Hi all,
I've been very concerned about my mum over the past couple of months. Whenever I visit (usually once a week) I find that she is very sleepy and last Sunday I sat at her bedside for almost 2 hours, but was unable to wake her from a very deep sleep. When I got home I said to my husband, Mum is really going downhill fast.
I voiced my concern to the Home manager the following day, and asked if something had happened to Mum, perhaps a mini-stroke etc. I was told that they would call out the doctor if they were concerned about Mum, but a lot of Mum's sleepiness was put down to her being almost 99! I asked what medication Mum was on, but I was told that she didn't have the records to hand, and she didn't look for them and ring me back!
Last night I received a phone call from one of the Team Leaders, who had noticed that Mum has been given Diazapam every evening at 5pm. This had been changed from an earlier note from the Doctor which was "as and when required" as it had been noted that Mum reacts badly to Diazapam - gets itching and falling bouts due to it.
This team leader was very concerned and decided not to give Mum the dose last night and has spoken with the Doctor and the Home manager about this.
I am at present awaiting a phone call from the Doctor as I want to find out exactly what the situation is regarding Diazapam and my Mum.
My great concern is -
1.How qualified does a person have to be in order to give out the medication to the residents?
2.Should there be a fail-safe system, so that the patient/resident is safe-guarded.
3. How can the wrong dosage of medication be given to a resident for a couple of months without anyone checking her records or saying to themselves, WHY is she so sleepy all the time.
This is NOT the first time, when Mum had a stay in hospital for a chest infection, she was given medication and it had a really bad effect on her, it was then decided by the Doctor, the Care-home staff and myself that it would be better if Mum was kept off certain drugs.
I'll update this post as soon as I hear back from the Doctor. I'm still waiting for his call.
Thanks to all, and hope that someone can answer the 3 points listed above.
Pauline
I've been very concerned about my mum over the past couple of months. Whenever I visit (usually once a week) I find that she is very sleepy and last Sunday I sat at her bedside for almost 2 hours, but was unable to wake her from a very deep sleep. When I got home I said to my husband, Mum is really going downhill fast.
I voiced my concern to the Home manager the following day, and asked if something had happened to Mum, perhaps a mini-stroke etc. I was told that they would call out the doctor if they were concerned about Mum, but a lot of Mum's sleepiness was put down to her being almost 99! I asked what medication Mum was on, but I was told that she didn't have the records to hand, and she didn't look for them and ring me back!
Last night I received a phone call from one of the Team Leaders, who had noticed that Mum has been given Diazapam every evening at 5pm. This had been changed from an earlier note from the Doctor which was "as and when required" as it had been noted that Mum reacts badly to Diazapam - gets itching and falling bouts due to it.
This team leader was very concerned and decided not to give Mum the dose last night and has spoken with the Doctor and the Home manager about this.
I am at present awaiting a phone call from the Doctor as I want to find out exactly what the situation is regarding Diazapam and my Mum.
My great concern is -
1.How qualified does a person have to be in order to give out the medication to the residents?
2.Should there be a fail-safe system, so that the patient/resident is safe-guarded.
3. How can the wrong dosage of medication be given to a resident for a couple of months without anyone checking her records or saying to themselves, WHY is she so sleepy all the time.
This is NOT the first time, when Mum had a stay in hospital for a chest infection, she was given medication and it had a really bad effect on her, it was then decided by the Doctor, the Care-home staff and myself that it would be better if Mum was kept off certain drugs.
I'll update this post as soon as I hear back from the Doctor. I'm still waiting for his call.
Thanks to all, and hope that someone can answer the 3 points listed above.
Pauline