Wednesday 3rd October 2012
Teresa and Lissa went into see mum today, she was laying on on her bed, the staff said that it is more comfortable for her, she is still waiting for her air mattress, she only managed to eat a few spoonfuls of food, they changed her blouse and vest as she was very grubby. Teresa said that it hit her just how thin mum is now.
Mum was very muddled and they were both upset seeing her like this, she asked Teresa to take her home and said that she was frightened. Teresa has decided to go in again on Friday as well as the weekend, I told her that we are going in tomorrow, I told her that I would speak to her tomorrow after we had been in.
Daphne told Teresa that mum had got out of bed and into her chair herself, she was very surprised and thought one of the other staff had got her out.
Thursday 4th October
Mum was in her armchair, the air mattress had been delivered, at last, they are going to get it onto the bed later on today. I bent down to kiss mum and she looked up and said 'my daughter', she was rambling today and looked so very frail and thin, she did surprise us by picking up her drink and doing it herself, she looked very grubby so I changed her top, she got very distressed said ' No, no, no' and told me to 'bugger off,' she soon settled back down, perhaps that is why they are not changing her, as she gets so distressed ..
We put her TV on for her and someone on the screen said John, she looked at John and said 'You' she kept pointing and saying 'That's Char'... (Teresa went to see a medium who told her that a spirit is looking over mum and she is sure that it is Uncle Charlie..perhaps she is right)
Mum is absolutely exhausted and I wonder just how long she can go on like this and how much more time we will have with her.
Mary phoned this evening and I told her how she was this morning, she is phoning again at the weekend.
Friday 5th October
Teresa text to say mum was not too bad today she had eaten some weetabix and she had managed a smile, she is going in again on Sunday, I told her we would be going in to see her on Monday.
Monday 8th October
It took a long time to get mum to open her eyes, she looked very uncomfortable in her chair, she always has her legs crossed, almost doubled up, she looked up and said 'lovely' once she realised we were there, she looks so tired and worn out. We could hardly understand anything that she said.
Mervyn told us that she had eaten some Ready Brek for her breakfast, he left us a yogurt and we managed to get her to eat half the pot, we only stayed for an hour as she went back to sleep.
I phoned and talked to Laura in the evening and gently asked her if she would like to go in and see Nan, she said that she would like to go in, so we decided to go in on Saturday .
I text Mary and Teresa text me and said that she was going in on Thursday.
Tuesday 9th October
Laura text to say that her boss had given her the morning off on Thursday so that she could go in and see Nan, I text Teresa and told her that Laura wanted to go in and see mum she said that she would change her day to Friday.
Thursday 11th October
Mum is getting so much weaker, she had eaten a few spoonfuls of breakfast, I got her to eat almost a whole pot of yogurt, Laura and John C came together to see mum, John saw them out of the window so he went and met them. Laura was really shocked how much weight mum had lost, mum didn't really realise that Laura was there until Laura got right up close to her, mum gave her a lovely smile, she tried to tell us something be we couldn't understand what she was trying to tell us.
Yolanda, the carer, told me that mum gets out of breath just doing the smallest of things, she looks so weak and feeble. When we left Laura kissed her and said goodbye, she looked at Laura and said 'Nite, Nite' Laura said that she would see her later and she said 'Okey dokey'
How much longer can she go on like this... she is hardly eating anything at all, I hate seeing her like this..
Friday 12th October
I had a phone call from Michael to say that mum is not doing very well, the doctor has been called, we were out walking the dog, John dropped me off at Michael's and we went into the home, mum was very agitated, we feel that mum is very near her time to leave us. The doctor came and has taken her off of all her medication, we don't want mum to go into hospital, the doctor agreed, he said that they would only give her fluids and then send her back to the home again and he felt that anything could happen on the way, The nursing care upstairs is full, we said that we would really like mum to stay where she is . They said that they could put a tube in mums stomach and give her fluids but no nourishment. the doctor said that she must stay in bed as she keeps slipping down in her chair and getting very uncomfortable.
