Dependant on where you are in the UK
Unfortunately I have retired from Mental Health Nursing and can see your point of view. Most of my career was working with care of the older person. My career in the NHS spanned 33 years. I am sorry that you feel that your health care professionals are working in this way, ie ignoring the facts that your mother has dementia. Alzheimer's is normally diagnosed at a much younger age. Pre 60-65 years of age. It is pre-senile dementia. I have worked with both men and women who's ages were in their early to mid forties and younger. Alzheimer's has become a normal name for any type of dementia.
Communication is the answer to your problem. When I was a primary nurse/named nurse I would always make time for the carers, because they are very, very important for any kind of care plan/ package. To understand the illness is the first thing I would talk to the carer/ family about. Many people are afraid to speak about it and hope the loved one will simply wake up one morning and be fine and dandy. That is not going to happen. As with cancer there is a time frame that a person with dementia will live. As the disease progresses the person will deteriorate from stages 1 through 3. An average life span of 15 years from diagnosis. They have every right to excellent medical care. I was wondering why you decided to forgo treatment? Side effects maybe. I have always told people that medication can sometimes cause other symptoms as they help the person's brain to readjust. It is easy for the medical and drug companies to say "This medication might cause side effects." Of course they will, even aspirin causes problems in the body. That is why I dropped the SIDE bit when talking to families. Patients have a right to respect and the professionals looking after them have a duty of care. If they have not been trained in Psychiatry they sometimes call Mental Health Nurses, are not proper nurses because they think we do not do the same job as them. Where I live in the UK there is two dedicated teams of specialist nurses made up from General and Mental Health Nurses. So if your area does not offer dementia Champions, it is up to you to lobby your councillors and MP's to shake the hospital wards up a bit and get Champions for care of the older patient, because most people with dementia have very complex needs and illnesses. Mental Health and Physical Health problems should be looked at as one ( The Patient ) not two separate entities. My philosophy was how would I like to be treated if I was a patient. With positive care, dignity, honesty, compassion and above all with empathy. I have come across instances which you refer to and I did not stop until it was CHANGED. You see nurses and doctors hate change. I rest my case. Hope you have understood this blog and what I am trying to get at. Sorry (Moderator) for going on and I hope you will post this because I am very passionate about my future as an older person.
Unfortunately I have retired from Mental Health Nursing and can see your point of view. Most of my career was working with care of the older person. My career in the NHS spanned 33 years. I am sorry that you feel that your health care professionals are working in this way, ie ignoring the facts that your mother has dementia. Alzheimer's is normally diagnosed at a much younger age. Pre 60-65 years of age. It is pre-senile dementia. I have worked with both men and women who's ages were in their early to mid forties and younger. Alzheimer's has become a normal name for any type of dementia.
Communication is the answer to your problem. When I was a primary nurse/named nurse I would always make time for the carers, because they are very, very important for any kind of care plan/ package. To understand the illness is the first thing I would talk to the carer/ family about. Many people are afraid to speak about it and hope the loved one will simply wake up one morning and be fine and dandy. That is not going to happen. As with cancer there is a time frame that a person with dementia will live. As the disease progresses the person will deteriorate from stages 1 through 3. An average life span of 15 years from diagnosis. They have every right to excellent medical care. I was wondering why you decided to forgo treatment? Side effects maybe. I have always told people that medication can sometimes cause other symptoms as they help the person's brain to readjust. It is easy for the medical and drug companies to say "This medication might cause side effects." Of course they will, even aspirin causes problems in the body. That is why I dropped the SIDE bit when talking to families. Patients have a right to respect and the professionals looking after them have a duty of care. If they have not been trained in Psychiatry they sometimes call Mental Health Nurses, are not proper nurses because they think we do not do the same job as them. Where I live in the UK there is two dedicated teams of specialist nurses made up from General and Mental Health Nurses. So if your area does not offer dementia Champions, it is up to you to lobby your councillors and MP's to shake the hospital wards up a bit and get Champions for care of the older patient, because most people with dementia have very complex needs and illnesses. Mental Health and Physical Health problems should be looked at as one ( The Patient ) not two separate entities. My philosophy was how would I like to be treated if I was a patient. With positive care, dignity, honesty, compassion and above all with empathy. I have come across instances which you refer to and I did not stop until it was CHANGED. You see nurses and doctors hate change. I rest my case. Hope you have understood this blog and what I am trying to get at. Sorry (Moderator) for going on and I hope you will post this because I am very passionate about my future as an older person.
but wonder how many other areas offer this care and support?
