Hi everyone,
I am looking for some advice on how I can help my elderly aunt. She has been suffering from signs of dementia/alzheimers for around 18 months with it deteriorating quickly in the last 6 months after a short spell in hospital following a fall. She has advanced arthritis and can barely stand, let alone walk. So much so that she cannot even stand to turn and sit on her commode which is next to her chair that she permanently sits/sleeps/eats in. (It is a reclining chair which is able to lie flat so is not upright all the time) She is 83 years old and is currently being cared for by my elderly (and rather sickly) 78 year old uncle. He has been struggling to cope with caring for her, and has recently arranged for carers to come in twice a day to assist with changing and washing her as he is unable to do this by himself, but they do not start until Monday. They never leave the house (except when my aunt was in hospital, then sporadic visits with me driving him to and from the hospital) and have a friend who does some shopping for them, and myself and my mum who live around 30 miles away. I am concerned that they are not getting the assistance they need from the NHS, as they have no panic alarms fitted (If something were to happen to my uncle, I dread to think what would happen) and the doctor just says that there is nothing they can do. Surely there must be something that they can do to help with her quality of life?? I am worried about them both, and with me living some distance away and having a small child and a full time job, it is difficult for me to visit when they need me to. What can I do?? Is there an authority I can get in touch with to try and help? Sorry for the ramble, am reaching the end of my tether and concerned that something will happen to one or both of them if I don't do something soon.
Thanks xx
I am looking for some advice on how I can help my elderly aunt. She has been suffering from signs of dementia/alzheimers for around 18 months with it deteriorating quickly in the last 6 months after a short spell in hospital following a fall. She has advanced arthritis and can barely stand, let alone walk. So much so that she cannot even stand to turn and sit on her commode which is next to her chair that she permanently sits/sleeps/eats in. (It is a reclining chair which is able to lie flat so is not upright all the time) She is 83 years old and is currently being cared for by my elderly (and rather sickly) 78 year old uncle. He has been struggling to cope with caring for her, and has recently arranged for carers to come in twice a day to assist with changing and washing her as he is unable to do this by himself, but they do not start until Monday. They never leave the house (except when my aunt was in hospital, then sporadic visits with me driving him to and from the hospital) and have a friend who does some shopping for them, and myself and my mum who live around 30 miles away. I am concerned that they are not getting the assistance they need from the NHS, as they have no panic alarms fitted (If something were to happen to my uncle, I dread to think what would happen) and the doctor just says that there is nothing they can do. Surely there must be something that they can do to help with her quality of life?? I am worried about them both, and with me living some distance away and having a small child and a full time job, it is difficult for me to visit when they need me to. What can I do?? Is there an authority I can get in touch with to try and help? Sorry for the ramble, am reaching the end of my tether and concerned that something will happen to one or both of them if I don't do something soon.
Thanks xx
