HI everyone,
First post from me and any advice/suggestions would be very much appreciated, or confirmation that I'm doing the right thing....or not!
Brief summary:
77yr old Dad living on his own (mom died 15 yrs ago).
I'm the only (48yr old) child, and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 7yrs ago, and live 150 miles away!
Some mild confusion pre COVID but has got a lot worse since then, mainly problems with short term memory and over recent months very confused about dates and times. Particularly recently getting very anxious about appointments and from a week before increases the number of phone calls because he constantly thinks today is when the appointment is. E.g CT scan tomorrow, which I'm travelling up to take him to, and 5 missed calls at 2 and 3 am (I leave my phone downstairs at night) and he apparently made multiple calls to other friends/relatives desperately wanting to speak to me. Spoke to him first thing this morning and he wasn't really sure why he was ringing in the night.
Consultant psychiatrist appointment for probable diagnosis on 24th May.
So I'm already trying to think of the future (POA is being discussed and will be sorted in a few weeks), but I'm increasingly concerned because I know that my own health condition is particularly influenced by stress (and has already got worse over the last six months) and I'm trying to balance care for myself and family at home, and care for my dad.
I realize there won't be any easy answers but your thoughts will be appreciated.
Thanks
Nick
First post from me and any advice/suggestions would be very much appreciated, or confirmation that I'm doing the right thing....or not!
Brief summary:
77yr old Dad living on his own (mom died 15 yrs ago).
I'm the only (48yr old) child, and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 7yrs ago, and live 150 miles away!
Some mild confusion pre COVID but has got a lot worse since then, mainly problems with short term memory and over recent months very confused about dates and times. Particularly recently getting very anxious about appointments and from a week before increases the number of phone calls because he constantly thinks today is when the appointment is. E.g CT scan tomorrow, which I'm travelling up to take him to, and 5 missed calls at 2 and 3 am (I leave my phone downstairs at night) and he apparently made multiple calls to other friends/relatives desperately wanting to speak to me. Spoke to him first thing this morning and he wasn't really sure why he was ringing in the night.
Consultant psychiatrist appointment for probable diagnosis on 24th May.
So I'm already trying to think of the future (POA is being discussed and will be sorted in a few weeks), but I'm increasingly concerned because I know that my own health condition is particularly influenced by stress (and has already got worse over the last six months) and I'm trying to balance care for myself and family at home, and care for my dad.
I realize there won't be any easy answers but your thoughts will be appreciated.
Thanks
Nick