Hello - This is my first post and is both an introduction and a request for any advice or information that anyone might have.
A close relative of mine was recently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers (possibly the same form of the disease that Terry Pratchett has, but I'm not sure). She is 58. Her diagnosis came relatively late - she had been showing many symptoms of dementia, as well as paranoid delusions, for a few years, but these were put down to extreme stress and depression caused by a legal dispute she had been embroiled in. There is a long, sorry tale about the care and attention she has received from both the NHS and social services, but that's probably for another post.
She is currently in care in an NHS elderly mental health care unit in Dorset. Having been held, against her will, under both sections 2 and 3 of the Mental Health Act, she is now a voluntary patient. She has long periods of lucidity during which she understands that she has Alzheimers, and has consented to received treatment (principally medication). However, the manifestation of her condition at other times means that it is not safe for her to live in her own home any more. We have been trying to find a care home for her that is closer to us in North Devon.
Our problem is this: she is a young 58. She is physically in good health and very active. When she is out with her daughter, they get mistaken for being sisters. In terms of her cultural tastes and interests, she is 20 years younger than her actual age. But, understandably and for obvious reasons, care homes for Alzheimers patients are focused on caring for the elderly. Not only does that mean that all their other residents are elderly (usually in their 70s and 80s), but the design, function and appearance of the facilities is focused on their needs and tastes. There is nothing wrong with this - but it would be completely wrong for my relative. She feels very isolated where she is right now because she is so much younger than everyone else there. I think she would find the appearance and atmosphere in the elderly care homes that we have visited so far to be profoundly depressing.
What compounds the problem is that care homes need to be specially registered and insured to take in residents under 65 and it would seem that the required registration is not assured - one place that we saw that was brighter and more modern than the others cannot take her because they had their registration request declined.
We are in Devon and she is currently in Dorset. We had hoped to find her somewhere closer to us but our options seem to be so limited that we will look anywhere in the country. We need to find a care home that specialises in early onset Alzheimers, and would be good for a physically fit, young-at-heart 50-something woman in the early to mid stages of the disease (but preferably one that could also provide nursing care for the later stages, too). Ideally in the West Country, but we'll look anywhere for the right place.
Have been in touch with the Alzheimers Society, who have been supportive and as helpful as they can be, but they just don't capture this information and so have been unable to offer detailed advice.
Many thanks for any help or information anyone might have.
A close relative of mine was recently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers (possibly the same form of the disease that Terry Pratchett has, but I'm not sure). She is 58. Her diagnosis came relatively late - she had been showing many symptoms of dementia, as well as paranoid delusions, for a few years, but these were put down to extreme stress and depression caused by a legal dispute she had been embroiled in. There is a long, sorry tale about the care and attention she has received from both the NHS and social services, but that's probably for another post.
She is currently in care in an NHS elderly mental health care unit in Dorset. Having been held, against her will, under both sections 2 and 3 of the Mental Health Act, she is now a voluntary patient. She has long periods of lucidity during which she understands that she has Alzheimers, and has consented to received treatment (principally medication). However, the manifestation of her condition at other times means that it is not safe for her to live in her own home any more. We have been trying to find a care home for her that is closer to us in North Devon.
Our problem is this: she is a young 58. She is physically in good health and very active. When she is out with her daughter, they get mistaken for being sisters. In terms of her cultural tastes and interests, she is 20 years younger than her actual age. But, understandably and for obvious reasons, care homes for Alzheimers patients are focused on caring for the elderly. Not only does that mean that all their other residents are elderly (usually in their 70s and 80s), but the design, function and appearance of the facilities is focused on their needs and tastes. There is nothing wrong with this - but it would be completely wrong for my relative. She feels very isolated where she is right now because she is so much younger than everyone else there. I think she would find the appearance and atmosphere in the elderly care homes that we have visited so far to be profoundly depressing.
What compounds the problem is that care homes need to be specially registered and insured to take in residents under 65 and it would seem that the required registration is not assured - one place that we saw that was brighter and more modern than the others cannot take her because they had their registration request declined.
We are in Devon and she is currently in Dorset. We had hoped to find her somewhere closer to us but our options seem to be so limited that we will look anywhere in the country. We need to find a care home that specialises in early onset Alzheimers, and would be good for a physically fit, young-at-heart 50-something woman in the early to mid stages of the disease (but preferably one that could also provide nursing care for the later stages, too). Ideally in the West Country, but we'll look anywhere for the right place.
Have been in touch with the Alzheimers Society, who have been supportive and as helpful as they can be, but they just don't capture this information and so have been unable to offer detailed advice.
Many thanks for any help or information anyone might have.