Posted before about my own suspicions re Mum's dementia. Well, now she's been assessed 21/30 on MMSE test, has had to have a CT scan and has been given an appointment at the memory clinic next month. (A friend will go with her; it's still in term time and I'm a full time teacher and Mum's only child)
I visited this weekend just past on what has become a necessary monthly visit and round trip of 300 miles: to change her bed, wash up (she doesn't do any) and now to go through the fridge chucking out stuff.
Anyway I've written to Mum's GP and received a warm if slightly guarded reply. It says that she's undergoing assessments and that with Mum's permission she'll share findings with me. Mum also showed me a letter detailing preliminary findings. Strangely (or not, I suppose) she seemed to be largely unaffected by reading that she had signs of cognitive impairment as well as a need to go to the memory clinic and just said how pleased she was that 'they're taking me off that tablet' (amlodipine)
Mum lives in a semi sheltered flat and has a pendant but says she'll accept carers/help 'over my dead body' 'I don't need it, it's just I don't get time to do it all' She could afford care/help to the degree that she needs it now but is not a house owner and her pension is modest.
I'm feeling so worried and couldn't sleep last night. Should I give up work despite being a single mum with a daughter going off to university in Sept... how will I cope with Mum's worsening condition? I can't move her nearer since live in small unsuitable rented place and she wouldn't go to Abbeyfield which I think would be a good idea. I doubt whether she'd cope with a move to other accommodation nearer me since it would be so disorienting and they don't usually take diagnosed dementia patients. I feel it's an insoluble problem and the distance is great!
I needed to get it off my chest so thanks for reading my tale of woe but if anyone can point me in any direction (I am going round in circles) I'd be thankful....
Aloysius
I visited this weekend just past on what has become a necessary monthly visit and round trip of 300 miles: to change her bed, wash up (she doesn't do any) and now to go through the fridge chucking out stuff.
Anyway I've written to Mum's GP and received a warm if slightly guarded reply. It says that she's undergoing assessments and that with Mum's permission she'll share findings with me. Mum also showed me a letter detailing preliminary findings. Strangely (or not, I suppose) she seemed to be largely unaffected by reading that she had signs of cognitive impairment as well as a need to go to the memory clinic and just said how pleased she was that 'they're taking me off that tablet' (amlodipine)
Mum lives in a semi sheltered flat and has a pendant but says she'll accept carers/help 'over my dead body' 'I don't need it, it's just I don't get time to do it all' She could afford care/help to the degree that she needs it now but is not a house owner and her pension is modest.
I'm feeling so worried and couldn't sleep last night. Should I give up work despite being a single mum with a daughter going off to university in Sept... how will I cope with Mum's worsening condition? I can't move her nearer since live in small unsuitable rented place and she wouldn't go to Abbeyfield which I think would be a good idea. I doubt whether she'd cope with a move to other accommodation nearer me since it would be so disorienting and they don't usually take diagnosed dementia patients. I feel it's an insoluble problem and the distance is great!
I needed to get it off my chest so thanks for reading my tale of woe but if anyone can point me in any direction (I am going round in circles) I'd be thankful....
Aloysius