Cancer and Dementia

[Smsevlow]

I'm sure others have been through similar.
Mum, 91 next month, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has spread to her liver. She is too frail for treatment.
At the moment she is in hospital in a general ward, which is not suitable. We have to keep reminding them that Mum has dementia so she won't ask for pain medication, a drink, help getting comfortable (She is very weak and can't lift herself up and she is incontinent). We are hoping she will be moved to palliative care soon but it seems to be taking a while.
Any advice most welcome.
Thank you.

 

[philamillan]

Hi Smsevlow.

Sorry about Mum. Hope this is not too traumatic for you and the family.

Firstly, make sure that a clear decision has been made for palliative care as often the doctors are waiting on the formal plans from a weekly meeting with all the specialists.

That may be your delay at present.

Otherwise, check that the palliative care team is involved and has seen your Mum. She may not need to go to a Hospice but talking with them will help the process.

Check with the nurse taking care of Mum if she has been referred as a 'Fast Track'. Meaning all the funding is in place for her to be placed somewhere out of the hospital environment. This will be dependent on how terminal her condition is at present.

Finally, start to look at places that you would want her to be if she could go into a Care Home. It will speed the process if you and the family already have a clear idea.

Hope that helps.

 

[Smsevlow]

Hi Smsevlow.

Sorry about Mum. Hope this is not too traumatic for you and the family.

Firstly, make sure that a clear decision has been made for palliative care as often the doctors are waiting on the formal plans from a weekly meeting with all the specialists.

That may be your delay at present.

Otherwise, check that the palliative care team is involved and has seen your Mum. She may not need to go to a Hospice but talking with them will help the process.

Check with the nurse taking care of Mum if she has been referred as a 'Fast Track'. Meaning all the funding is in place for her to be placed somewhere out of the hospital environment. This will be dependent on how terminal her condition is at present.

Finally, start to look at places that you would want her to be if she could go into a Care Home. It will speed the process if you and the family already have a clear idea.

Hope that helps.

Thank you. Mum is on a Fast track. The main frustration, and possible source of delay, is poor communication within the hospital. For example, the Palliative Care team turned up yesterday morning (before visiting time) but hadn't realised Mum needed "family support".

 

[Smsevlow]

Hello @Smsevlow, I am so sorry to hear about your Mum. I don't know where you are in the country but perhaps your Mum may be eligible for hospice care? In my own area on the south coast, there is a wonderful charity run hospice that specialises in dementia care. I sincerely hope that the right place is found for her, hospital wards are not the best places for anyone with dementia as we all know. Wishing you strength to get through this.

Thank you.
Mum is in the West Midlands. She lives in one area; the hospital is in a different area but I understand that this is quite common and the arrangements should be straightforward .

 

[Amethyst59]

Could you get PALS involved, so that the above doesn’t happen again? Or does the hospital have a specialist dementia matron, who might be able to deputise if you are not there? I am so sorry to hear of this diagnosis...the important thing is to get your Mum where she will be best looked after.

 

[Smsevlow]

Hi Smsevlow.

Sorry about Mum. Hope this is not too traumatic for you and the family.

Firstly, make sure that a clear decision has been made for palliative care as often the doctors are waiting on the formal plans from a weekly meeting with all the specialists.

That may be your delay at present.

Otherwise, check that the palliative care team is involved and has seen your Mum. She may not need to go to a Hospice but talking with them will help the process.

Check with the nurse taking care of Mum if she has been referred as a 'Fast Track'. Meaning all the funding is in place for her to be placed somewhere out of the hospital environment. This will be dependent on how terminal her condition is at present.

Finally, start to look at places that you would want her to be if she could go into a Care Home. It will speed the process if you and the family already have a clear idea.

Hope that helps.

Thank you. Things have moved on. The most important thing you said was start looking at care homes. Because we didn't know the process we were offered homes miles away from Mum's home and friends, many of whom are elderly. We are appealing that now. I will update this thread later.