I took my mum to the Continence clinic yesterday for her first appointment there. She is currently having pads delivered (but they say using too many) hence the appointment.
Mum gets stressed about anything different but behaves very well with professionals.
The nurse was a nice young lady and I immediately told her mum had alzheimers as I thought this would give her a better understanding.
She started asking mum questions, and as per usual mum didn't tell the truth (well she wasn't lying, it was all she actually believed at the time)
"Do the pads get very wet?" - "oh no" mum replied "I only wear them just in case". I sat shaking my head and even went on to explain that they are sodden (a very heavy bin laden with wet pads proved that)
and so it went on......
well the nurse turned to me and said "well we have to take what the patient says as the true picture". I was horrified! I said "even with Alzheimers?", she said 'Yes" - unbelievable!!
I said - "don't you have her medical records" - she was using her computer to input all the relevant information. "No she said - only our own". (This was a NHS clinic in a hospital)
well the appointment lasted over an hour and by the end of it I think she was finally beginning to understand, after I left with a headache and totally stressed out. Mum was too, she couldn't cope with all the questions and I think it cruel to subject her too them.
surely staff in a NHS continence clinic should have experience and training in Alzheimers?
Mum gets stressed about anything different but behaves very well with professionals.
The nurse was a nice young lady and I immediately told her mum had alzheimers as I thought this would give her a better understanding.
She started asking mum questions, and as per usual mum didn't tell the truth (well she wasn't lying, it was all she actually believed at the time)
"Do the pads get very wet?" - "oh no" mum replied "I only wear them just in case". I sat shaking my head and even went on to explain that they are sodden (a very heavy bin laden with wet pads proved that)
and so it went on......
well the nurse turned to me and said "well we have to take what the patient says as the true picture". I was horrified! I said "even with Alzheimers?", she said 'Yes" - unbelievable!!
I said - "don't you have her medical records" - she was using her computer to input all the relevant information. "No she said - only our own". (This was a NHS clinic in a hospital)
well the appointment lasted over an hour and by the end of it I think she was finally beginning to understand, after I left with a headache and totally stressed out. Mum was too, she couldn't cope with all the questions and I think it cruel to subject her too them.
surely staff in a NHS continence clinic should have experience and training in Alzheimers?