Hi
I'm new to this as not posted before. Hope I'm doing it right. Not too sure where to start. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about 18 months ago. My mum is his carer and is very stoic about it all, but I don't know how she manages, especially as she is also caring for her mother who lives with them. I feel so frustrated that I don't seem to have managed to get them the support that they need and feel there must be more that can be arranged. Their GP and Consultant really don't seem to have been helpful. Sometimes various professionals will mention that they need more help and mutter about 'support packages' but then nothing much seems to happen. Very slowly they have now managed to get a bit more help a few hours from someone at 'care for the carers' which is great. Mum also pays for someone to come in on a couple of other days a week, so she can go out.
I've seen from posts that other people seem to have CPNs and it seems they can be helpful. Is it usual to be allocated one? do they help? should we be making a fuss at GP to try and get one?
Social services have vaguely muttered about the respite system changing and she may be entitled to something, but nothing's really happend. Mum has even had problems finding a home which will do respite when she pays privately - or at least that she can book more than a week in advance. They live in Bexhill.
I understand its a grey area about what the NHS are responsible for and what social services can offer - and its therefore means tested. Any advice about how to work out what the NHS might be able to offer in terms of on-going care while dad's at home would be much appreciated. Dad is doubly incontinent. He has quite serious sight and hearing problems. He needs help to feed and has mobility problems (we have had an assessment from physio and they supplied some equipment which helps). I just wondered if he might be able to get some on-going help from an O.T. as he's obviously bored and frustrated just sitting around, but his options are limited since his Alzheimer's became too advanced for him to be able to follow his books on tape.
sorry to go on. just feel so frustrated that its all so confusing and so many different professionals who might become involved, but its knowing who might actually be able to sort out some practical help.
any advice v gratefully received.
josiejay.
I'm new to this as not posted before. Hope I'm doing it right. Not too sure where to start. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about 18 months ago. My mum is his carer and is very stoic about it all, but I don't know how she manages, especially as she is also caring for her mother who lives with them. I feel so frustrated that I don't seem to have managed to get them the support that they need and feel there must be more that can be arranged. Their GP and Consultant really don't seem to have been helpful. Sometimes various professionals will mention that they need more help and mutter about 'support packages' but then nothing much seems to happen. Very slowly they have now managed to get a bit more help a few hours from someone at 'care for the carers' which is great. Mum also pays for someone to come in on a couple of other days a week, so she can go out.
I've seen from posts that other people seem to have CPNs and it seems they can be helpful. Is it usual to be allocated one? do they help? should we be making a fuss at GP to try and get one?
Social services have vaguely muttered about the respite system changing and she may be entitled to something, but nothing's really happend. Mum has even had problems finding a home which will do respite when she pays privately - or at least that she can book more than a week in advance. They live in Bexhill.
I understand its a grey area about what the NHS are responsible for and what social services can offer - and its therefore means tested. Any advice about how to work out what the NHS might be able to offer in terms of on-going care while dad's at home would be much appreciated. Dad is doubly incontinent. He has quite serious sight and hearing problems. He needs help to feed and has mobility problems (we have had an assessment from physio and they supplied some equipment which helps). I just wondered if he might be able to get some on-going help from an O.T. as he's obviously bored and frustrated just sitting around, but his options are limited since his Alzheimer's became too advanced for him to be able to follow his books on tape.
sorry to go on. just feel so frustrated that its all so confusing and so many different professionals who might become involved, but its knowing who might actually be able to sort out some practical help.
any advice v gratefully received.
josiejay.