Hi - sorry I'm back and looking for advice from people who've got experience.
Mum is currently in hospital and has been for 3 weeks, we've been invited to a meeting on Monday to discuss future plans for her, along with everyone involved including her. She doesn't have dementia but is terminally ill and prior to admission to hospital we have had no support but things have been getting harder for her - she is fully aware and capable of making her own decisions.
Since being in hospital she has to be hoisted and when in bed has to be turned every 2 hours as her skin has broken down and she has bed sores - her mobility won't improve as this is a part of her deterioration due to her illness. She has told me that each time they turn her at night she has a bedpan which she fills each time but occasionally she over fills or it spills so often they have to change the bedding
When she first went into hospital we were told that she'd have 4 carer visits with 2 carers each time, however the doctor told her on Wednesday that she will probably need more care than that and they would be unable to provide more as that is the maximum package they supply. The consultant saw her on Thursday and seemed more positive that she could come home as she doesn't live alone. He also suggested a catheter with a view to it becoming a permanent catheter which Mum wasn't keen on (the doctor on Wednesday had said they didn't want do that as it would increase the risk of infection).
Mum lives with me (just the 2 of us, though my brother who lives a few hundred miles away visits regularly). I work full time - but my employers are very supportive and are allowing me to work from home to care for her but I will have to go into the office every now and again. We currently have no equipment such as hospital bed, hoist etc but the occupational therapist is due to visit the house for an assessment early on Monday to give her recommendation to the meeting.
We've been told that the meeting on Monday will be the opportunity to ask any questions.
We are unaware of what the alternative will be if Mum is unable to come home, or if she comes home and we are unable to cope so that is one question we want to ask.
My question is what else should we be asking? When Grandad had dementia we never had any of these meetings so am unsure what we should be asking or expecting - can anyone please advise?
Mum is currently in hospital and has been for 3 weeks, we've been invited to a meeting on Monday to discuss future plans for her, along with everyone involved including her. She doesn't have dementia but is terminally ill and prior to admission to hospital we have had no support but things have been getting harder for her - she is fully aware and capable of making her own decisions.
Since being in hospital she has to be hoisted and when in bed has to be turned every 2 hours as her skin has broken down and she has bed sores - her mobility won't improve as this is a part of her deterioration due to her illness. She has told me that each time they turn her at night she has a bedpan which she fills each time but occasionally she over fills or it spills so often they have to change the bedding
When she first went into hospital we were told that she'd have 4 carer visits with 2 carers each time, however the doctor told her on Wednesday that she will probably need more care than that and they would be unable to provide more as that is the maximum package they supply. The consultant saw her on Thursday and seemed more positive that she could come home as she doesn't live alone. He also suggested a catheter with a view to it becoming a permanent catheter which Mum wasn't keen on (the doctor on Wednesday had said they didn't want do that as it would increase the risk of infection).
Mum lives with me (just the 2 of us, though my brother who lives a few hundred miles away visits regularly). I work full time - but my employers are very supportive and are allowing me to work from home to care for her but I will have to go into the office every now and again. We currently have no equipment such as hospital bed, hoist etc but the occupational therapist is due to visit the house for an assessment early on Monday to give her recommendation to the meeting.
We've been told that the meeting on Monday will be the opportunity to ask any questions.
We are unaware of what the alternative will be if Mum is unable to come home, or if she comes home and we are unable to cope so that is one question we want to ask.
My question is what else should we be asking? When Grandad had dementia we never had any of these meetings so am unsure what we should be asking or expecting - can anyone please advise?