Oh Im so glad you got that zoom visit @Wifenotcarer , even if it wasnt ideal. Lovely that he was in good spirits and Im sure the flowers cheered you up
How kind and thoughtful of the care home manager especially at this very difficult time when they must have do much to think about. So glad you got to see your husband on this special day. SusanMy OH has been in a nursing home since last November. He has had Alzheimer's for four years and other medical conditions. Last September he fell in the local day centre and broke his hip. This was operated on and he was quite ill with delIrium afterwards and was in hospital for 7 weeks. He then fell and broke his other hip and could only be discharged to an assessment bed in a nursing home as he needed 24 hour care. This was a very hard decision but as I had a stroke two years ago and haven't full use of my left hand and the fact that I now have chronic heart failure, to care for him at home was not possible. I love him to bits and hate being parted from him. The Alzheimer's has gradually progressed over the last few months that any interaction is very limited due to lockdown.
Today is our 54th wedding anniversary so I asked the home if it would be possible to visit my OH in the garden. Unlike wifenotcarer experience. I was told that I could visit. Imagine my surprise that when they brought my OH out to the garden in his wheelchair he had flowers, chocolates and a card for me, provided by the manager and her staff. I was completely overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness and kindness. The card even had a specially written verse for the two of us. Unfortunately my OH didn't really understand what was going on. Although we did have a toast with the bottle of Malbec I had brought along. I feel blessed that the manager was very sensitive to my needs, to see my husband on this special day, and facilitate this. I feel very fortunate and grieve for wifenotcarers experience.
Thanks for this very helpful. The home sent email yesterday saying that the local council are advising no contact at all even in garden due to greater risk cross infection as public lockdown been eased, so actually Gov easing lockdown does mean even stricter shielding for vulnerable people which is really sad for everyone.This booklet has just been published and has advice about visiting in a particular chain of care homes. It's very general and sympathetically written.
https://johnscampaign.org.uk/#/post/visiting-a-relative-with-dementia-living-in-a-care-home
The home sent email yesterday saying that the local council are advising no contact at all even in garden due to greater risk cross infection as public lockdown been eased, so actually Gov easing lockdown does mean even stricter shielding for vulnerable people which is really sad for everyone.
That's terribly sad for you. Loving thoughts and hang onto the hood memories.I feel for you all. Unfortunately my mother died during lockdown and I was so looking forward to seeing her again
Yes I really don't understand this either, I am going to write and query this. Their main concern appears to be that visitors having increased social contact now will be placing any resident at even higher risk. The 2 residents who were positive have been quarantined 14 days and no other instance in the home It's Wolves council, west Midlands, R rate bit raised but not as high as other places.Is the home in an area where infection rates are really high, or does the home currently have high rates of infection amongst residents? The lockdown has been eased as infection rates have reduced, and the government has even eased the shielding restrictions now. Government advice is that it is safe for one person to visit someone from another household, outside, whilst maintaining social distancing. Mum's home have started garden visits this week. Masks and hand sanitiser are provided and social distancing has to be maintained at all times. The home are basing their decisions on the government advice, plus their own risk assessments, rather than what the local council may or may not say. I wonder when your council will deem it appropriate to allow garden visits, bearing in mind that lockdown restrictions are due to be eased even further in the coming weeks?
I feel for you all. Unfortunately my mother died during lockdown and I was so looking forward to seeing her again
I’m so sorry @pixie2 and especially difficult now xI feel for you all. Unfortunately my mother died during lockdown and I was so looking forward to seeing her again
So sorry to hear this Pixie2. You must be devastated. All I can say is take care of yourself at this difficult time. Fill your mind with things that you shared in happier times. There must be so many to remember.I feel for you all. Unfortunately my mother died during lockdown and I was so looking forward to seeing her again
Personally I have to stop myself thinking about how Dad is doing in his care home - it's too painful and there's nothing I can do about it, short of driving up there and taking him out of care altogether. And that's not really a viable option.
I am exactly the same and if allow myself to drift of thinking about it all I just get very upset for the rest of the day. I have to push myself sometimes to get on with things otherwise I would just sit and stew over it all.
Thankyou. Thinking of youSo sorry to hear this Pixie2. You must be devastated. All I can say is take care of yourself at this difficult time. Fill your mind with things that you shared in happier times. There must be so many to remember.
I too am worried that this might happen to Mum. She's 95 and I haven't seen her for12 weeks .
Susan
Thankyou so muchOh Pixie, I'm so sorry this has happened. I can only begin to imagine how you feel. (((hugs)))