They used the hoist to get her into bed and they raised the sides of the bed which they also put padding on so she doesn't hurt herself, they are using swabs to put water round her lips and a glycerine swab around her lips to keep them moist..The doctor has prescribe morphine patches, we left about 7.30pm, if there is any change during the day or night they will phone us all.
Saturday 13th Ocotbder
John and I got into mum at 9.30 am. John stayed for a couple of hours and then he went leaving me with mum, she gave John a lovely wink when he told her he was going and she said to him 'come on'. I spent valuable time with mum on my own, she tried so hard to talk to me but it was hard to understand what she was saying it was heartbreaking.
The carers are bring so good, they are turning her every 2 hours, I ended up with a terrible headache and went and walked around and sat in the garden. Karen got me some tea and biscuits, she told me that she had a shock when she saw mum as she had been off for 4 days and didn't realise just how mum had gone down hill in those 4 days. Tina also said the same, no one had told her how bad mum was.
Teresa , Michael, Lissa and Holly came in just before 3 pm. John came and picked me up and we got home about 4ish. Teresa phoned later and said there wasn't any change and that she was going back in tomorrow with Lissa, Steve is also coming down and going in with Michael.
Sunday 14th October
We got into mum about 3.30 pm, Steven and Michael were there, Teresa and Lissa have gone to get a coffee, Steve was really shocked when he saw mum. The carers came and turned mum, she is so worn out, just turning her is such an effort for her, she then slept.
Teresa and Lissa came back. Teresa and I helped give mum a bed bath, it was such a shock for us to see just how thin she was, just like a skeleton, she was such a big lady and now just skin and bone.. terrible to see, not like the mum I used to go and help bath when she was at home..
When they all left John and I stayed on for another hour, until the carers came back to turn her again.
Sophie and Daphne, the carers, both said that they were off tomorrow but would call to see how mum is.
Monday 15th October
I just felt that I couldn't go in to see mum today, I phoned and spoke to Daphne, she said that there wasn't any change, I got a bit tearful and upset, Daphne said that it is normal to feel like that and that she would phone me if there was any change.
I phoned Teresa she said that mum was sleeping most of the time that she was there,. I told her that we were going in tomorrow to see her.
Tuesday 16th October
We got into the care home at 10.30 am, mum was sleeping but very agitated, we did manage to chat to her but she was unable to speak, Sophie and Michala, the carers, came and turned her, Sophie told me that mum had said 'where's Lizzie' on Sunday.
The carers are so good with her and she responds to their voices. We stayed and chatted to her. Cynthia came in and asked if mum was unwell, she noticed that mum had gone downhill but not as much as she had.
She was sleeping, so we kissed her and told her we would see her later, when we got to the door she started mumbling so we went in and she was pushing the covers off, John said to her 'you coming with us then' she said quite clearly 'yes please'.
The girls came back in to turn her, we had a chat with them they are looking after mum so well and are so dedicated and respectful to mum.
The doctor came and authorised another morphine patch could be used.
Wednesday 17th October
John dropped me off at Michaels just before 3pm and we went into the care home together, Teresa was already there, mum was very agitated, they had put another morphine patch on her. Daphne had told Teresa that we should be prepared for mum to leaves in the next 24 hours, she is still trying to talk to us. The carers are continuing to turn mum ever 2 hours they are also putting cream on her to stop any bed sores, she does not like laying on her back and is more comfortable on her right side, she is struggling with breathing so much it is heartbreaking to watch.
We left when we thought she was comfortable, I got home just after 7pm. We are preparing ourselves for a phone call in the night. I phoned Andrew, Mary and auntie Nora to prepare them.
I phoned Chris from Perigoes (Funeral directors) at home to ask her advice about what we should do and the procedure about what happens about mum, she was very helpful.
It's been a hard day ...
Thursday 18th October
John cancelled his appointment for his medical today as he wanted to come in with me to see mum, we picked Teresa up and got to the care home just before 10am , mum was much worse this morning, John stayed for a couple of hours, he got very upset seeing mum struggling so much he had to leave.
