Hoping someone can offer some advice or experience-
Mum has been in hospital for 6 weeks with chest infection and flu. Before admission her AZ was late moderate I would say but she could walk, and recognise the need to go to the toilet during the day. She was just beginning to have difficulty feeding herself.
Plan A was to get the physios in and see if she needed fast or slow rehab on discharge, as she started to become less responsive - a nursing bed was added as the 3rd option. She was really poorly and the hospital got me in to tell me that they thought she was withdrawing as she was pretty unresponsive and not eating/drinking. I really thought we were at the end of the road.
Her appetite has now improved a bit and she is eating about half the food offered if it is fed to her, drinks she can sip out of a cup if you hold it, and can still use a straw to a degree. She sometimes opens her mouth for a spoon, sometimes she seems not to know what to do, and will kiss it. She is now 2x incontinent.
Physio appears to be off the cards now (and nursing bed option being persued - actually back where she came from but on different basis) - when I asked about it the nurse said that she couldn't follow the physios instructions so it couldn't be continued. They started with asking her to move her hands etc. I asked if 2 of them could get her to her feet (I thought walking may come back if reminded of feet on floor) and they can't (H&S no doubt). I'm sure they have guidelines over what can and can't be done and presumably some criteria to determine that physio is not possible - does anyone have any idea what these criteria are?
My opinionated colleague at work was telling me I needed to sort it out and get her on her feet and surely she'd do it if I was there. I just don't know any more and wonder that I'm letting mum down. Her dementia is very advanced now I'd say - she still knows she knows me, not who I am, but can't pick a cup up herself or even eat food from her fingers. I'm visiting her every day and trying to get some extra food into her.
Is this just par for the course for the next stage? I can't believe how quickly this has progressed. Infection is all sorted now, but it has had a massive impact. Her notes say she's verbally aggressive; I think she's frightened when personal care is taking place. So perhaps she would be the same with physios???
When people stop walking do they just remain in bed? (I remember my granny being bed bound but that was 20 years ago). I guess writing this has made it stark what she can no longer do. I just don't want to let her down, and want her to have the best quality of life. Is there anything else I should be doing?
Sorry this is such a ramble!
Mum has been in hospital for 6 weeks with chest infection and flu. Before admission her AZ was late moderate I would say but she could walk, and recognise the need to go to the toilet during the day. She was just beginning to have difficulty feeding herself.
Plan A was to get the physios in and see if she needed fast or slow rehab on discharge, as she started to become less responsive - a nursing bed was added as the 3rd option. She was really poorly and the hospital got me in to tell me that they thought she was withdrawing as she was pretty unresponsive and not eating/drinking. I really thought we were at the end of the road.
Her appetite has now improved a bit and she is eating about half the food offered if it is fed to her, drinks she can sip out of a cup if you hold it, and can still use a straw to a degree. She sometimes opens her mouth for a spoon, sometimes she seems not to know what to do, and will kiss it. She is now 2x incontinent.
Physio appears to be off the cards now (and nursing bed option being persued - actually back where she came from but on different basis) - when I asked about it the nurse said that she couldn't follow the physios instructions so it couldn't be continued. They started with asking her to move her hands etc. I asked if 2 of them could get her to her feet (I thought walking may come back if reminded of feet on floor) and they can't (H&S no doubt). I'm sure they have guidelines over what can and can't be done and presumably some criteria to determine that physio is not possible - does anyone have any idea what these criteria are?
My opinionated colleague at work was telling me I needed to sort it out and get her on her feet and surely she'd do it if I was there. I just don't know any more and wonder that I'm letting mum down. Her dementia is very advanced now I'd say - she still knows she knows me, not who I am, but can't pick a cup up herself or even eat food from her fingers. I'm visiting her every day and trying to get some extra food into her.
Is this just par for the course for the next stage? I can't believe how quickly this has progressed. Infection is all sorted now, but it has had a massive impact. Her notes say she's verbally aggressive; I think she's frightened when personal care is taking place. So perhaps she would be the same with physios???
When people stop walking do they just remain in bed? (I remember my granny being bed bound but that was 20 years ago). I guess writing this has made it stark what she can no longer do. I just don't want to let her down, and want her to have the best quality of life. Is there anything else I should be doing?
Sorry this is such a ramble!