Hi all, this is my first post. My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 18months ago and has been managing well at home with my
Mum. The progression has been very slow, and so he has enjoyed a good life. However 4 weeks ago he became very breathless and long story short, he was admitted to hospital and was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Never a smoker, we are at a loss to explain this sudden determination in his health. He was discharged home but hadn’t been eating and was very weak, following a fall and a return to hospital, we have had to made the difficult decision for him to be placed into a nursing home. He is prognosis is ‘up to 8 weeks’. We are unable to see him, nursing staff seem very rushed and not able to give us much information over the phone. My mum spoke Dad tonight and he is so very sad and doesn’t understand why no-one is coming in to see him. We are really struggling as a family to help. The Care home manager was sympathetic but said that it can take up to 4 weeks for residents to settle. Does anyone have any tips for us.?We are writing letters and sending cards in - hoping that these will be read to him by staff. He can’t change the channels on the tv in his room. I have mentioned that he loves listening to Classic FM but don’t know even if he has a radio in his room. I am thinking at looking at possible taking out and trying to source 24hour carers for the time he has left. Would appreciate your thoughts as don’t really know where to turn. Janey66
Mum. The progression has been very slow, and so he has enjoyed a good life. However 4 weeks ago he became very breathless and long story short, he was admitted to hospital and was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Never a smoker, we are at a loss to explain this sudden determination in his health. He was discharged home but hadn’t been eating and was very weak, following a fall and a return to hospital, we have had to made the difficult decision for him to be placed into a nursing home. He is prognosis is ‘up to 8 weeks’. We are unable to see him, nursing staff seem very rushed and not able to give us much information over the phone. My mum spoke Dad tonight and he is so very sad and doesn’t understand why no-one is coming in to see him. We are really struggling as a family to help. The Care home manager was sympathetic but said that it can take up to 4 weeks for residents to settle. Does anyone have any tips for us.?We are writing letters and sending cards in - hoping that these will be read to him by staff. He can’t change the channels on the tv in his room. I have mentioned that he loves listening to Classic FM but don’t know even if he has a radio in his room. I am thinking at looking at possible taking out and trying to source 24hour carers for the time he has left. Would appreciate your thoughts as don’t really know where to turn. Janey66