Hi
I've spent a long time reading the forum and all of the excellent advice.
My lovely dad is 73. Gradually over the past few years he has become forgetful, got lost easily, struggled to find the correct word for something and shown less interest in conversations. He was still keen to walk, spend time with the grandkids, watch t.v and take the car on short journeys but had given up with reading as he couldn't follow the story.
Last week he went into hospital with pneumonia, the hospital thought that his memory was poor but thought he might have had a mini stroke and put him on a stroke ward for further investigations. ( Dad had pneumonia in Feb and also suffered from a mini stroke at the same time and was disorientated for about a day.) on Wednesday dad had a ct scan and after deciding he hadn't had a stroke, they discharged him.
Dad was completely disorientated when he got home, he was crawling along the floor, wouldn't speak, was distressed and couldn't remember anything. He didn't seem to know where he was. He was readmitted to the stroke ward. Since then he has been wandering around the ward, fidgeting, feeling very anxious, can't remember anything, just seems to have suddenly lost his short term memory. He can dress himself but can't find find his clothes. He is stealing the belongings of other people on to the ward. If he steps away from his bed he can't find it. He asks the same questions over and over again.
An OT contacted mum today and asked if she had enough support at home to have him there. Mum asked what kind of support and she said he would need 24 hour care. She talked to mum about a package of care they would provide. I don't understand why they are talking of a package of care but trying to discharge him without a diagnosis.
We are very confused. He is on a stroke ward but they have said they don't think he has had a stroke. I live far away and won't be able to get to the hospital til the end of the week. My brothers are there everyday with mum but no one offers or seems to be able to provide a diagnosis, possible diagnosis or reason. My brother spoke to the ward sister tonight and she said they will give him an MRI tomorrow.
Through reading this website I think he is showing the signs of dementia but am not sure how he could have deteriorated so much in a short space. This time last week he was picking up his grandchildren from school! Can anyone tell me if such a sudden deterioration is possible?
We have no experience to draw on so if anyone can offer us any advice we would really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance
I've spent a long time reading the forum and all of the excellent advice.
My lovely dad is 73. Gradually over the past few years he has become forgetful, got lost easily, struggled to find the correct word for something and shown less interest in conversations. He was still keen to walk, spend time with the grandkids, watch t.v and take the car on short journeys but had given up with reading as he couldn't follow the story.
Last week he went into hospital with pneumonia, the hospital thought that his memory was poor but thought he might have had a mini stroke and put him on a stroke ward for further investigations. ( Dad had pneumonia in Feb and also suffered from a mini stroke at the same time and was disorientated for about a day.) on Wednesday dad had a ct scan and after deciding he hadn't had a stroke, they discharged him.
Dad was completely disorientated when he got home, he was crawling along the floor, wouldn't speak, was distressed and couldn't remember anything. He didn't seem to know where he was. He was readmitted to the stroke ward. Since then he has been wandering around the ward, fidgeting, feeling very anxious, can't remember anything, just seems to have suddenly lost his short term memory. He can dress himself but can't find find his clothes. He is stealing the belongings of other people on to the ward. If he steps away from his bed he can't find it. He asks the same questions over and over again.
An OT contacted mum today and asked if she had enough support at home to have him there. Mum asked what kind of support and she said he would need 24 hour care. She talked to mum about a package of care they would provide. I don't understand why they are talking of a package of care but trying to discharge him without a diagnosis.
We are very confused. He is on a stroke ward but they have said they don't think he has had a stroke. I live far away and won't be able to get to the hospital til the end of the week. My brothers are there everyday with mum but no one offers or seems to be able to provide a diagnosis, possible diagnosis or reason. My brother spoke to the ward sister tonight and she said they will give him an MRI tomorrow.
Through reading this website I think he is showing the signs of dementia but am not sure how he could have deteriorated so much in a short space. This time last week he was picking up his grandchildren from school! Can anyone tell me if such a sudden deterioration is possible?
We have no experience to draw on so if anyone can offer us any advice we would really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance