physcogeriatricians

[Betty]

Hell everyone

we are now on week 2 of interaction with the medical world. I have spent most of that time ensuring that the all important consulatant report is sent back to the GP ( 3 phone Calls) and that this in turn is sent on to someone called a physcogeriatrician. ( 2 phone calls so far). apparantly there is only one person in the whole world who can assess/ prescribe the treatment my father needs.......and he is on holiday. I now find out by talking to his secretary that this is the person my father was originally reffered to 3 months ago, but sorry some of the details were wrong so its been sent back to file. AAARRRGGGHHHH.

My heart goes out to people who do not have anyone to help them through this becasue my mum and dad would not stand a chance on their own.


Rant over. Thank you

My real reason for posting was to ask if anyone knows what a physcogeriatrician is? We had been adamant that we wanted to return to the nuerologist ( as he himself had suggested) but the doctor convinced us that the care pathway in doncaster was through this service. any advice anyone?

thank you

 

[Colin Cosgrove]

Re: psychogeriatricians

Hi Betty,

Psychogeriatricians is also known as old age psychiatrists – they are doctors who specialise in treating mental illness in older people. Psychogeriatricians often specialise in the care of people with dementia, and younger people with dementia are often referred to them for this reason.

Neurology services can be very useful in diagnosing dementia, but people can be referred on to a psychogeriatrician following diagnosis, because he/she will have more experience of treating dementia than a neurologist.

I think Doncaster has a specialist early onset dementia service, and it may be that the psychogeriatrician your father has been referred to is connected to this service. In that case, it may well be a better idea to go down this route – at least there does seem to be a care pathway for younger people with dementia in Doncaster, which is more than can be said for most areas.

If you want to speak to someone in the service, their number is 01302 796 104.

Hope that helps,
colin

 

[Betty]

thanks a lot Colin, thats really helpful. I will call on monday.

will let you know how it goes. got an appointment for Tuesday, at last. Hurrah!.

 

[Betty]

after the appointment

went to the physcogeriatrician today. what a lovely lovely man. listened for an hour was sensitive , to the point, honest but positive. dad felt he had an insight to how he feels, it feels at times,dad felt understood and safer I think . got the aricept.

dads much happier for the moment, mums calmed down.life goes on.

tough times ahead but they really feel someone is on their side, makes a big difference.

good day.( sort of)

goodnight

 

[Norman]

Betty
so glad that you got the Aricept,at least you feel some thing is being done now.
We went on Monday for our 6 monthly "check" our consultant is a really nice man and has been so good to us.
One problem elswhere the thoughts of disloyalty has been discussed and Monday was a bad day in that respect for me.
Our consultant has undertaken some research and for my sins he asked me to help,it seems the Health Authority will get a PC out of it.
I have to fill in a very long questioner,Has your social life suffered?Does your partner embarass you in company?Can they still prepare and cook a meal?Do you feel that you do not get any time to yourself?
I felt very disloyal answering these and many similar ones,but take heart from Bruce"it shows we care".
very best wishes
Norman

 

[betty2]

looking up

things looked up this week. thought i'd write when things are good too.

we had a visit from the community mental health team, which did the trick of making my mum happy that there is support out there, she was a very nice lady who has had personal experience of alzheimers, and even managed , without much persuasion to get my dad to pop down to the community house to give a bit knowlegde and help in the garden. they are also going out on a trip. mum just got her bus pass so anything to do with buses at 40p is exciting at the moment! we've also got a organisation called partnerhsip for carers coming nect week to fill in all the forms for DLA. dads already booking the holiday!

I know this wont last forever, but , the wierd knock on effect of all this is a new world is opening up for them. we are really gelling as a family and doing all sorts of things and making all sorts of efforts that i suspect we would have left until tommorrow if this wasnt happening. mums even agreed to go camping at the weekend

dads responded well to the aricept, still has same problems but response time seems to have improved and he is full of gusto for life at the moment.

mum and i have lots in common now!

I know the fall will be so much harder for it, but if it would just give us a good couple of years...... we'll see

happy bunny signing off

betty

 

[Nutty Nan]

Dear Betty,
What a joy to read your happy posting - well done for sharing it all with us. Your positive attitude is brilliant, and I hope that the encouraging developments will last a long time for you and your family. It is good to be reminded that sometimes, just a little bit of a 'result' can lead to all sorts of other good things.
All the best,
Carmen