My mother is 76 lives alone with her cat and is obviously struggling with memory loss and confusion. She has no idea how old she is and while I know this is not at all unusual, she has no concept of the day or year. She may repeat the same sentence half a dozen times in 10 minutes and often blurts out sentences which even she says are gobbledygook. Having called dementia UK I was advised to get the doctor to give my mother a call to make an appointment . I duly called her doctors..by the way I live in wales my mother lives in Kent, who then got a paramedic to call my mum to see why she needed to speak to a doctor! Obviously this confused her even more and she refused to speak to them. So call the doctor back explain we need a memory test to be told she needs an ecg before they will do that. Ecg done 2 weeks ago. No result altho they said at the time her heart was good. This much we know it is her mental state which is worrying. So without gp support and understanding does anyone have any ideas how to access any help.
Getting initial help
- Thread starter Kaz.
- Start date
What is it you are after - a diagnosis or practical help? For a diagnosis the GP would need to refer to a Memory Clinic who do brain scans, blood and memory tests.
But a diagnosis is not necessary for accessing help. For this you need to turn to Adult Social Services in her area and ask for a needs assessment for her. Tell them she is a vulnerable adult at risk who they have duty of care for. This could take a few months, and it would help if you had an idea what kind of help she needs in her day to day life.
But a diagnosis is not necessary for accessing help. For this you need to turn to Adult Social Services in her area and ask for a needs assessment for her. Tell them she is a vulnerable adult at risk who they have duty of care for. This could take a few months, and it would help if you had an idea what kind of help she needs in her day to day life.
Hello @kaz, welcome from me too.
Getting a diagnosis can be a difficult and long process. With my wife it would have been impossible without me being with her to organize her and take her to appointments. It sounds like your mother will be the same. Is there anyone living closer who could do that? If not I feel you will have to be more persistent with the GP so that they eventually pay attention.
If you feel that your mother is in need of urgent daily help then you don’t need a diagnosis and the advice by Beate is sound.
Here are links to Society Factsheets about the diagnosis and assessment for help processes. I hope they help. Just click the second lines of each to read and/or print
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about...-diagnosis/diagnosis/assessment-process-tests
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/media/966
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/legal-financial/assessment-care-support-england
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/media/8211
Getting a diagnosis can be a difficult and long process. With my wife it would have been impossible without me being with her to organize her and take her to appointments. It sounds like your mother will be the same. Is there anyone living closer who could do that? If not I feel you will have to be more persistent with the GP so that they eventually pay attention.
If you feel that your mother is in need of urgent daily help then you don’t need a diagnosis and the advice by Beate is sound.
Here are links to Society Factsheets about the diagnosis and assessment for help processes. I hope they help. Just click the second lines of each to read and/or print
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about...-diagnosis/diagnosis/assessment-process-tests
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/media/966
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/legal-financial/assessment-care-support-england
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/media/8211
Hello
Very difficult for you, living so far away from your mum.
You don't say what part of Kent she lives but we are in East Kent and people at our local dementia coffee morning (EKIDS) recommended Crossroads Care Kent, who are a carer support organisation (they help people needing care too.
Their help and support proved to be invaluable in signposting where (and how) I could get support for my wife. They arranged for one of their people to come to our house and he spend several hours chatting to both of us (though even at the early stage, my wife's speech etc were affected).
I have posted the link to their website, which includes contact details for the various offices in Kent so hopefully, this will be helpful for you.
They are part of the Kent Carers Matter, a joint awareness campaign group and have very good links with other support organisation in Kent.
http://www.carerskm.org/
Another excellent source of advice is Age UK, who will be able to advise what services are available in your mum's area.
Kind regards
Phil
Very difficult for you, living so far away from your mum.
You don't say what part of Kent she lives but we are in East Kent and people at our local dementia coffee morning (EKIDS) recommended Crossroads Care Kent, who are a carer support organisation (they help people needing care too.
Their help and support proved to be invaluable in signposting where (and how) I could get support for my wife. They arranged for one of their people to come to our house and he spend several hours chatting to both of us (though even at the early stage, my wife's speech etc were affected).
I have posted the link to their website, which includes contact details for the various offices in Kent so hopefully, this will be helpful for you.
They are part of the Kent Carers Matter, a joint awareness campaign group and have very good links with other support organisation in Kent.
http://www.carerskm.org/
Another excellent source of advice is Age UK, who will be able to advise what services are available in your mum's area.
Kind regards
Phil
You need to speak to her GP again for a referral to the memory clinic, as far as I know that is the only route to getting a diagnosis. However she will have to agree (and remember) to attend, and be able to get to the clinic, and then understand and remember what she is told. Is there someone who can do go with her?
In terms of getting her practical help, as others have said you need to call Adult Social Care for her area, and ask them to visit and carry out a needs assessment. However, again your mother would need to agree to the assessment, and agree to any help they suggest.
I know it is difficult doing this at a distance - my mother lived in London and I was 2.5 hours away, it was lucky my OH worked in London a couple of days a week and could be present for some of the appointments.
In terms of getting her practical help, as others have said you need to call Adult Social Care for her area, and ask them to visit and carry out a needs assessment. However, again your mother would need to agree to the assessment, and agree to any help they suggest.
I know it is difficult doing this at a distance - my mother lived in London and I was 2.5 hours away, it was lucky my OH worked in London a couple of days a week and could be present for some of the appointments.