Teresa and I stayed with mum and we talked about the family and all the things we had done, the funny things that had happened, we talked about Dad, Nan and Pop and all the good times we had as a family.
It was entertainment day and there was a chap singing, very badly, old time songs that mum loved, so Teresa and I joined in, mum would have been singing too if she could.
The carers continued to come and turn mum every 2 hours, she got very distressed being on her back so they only turned her from one side to the other, she struggled with her breathing so much all day. The carers gave us lots of tea and later on in the day they made us some sandwiches. Mum frightened us by having a choking fit, we had to call Daphne, we managed to to lift her head and she caught her breath again. She was trying so hard to stay with us she just would not let go, we told her that we would all look after each other and she shouldn't worry.
Michael came in about 3.30 pm, mums feet had started to turn blue, then her fingers and slowly we watch as the blueness travelled up her body, her breathing suddenly changed to a very shallow sound, then at 7 pm she left us. We were all there with her, It was a very sad moment but I felt relieved for her that she was at rest at last. I kissed her and thanked her for just being her.
Daphne and the other carers have been very good and supportive all day and we were all very grateful, I caught Daphne having a few tears as she had been very fond of mum.
Daphne came and laid mum on her back, she talked to mum all the time, apologising when she moved her, which I found very touching at how respectful she was. Honey the Nursing care nurse had to be called so that she could confirm mums passing..
I asked Daphne if she could lock mums door, which she did, we went and found all the carers and thanked them all for looking after mum.
Nite Nite mum, sleep tight... I loved you so much and I will miss you every day with all my heart xxxxxxxxxxxx
Saturday 7 February 2015
Thursday 22 January 2015
Sunday 2nd September - 30th September.. Mum refuses to eat
Sunday 2nd September 2012
Teresa phoned and said that mum was a lot brighter yesterday, they are now trying to feed mum all of her meals but mum is very stubborn. Teresa said that while she was there she would try and get mum to eat something, mum had a few spoonfuls and when Teresa tried to get her to eat more mum said 'for Christs sake'. Teresa thinks that mum is also having stomach pains. They have put the chart in mums room to keep an eye on her fluid/food intake. Mum just has no interest in food but I suppose she hasn't eaten very much for so long it isn't surprising.
Teresa is going in on Tuesday so she will be there when the doctor goes in, mum still hasn't had a blood test so she will ask him about that.
Wednesday 5th September
Teresa phoned to say that she was with mum when the doctor called and he said that mum has had her blood tests and all was fine, her blood pressure is now also OK and her temperature is now normal. The doctor said that she must be encouraged to eat, even bribe her if necessary. Teresa and I both think that mum is so stubborn it will be hard to bribe her to do anything. This is all part of the dementia getting worse.
Mum is brighter and Karen is back on the unit and although mum doesn't recognise her Teresa could see that mum was taking her arm. Daphne is now on other unit but Teresa saw her and said that as mum is wandering around she could go in to one of the other residents rooms and eat a biscuit and choke but she didn't respond!
We went in later and mum looked a lot brighter she was sitting just outside her room in an armchair, we decided to take her for a walk as it was such a lovely day, it took us about 15 minutes to get her from the armchair into the wheelchair, she really enjoyed being outside, we took her to the park and she surprise us both by saying 'I've been here before' .
We took her back to her room, she wouldn't get out of the wheelchair when we went to go, we put her TV on and left her in the wheelchair, on the way out I told one of the carers that mum was in her wheelchair and she said that she would go and check on her.
While we were there I changed mums sheet and duvet cover as they were both very grubby.
Thursday 13th September
I went in to see mum with Mary and Roger, Yolande told us that mum has been immobile for 3-4 days and that they had to use the hoist to get her out of bed and into her chair, she looks very, very frail today she has lost even more weight since we saw her last Wednesday, she rambles on a lot, not a lot made sense, she got quite stressed at one point trying to tell us something, she did say that nobody cares and just left her and that she would come with us....I got her to eat a pot of yogurt but couldn't get her to drink any of her tea, the carer assured me that they would get her to have some fluids. We put her TV on for her and I asked the carer if they could leave it on as she likes it for company.
