The good....Because I am now almost certain that nobody in my immediate family - either of my children or my wife's brother are going to come here and stay for a week with Monique, this year, whilst I have a week off - respite - I have been looking for other solutions. The standard of French Care Homes, Old age homes in fantastic! Like smart 3 star hotel and the staff all have smiles on their faces and appear kind and caring... Went to one yesterday belonging to a big group who own 80 care homes throughout France - reasonably affordable...
The bad.... Monique is 'only' 67, a few days ago... The inmates of the 'old age' section with a few 'mild' Alzheimer's patients in their 80,s are mainly have an average age of 79... Quite a lively bunch - reading, sewing, chatting, not a TV in site, in charming surroundings. Individual rooms like hotel bedrooms except the beds adjust in height... The problems there is two fold I think.. Monique would be aware they are 'older' I think... but the Directrice said she could try to pair her up with a youngerish one... BUT Monique gets lost in the house - cannot find her way around it. At night she needs somebody with her 24/7 or she panics, getting her to bed and to sleep at night is a very long drawn out process requiring some considerable patience... She can do nothing to entertain herself - watch tv, read, write and needs constant reassurance. This section of the home (98 inmates) is really set up for old people who mainly have not lost their marbles but are just 'old' and want to live 'comfortably' or have support..
The Ugly.... The Directrice was concerned that the main area, was possibly not staffed sufficiently, to look after Monique's needs and then took me to visit the 'secure' Alzheimer's section. So they cannot run away, there are coded security locks on the doors, it is staffed on what appears to be a 2 carers to 1 patient, biases and is of the same high standard... The problem is the inmates are so ugly, so old so totally out of it... A geriatric version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest! The Directrice seemed to know the name of each of the 19 inmates and paid a little attention to almost all. respectful and friendly but they are all so old and so ugly and so awfully totally bananas... Monique is still relatively young, she can laugh at things, smile at things and has some awareness of what's going on around her... I just couldn't put her in a place like that even for a week.
Not sure why I am writing this - but found it a very difficult experience yesterday.
I have got plan b c and d but....
Michael
The bad.... Monique is 'only' 67, a few days ago... The inmates of the 'old age' section with a few 'mild' Alzheimer's patients in their 80,s are mainly have an average age of 79... Quite a lively bunch - reading, sewing, chatting, not a TV in site, in charming surroundings. Individual rooms like hotel bedrooms except the beds adjust in height... The problems there is two fold I think.. Monique would be aware they are 'older' I think... but the Directrice said she could try to pair her up with a youngerish one... BUT Monique gets lost in the house - cannot find her way around it. At night she needs somebody with her 24/7 or she panics, getting her to bed and to sleep at night is a very long drawn out process requiring some considerable patience... She can do nothing to entertain herself - watch tv, read, write and needs constant reassurance. This section of the home (98 inmates) is really set up for old people who mainly have not lost their marbles but are just 'old' and want to live 'comfortably' or have support..
The Ugly.... The Directrice was concerned that the main area, was possibly not staffed sufficiently, to look after Monique's needs and then took me to visit the 'secure' Alzheimer's section. So they cannot run away, there are coded security locks on the doors, it is staffed on what appears to be a 2 carers to 1 patient, biases and is of the same high standard... The problem is the inmates are so ugly, so old so totally out of it... A geriatric version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest! The Directrice seemed to know the name of each of the 19 inmates and paid a little attention to almost all. respectful and friendly but they are all so old and so ugly and so awfully totally bananas... Monique is still relatively young, she can laugh at things, smile at things and has some awareness of what's going on around her... I just couldn't put her in a place like that even for a week.
Not sure why I am writing this - but found it a very difficult experience yesterday.
I have got plan b c and d but....
Michael