I joined today because I'm going to be needing some help and support!
Meg, my 97-year old honorary mother-in-law, has just been diagnosed with vascular dementia. She's currently in the hospital being assessed. Her consultant said she's unlikely to get any better and suggested a Nursing Home.
I said I wanted her to come home and I'm now waiting to see a Social Worker, to see what support I can get at home. It's likely to be a strugge to get help, because the consultant said Sheffield City Council (bless them) has very limited day care centre places and has recently closed down the home that offers regular respite care!
Meg left Aberdeen to come and live with my partner, Maggie, and I, about 10/11 years ago, because she couldn't manage on her own any more. She was physically a bit doddery but mentally sound. Maggie did the caring then, because I was working and am not what you would call a "natural" carer.
When Maggie died in April 2005, I took over caring for Meg. I found it difficult because she was very demanding, liked me to be in the same room with her all the time and sulked if I went out without her. I was also suffering from depression, as a result of Maggie's death, which didn't help.
We went on a Turkey and Tinsel break in Llandudno, 12-16 November and Meg was fine, she'd got a bit forgetful but was happily doing her Christmas shopping and enjoying herself on the coach trips. The next week she'd degenerated into a confusion and disorientation. She had a chest infection, and the doctor thought that could be causing the problems. After a couple of courses of anti-biotics the infection had gone, but she wasn't any better.
She was particularly bad during the evenings and night, wouldn't go to bed, demanded to be let out, wanted to go home, etc, so the doctor was trying various meds to try and settle her down.
I was getting more and more stressed, depressed and unable to cope. On 31 December, I called the doctor in again and told him I was at the end of my tether, so he arranged for her to be admitted to the hospital so she could be properly assessed.
So, here I am, trying to work out what it's going to be like and how I'm going to cope with it all.
Sorry I've rabbited on for so long - but I am a bit of a chatterer.
Meg, my 97-year old honorary mother-in-law, has just been diagnosed with vascular dementia. She's currently in the hospital being assessed. Her consultant said she's unlikely to get any better and suggested a Nursing Home.
I said I wanted her to come home and I'm now waiting to see a Social Worker, to see what support I can get at home. It's likely to be a strugge to get help, because the consultant said Sheffield City Council (bless them) has very limited day care centre places and has recently closed down the home that offers regular respite care!
Meg left Aberdeen to come and live with my partner, Maggie, and I, about 10/11 years ago, because she couldn't manage on her own any more. She was physically a bit doddery but mentally sound. Maggie did the caring then, because I was working and am not what you would call a "natural" carer.
When Maggie died in April 2005, I took over caring for Meg. I found it difficult because she was very demanding, liked me to be in the same room with her all the time and sulked if I went out without her. I was also suffering from depression, as a result of Maggie's death, which didn't help.
We went on a Turkey and Tinsel break in Llandudno, 12-16 November and Meg was fine, she'd got a bit forgetful but was happily doing her Christmas shopping and enjoying herself on the coach trips. The next week she'd degenerated into a confusion and disorientation. She had a chest infection, and the doctor thought that could be causing the problems. After a couple of courses of anti-biotics the infection had gone, but she wasn't any better.
She was particularly bad during the evenings and night, wouldn't go to bed, demanded to be let out, wanted to go home, etc, so the doctor was trying various meds to try and settle her down.
I was getting more and more stressed, depressed and unable to cope. On 31 December, I called the doctor in again and told him I was at the end of my tether, so he arranged for her to be admitted to the hospital so she could be properly assessed.
So, here I am, trying to work out what it's going to be like and how I'm going to cope with it all.
Sorry I've rabbited on for so long - but I am a bit of a chatterer.