Later in the afternoon Michael phoned to say that Karen had phoned and said that mum had another fall, she was OK but may have a bruise, she told Micheal that mum had gone downhill fast.
Friday 14th September
I phoned the care home to see how mum was and spoke to Daphne she said that mum was having trouble swallowing again today and she was not able to put her words together, she is able to stand up. Daphne wonders if she may have had another little stroke, she said that she would do another urine test, she said, like Karen, that she has gone downhill very fast.
Michael in going in tomorrow and we will go in either Sunday or Monday
I feel quite tearful today.
Saturday 15th September
I spoke to Micheal and Teresa about how mum was today, Michael said not too bad (Linda said 'terrible' !) ..Teresa said that mum wasn't as bad as when she saw her in the week, they took her for a walk to the park but she did not like going out and wanted to go back.
She is definitely getting worse, Teresa said that mum says about going home with her too, I asked her how she deals with and she said that she changes the subject. Mum kept asking Linda who she was.
Teresa said that it was bedlam in the care home today, she had to go and get someone to get mum changed as she had soiled herself. Karen was in charge but as they had an emergency she was unable to help so Teresa had to find one of the young carers and had to help him sort mum out. I told her we would go in tomorrow.
Sunday 16th September
Mum was in her room watching TV, John went in first and she looked at him and said 'where's Liz?', she looked better than she did on Thursday but very pale but as usual very muddled. Karen came in to give mum her medications, I asked her if she had eaten her breakfast and she just said 'pass' Not a very helpful answer. I did manage to get mum to drink a little of her tea.
Mum looked very tearful when we left, she would have been happy if we could have stayed with her all day.
I text Teresa and told her about our visit and how mum was, she said that she was going in on Tuesday and would let me know how she is.
Tuesday 18th September
Teresa text to say that mum was very tired, she had tried to get her to eat some lunch but she only managed 5 spoonfuls.
Thursday 20th September
The carers were getting mum washed and dressed when we arrived, mum was absolutely exhausted by the time they had finished, she is looking so frail, she was happy that we were there but we couldn't understand anything that she was saying today, she kept making a moaning noise, her breathing is still very raspy sometimes.
I got her to eat most of her pot of yogurt but unable to get her to drink a lot of the tea, although she did try to do it herself, we had to keep reminding her to swallow.
I hate seeing her like this and wonder how long she can go without eating anything
The staff were a little sad today as Betty had died, she had a stroke and didn't recover, she was such a lively character and I think that she will be greatly missed.
Thursday 27th September
Mum was in bed, she was very muddled and talking to herself, it was upsetting seeing her like that, she was very distressed by a lady in the corridor who was shouting. Daphne came in and gave mum her eye drops, she wasn't very chatty, in fact she was very brisk, I asked her why mum was in bed and she said that she had pressure sores on her bottom and heels. The district nurse had been in and said that mum needs a pressure mattress and pressure cushion for her armchair.
Mum was rambling and we couldn't understand a lot except she said that she would come with us. The carer came in with some mashed banana and some tea, I told her that I would give it to mum if she liked, she ate it all but when I tried to give her some of her tea she said 'it's bloody awful'. We did get her to smile a couple of times. The carer came back and got mum to drink some of her energy drink she managed to drink most of it, she told me that they were going to get mum up for an hour so she could have some lunch then put her back into her bed, then they would get her up again in the evening for another hour.
They have a chart which they are filling in for when they moving/turning her. Just as we were going the carers came in to get mum changed and out of bed, they had to use the hoist as mum couldn't do it herself.
Sunday 30th September
Teresa text to say that mum is very weak but she still had a little smile.. they are still waiting for her new pressure mattress.
