Mum had a CT scan schedued by the memory clinic a few weeks ago. We got her there by persuading her it was to follow up on the effects on her brain, when a recent heart problem interrupted the blood flow to it.
The clinic have written directly to her, on stationery with "dementia" and "alzheimers" on it, giving her an appointment to get the results at a memory clinic. We've just found out about it by accident - she has the letter in her pocket, she won't let it out of her sight and won't let anyone else read it. We only know because she forgot she had it in her pocket and got half way through reading it out to Dad before she realised what it was and clammed up. Apparently the appointment is later in March and she named the venue, but she's refusing to say what time it is and refuses to go. If she follows her usual pattern, the letter will now disappear.
Ideally, we'd like Dad, her next of kin, to be able to phone for the results or attend the appointment instead. However, Mum won't let him out of her sight. Pretty sure the results won't be a surprise, but Mum is just desperate not to hear it. Could I or my siblings ask for Mum's confidentiality to be waived so we could help, or does it have to be Dad? We're not sure he'd want to provoke Mum - he's dealing with cancer and the side-effects of radiotherapy, so he needs the quietist life he can manage just now.
And is there any way at all we can persuade the medical community to stop shooting us all in the foot by corresponding with one of us instead, or by using plain stationery not plastered in words that trigger Mum?
Many thanks for the advice. After my last question here, I suspect many other folks would've run into this situation before.
The clinic have written directly to her, on stationery with "dementia" and "alzheimers" on it, giving her an appointment to get the results at a memory clinic. We've just found out about it by accident - she has the letter in her pocket, she won't let it out of her sight and won't let anyone else read it. We only know because she forgot she had it in her pocket and got half way through reading it out to Dad before she realised what it was and clammed up. Apparently the appointment is later in March and she named the venue, but she's refusing to say what time it is and refuses to go. If she follows her usual pattern, the letter will now disappear.
Ideally, we'd like Dad, her next of kin, to be able to phone for the results or attend the appointment instead. However, Mum won't let him out of her sight. Pretty sure the results won't be a surprise, but Mum is just desperate not to hear it. Could I or my siblings ask for Mum's confidentiality to be waived so we could help, or does it have to be Dad? We're not sure he'd want to provoke Mum - he's dealing with cancer and the side-effects of radiotherapy, so he needs the quietist life he can manage just now.
And is there any way at all we can persuade the medical community to stop shooting us all in the foot by corresponding with one of us instead, or by using plain stationery not plastered in words that trigger Mum?
Many thanks for the advice. After my last question here, I suspect many other folks would've run into this situation before.