Mum, moved into her bungalow near me in May. She is 90, has mild Alzheimer's, a mobility problem, deafness and poor eyesight. She also has frequent attacks of cystitis, and other pain 'down there' the cause of which isn't clear, and she gets frequent attacks of diarrhoea, plus she is incontinent. In the last couple of years she has had severe depression and a loss of self-confidence. She is diabetic.
Over the next few weeks after her move, we set up a weekly schedule for her. My aim was to ensure that she has fact-to-face human contact at least once a day, and to try to ensure she has regular meals, which isn't easy to arrange because she tends not to co-operate.
Anyway, we got a satisfactory schedule in the end. Sundays, my husband and I take her out to a pub lunch. Mondays, the hairdresser calls. Tuesdays, a self-employed carer spends the afternoon doing the cleaning and spends some time with mum chatting over a cup of tea. Wednesdays, I take her to a lunch club, where I volunteer. Thursdays, she goes to 'filo' day-care. Fridays, she gets a delivery from Oakhouse foods, and I do the rest of her shopping for her. Saturdays, my brother visits and takes her out.
Her nutrition has improved, and her depression has lifted. Although I still have some concerns that she is not showering regularly, she has had no more attacks of cystitis. As a result, she is far less confused.
It is really good to see her happy and content, and it is far less stressful for me and my brother.
The 'filo' day-care is a local project offering a new form of day-care. Mum goes to the carer's own home, with two or three other elderly people. They play word games in the morning, get a home-cooked meal for lunch, then spend the afternoon playing dominos. Mum absolutely loves it. And, one of the things I like about it is that the carer gets a reasonable rate of pay, though we are paying no more than we would to the big nursing home that would be the alternative.
It has taken a long time to get all her assessments done, and that has been mildly frustrating, but at last we see light at the end of the tunnel. She has been assessed by Social Services, and more importantly by Occupational Therapy. The OT worker has done life-story work with mum and is arranging for some adaption of her bungalow. The Fire Brigade did a safety assessment and are arranging for a vibrating fire-alarm for mum's bed. They are also sending round the sensory deprivation equipment specialist.
I've still got to have a carer's assessment, but at least it is booked. We've had a visit from an Alzheimer's Society volunteer, who gave valuable advice. The Blue Badge is on its way, and we've applied to have mum exempted from council tax.
Getting her specialist health care has been particularly slow, but she now has an appointment with a gynaecologist, and we should also get an appointment at the bowel and urine clinic in the next week or two. She's also getting her dental work up to date and seeing a chiropodist.
So, everything is hunky-dory!
Over the next few weeks after her move, we set up a weekly schedule for her. My aim was to ensure that she has fact-to-face human contact at least once a day, and to try to ensure she has regular meals, which isn't easy to arrange because she tends not to co-operate.
Anyway, we got a satisfactory schedule in the end. Sundays, my husband and I take her out to a pub lunch. Mondays, the hairdresser calls. Tuesdays, a self-employed carer spends the afternoon doing the cleaning and spends some time with mum chatting over a cup of tea. Wednesdays, I take her to a lunch club, where I volunteer. Thursdays, she goes to 'filo' day-care. Fridays, she gets a delivery from Oakhouse foods, and I do the rest of her shopping for her. Saturdays, my brother visits and takes her out.
Her nutrition has improved, and her depression has lifted. Although I still have some concerns that she is not showering regularly, she has had no more attacks of cystitis. As a result, she is far less confused.
It is really good to see her happy and content, and it is far less stressful for me and my brother.
The 'filo' day-care is a local project offering a new form of day-care. Mum goes to the carer's own home, with two or three other elderly people. They play word games in the morning, get a home-cooked meal for lunch, then spend the afternoon playing dominos. Mum absolutely loves it. And, one of the things I like about it is that the carer gets a reasonable rate of pay, though we are paying no more than we would to the big nursing home that would be the alternative.
It has taken a long time to get all her assessments done, and that has been mildly frustrating, but at last we see light at the end of the tunnel. She has been assessed by Social Services, and more importantly by Occupational Therapy. The OT worker has done life-story work with mum and is arranging for some adaption of her bungalow. The Fire Brigade did a safety assessment and are arranging for a vibrating fire-alarm for mum's bed. They are also sending round the sensory deprivation equipment specialist.
I've still got to have a carer's assessment, but at least it is booked. We've had a visit from an Alzheimer's Society volunteer, who gave valuable advice. The Blue Badge is on its way, and we've applied to have mum exempted from council tax.
Getting her specialist health care has been particularly slow, but she now has an appointment with a gynaecologist, and we should also get an appointment at the bowel and urine clinic in the next week or two. She's also getting her dental work up to date and seeing a chiropodist.
So, everything is hunky-dory!