Teresa phoned and said that mum was a lot brighter yesterday, they are now trying to feed mum all of her meals but mum is very stubborn. Teresa said that while she was there she would try and get mum to eat something, mum had a few spoonfuls and when Teresa tried to get her to eat more mum said 'for Christs sake'. Teresa thinks that mum is also having stomach pains. They have put the chart in mums room to keep an eye on her fluid/food intake. Mum just has no interest in food but I suppose she hasn't eaten very much for so long it isn't surprising.
Teresa is going in on Tuesday so she will be there when the doctor goes in, mum still hasn't had a blood test so she will ask him about that.
Wednesday 5th September
Teresa phoned to say that she was with mum when the doctor called and he said that mum has had her blood tests and all was fine, her blood pressure is now also OK and her temperature is now normal. The doctor said that she must be encouraged to eat, even bribe her if necessary. Teresa and I both think that mum is so stubborn it will be hard to bribe her to do anything. This is all part of the dementia getting worse.
Mum is brighter and Karen is back on the unit and although mum doesn't recognise her Teresa could see that mum was taking her arm. Daphne is now on other unit but Teresa saw her and said that as mum is wandering around she could go in to one of the other residents rooms and eat a biscuit and choke but she didn't respond!
We went in later and mum looked a lot brighter she was sitting just outside her room in an armchair, we decided to take her for a walk as it was such a lovely day, it took us about 15 minutes to get her from the armchair into the wheelchair, she really enjoyed being outside, we took her to the park and she surprise us both by saying 'I've been here before' .
We took her back to her room, she wouldn't get out of the wheelchair when we went to go, we put her TV on and left her in the wheelchair, on the way out I told one of the carers that mum was in her wheelchair and she said that she would go and check on her.
While we were there I changed mums sheet and duvet cover as they were both very grubby.
Thursday 13th September
I went in to see mum with Mary and Roger, Yolande told us that mum has been immobile for 3-4 days and that they had to use the hoist to get her out of bed and into her chair, she looks very, very frail today she has lost even more weight since we saw her last Wednesday, she rambles on a lot, not a lot made sense, she got quite stressed at one point trying to tell us something, she did say that nobody cares and just left her and that she would come with us....I got her to eat a pot of yogurt but couldn't get her to drink any of her tea, the carer assured me that they would get her to have some fluids. We put her TV on for her and I asked the carer if they could leave it on as she likes it for company.
Later in the afternoon Michael phoned to say that Karen had phoned and said that mum had another fall, she was OK but may have a bruise, she told Micheal that mum had gone downhill fast.
Friday 14th September
I phoned the care home to see how mum was and spoke to Daphne she said that mum was having trouble swallowing again today and she was not able to put her words together, she is able to stand up. Daphne wonders if she may have had another little stroke, she said that she would do another urine test, she said, like Karen, that she has gone downhill very fast.
Michael in going in tomorrow and we will go in either Sunday or Monday
I feel quite tearful today.
Saturday 15th September
I spoke to Micheal and Teresa about how mum was today, Michael said not too bad (Linda said 'terrible' !) ..Teresa said that mum wasn't as bad as when she saw her in the week, they took her for a walk to the park but she did not like going out and wanted to go back.
She is definitely getting worse, Teresa said that mum says about going home with her too, I asked her how she deals with and she said that she changes the subject. Mum kept asking Linda who she was.
Teresa said that it was bedlam in the care home today, she had to go and get someone to get mum changed as she had soiled herself. Karen was in charge but as they had an emergency she was unable to help so Teresa had to find one of the young carers and had to help him sort mum out. I told her we would go in tomorrow.
Sunday 16th September
Mum was in her room watching TV, John went in first and she looked at him and said 'where's Liz?', she looked better than she did on Thursday but very pale but as usual very muddled. Karen came in to give mum her medications, I asked her if she had eaten her breakfast and she just said 'pass' Not a very helpful answer. I did manage to get mum to drink a little of her tea.
Mum looked very tearful when we left, she would have been happy if we could have stayed with her all day.
