My mum lives with my sister and her husband and her problems began in November 2014, when all of a sudden she couldn't find the bathroom or kitchen. We suspected that mum had a uti and the GP explained that this might be the cause of the confusion, but arranged an appointment at the memory clinic. Shortly after that and out of the blue, mum have difficulty with walking in that she needed to hold on to someone; she was out with me when she fell, she wasn't injured, just dropped like a stone. Admitted to hospital and was there for two weeks; scans showed that there were signs of old 'mini strokes' and that there was a possibility of vascular dementia. Mum was allowed home when the occupational therapist was satisfied that she could walk to the kitchen and make tea! It was eventually confirmed in February 2015 that mum did have vascular dementia. Her dementia seemed to worsen very quickly e.g. she couldn't complete sentences and was unable to sleep at night and had horrific headaches. The GP prescribed co-codomol and arranged a CT scan; but a later MRI scan confirmed that mum has a brain tumour and we have been told that there will be no intervention. She has been getting steroids which give the impression of a miraculous recovery, but will now only receive palliative care and the steroids will be reduced. The consultant spoke to my sister today (over 'phone) and said that the occupational therapist is satisfied that my mum can walk the length of the corridor unaided (with stick) and now wants to see how my mum copes at home, with a view to discharge. The consultant wants my mum discharged from the hospital because she is now 'bed blocking'. In the meantime mum's dementia has worsened and we have been asked several times about her dementia before the tumour diagnosis and after. It has been noted by staff that she seems unable to carry out a simple task and yet as before the OC seems to think that because mum can walk the length of a corridor she can go home. My sister and her husband both work full time and even with a care package in place the toll on them and their health will be enormous. If we could we would pay for a care home ourselves because we feel that she needs more care than we and/or a package can provide and she needs to be somewhere there is something going on around her even if she doesn't take part, but like many we do not have the resources. P.S. The consultant will not give us a prognosis but we do know that the tumour will start grow again once steriods are reduced.
Apologies for the length of this but we are exasperated that no-one wants to hear what we have to say.
M
Apologies for the length of this but we are exasperated that no-one wants to hear what we have to say.
M