say it worked quickly for her.
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
Regarding the chiropody, if you get her GP to refer her for Chiropody at as she's housebound an NHS chiropodist will come to the Care Home to see her and cut her nails etc. This service worked very well for my Mum. The referral has to come from the GP. I recommended this action to another reader a while ago and she messaged me to say it worked quickly for her.
I never knew this, thank you. Unfortunately my.mums GP is off long term and I am not impressed with the replacement. Also had similar poor experience with others in the practice. Wondering if it's too late to change now. Everything I ask for seems to be dismissed
 

Quizbunny

Registered User
Nov 20, 2011
156
0
Is your mother in a care or nursing home @MissDiane ? Even if a nursing home I’m surprised they don’t feel a SALT referral is called for. In your place I would contact the Gp and discuss mums swallowing difficulty. I would certainly want an assessment undertaken by the specialists in this area.
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
I never knew this, thank you. Unfortunately my.mums GP is off long term and I am not impressed with the replacement. Also had similar poor experience with others in the practice. Wondering if it's too late to change now. Everything I ask for seems to be dismissed
GP said there is no NHS visiting chiropody service
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
Is your mother in a care or nursing home @MissDiane ? Even if a nursing home I’m surprised they don’t feel a SALT referral is called for. In your place I would contact the Gp and discuss mums swallowing difficulty. I would certainly want an assessment undertaken by the specialists in this area.
GP has agreed to refer to SALT thankfully
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
GP was going to do a virtual consultation. Anyway, for some reason unknown he decided to go out and see mum. He said she's very weary and frail and struggling to eat and drink aspirating. He said mum is end of life but not imminent. I am allowed to visit once a week on my own.
 

MissDiane

Registered User
Oct 18, 2013
94
0
GP was going to do a virtual consultation. Anyway, for some reason unknown he decided to go out and see mum. He said she's very weary and frail and struggling to eat and drink aspirating. He said mum is end of life but not imminent. I am allowed to visit once a week on my own.
Care home day she's weary but stable. It's not until mum's on the end of life pathway that visiting restrictions will loosen
 

Susan11

Registered User
Nov 18, 2018
5,064
0
GP said there is no NHS visiting chiropody service
I wonder if this is just during the Pandemic. My parents in Lancashire had regular 3 month visits when they were at home. They also visited Mum in the Care Home.
 

crazyone

Registered User
Dec 14, 2017
53
0
@MisI am in a similar position with my 99 year old father. He developed Covid, and we still weren't allowed to see him after the incubation period as there were still cases in the home. I emailed the manager and asked just how ill my dad had to be before they allowed visits. She eventually contacted H.O. and I have been granted palliative visits. It is worth causing a fuss, as I go daily. Because I give my dad food and drink, (he is on thickened fluid and puree) I consider myself to be an essential care-giver. He can not feed himself, and his only movement seems to be raising his head and his lower right arm.