I text Teresa and told her about our visit and how mum was, she said that she was going in on Tuesday and would let me know how she is.
Tuesday 18th September
Teresa text to say that mum was very tired, she had tried to get her to eat some lunch but she only managed 5 spoonfuls.
Thursday 20th September
The carers were getting mum washed and dressed when we arrived, mum was absolutely exhausted by the time they had finished, she is looking so frail, she was happy that we were there but we couldn't understand anything that she was saying today, she kept making a moaning noise, her breathing is still very raspy sometimes.
I got her to eat most of her pot of yogurt but unable to get her to drink a lot of the tea, although she did try to do it herself, we had to keep reminding her to swallow.
I hate seeing her like this and wonder how long she can go without eating anything
The staff were a little sad today as Betty had died, she had a stroke and didn't recover, she was such a lively character and I think that she will be greatly missed.
Thursday 27th September
Mum was in bed, she was very muddled and talking to herself, it was upsetting seeing her like that, she was very distressed by a lady in the corridor who was shouting. Daphne came in and gave mum her eye drops, she wasn't very chatty, in fact she was very brisk, I asked her why mum was in bed and she said that she had pressure sores on her bottom and heels. The district nurse had been in and said that mum needs a pressure mattress and pressure cushion for her armchair.
Mum was rambling and we couldn't understand a lot except she said that she would come with us. The carer came in with some mashed banana and some tea, I told her that I would give it to mum if she liked, she ate it all but when I tried to give her some of her tea she said 'it's bloody awful'. We did get her to smile a couple of times. The carer came back and got mum to drink some of her energy drink she managed to drink most of it, she told me that they were going to get mum up for an hour so she could have some lunch then put her back into her bed, then they would get her up again in the evening for another hour.
They have a chart which they are filling in for when they moving/turning her. Just as we were going the carers came in to get mum changed and out of bed, they had to use the hoist as mum couldn't do it herself.
Sunday 30th September
Teresa text to say that mum is very weak but she still had a little smile.. they are still waiting for her new pressure mattress.
Wednesday 1st August - 31st August 2012 ... Not happy with care home.
Wednesday 1st August
Mum was sitting in the lounge with a new lady who we hadn't seen before, she was verbally very muddled, we sat with her and watched some of the Olympics, we wondered if she has another water infection as she is so muddly today.
We took her to her room and brushed her hair, Tina told us that Teresa had asked for mum to have her hair permed on Friday and then a shampoo and set every week, I was worried that mum would not be able to sit through having a perm, Teresa and I had already agreed on that, I think that Tina must have got that wrong. Mum has often got to the hairdressers and then refused to have her hair done and they cannot force her.
Sunday 5th August
Daphne phoned to say mum had yet another fall she had tried to find the handrail and had missed, she has a bruise on both of her hips, she said that she is going to do another urine test and said that mum was very grumpy and aggressive today, she had refused to open her eyes this morning to have her eye drops put in. I think that Daphne is firmer with her and mum retaliates.
Michael and Linda went in yesterday and had taken her out.
Wednesday 8th August
Teresa text and said that when she went in to see mum today she wasn't too well, she had a UTI and also an upset tummy, I told her that we were going in to see her on Friday, I also told her about mum having a fall on Sunday.
Thursday 9th August
I phoned the care home and spoke to Tina and asked her how mum was, she said that mum was in her room but she seemed brighter today, I said that we would be coming in to see her tomorrow.
Friday 10th August
Mum in the lounge, Cynthia was just getting her into the wheelchair to take her to the hairdressers, her hair looked fine to me. We took her into the garden, it was looking really lovely, they have put a really nice raised bed with a fish pond and we tried to show mum but she really wasn't interested. I took my floppy hat again which she kept on but wasn't to happy about. She loved the roses, she couldn't tell us what they were just that they were flowers.
We took her round the garden and sat in the shade, she kept saying it was nice and looked brighter today, when we took her back in she was very tired and we took her to her room and put her TV on, she looks so small now, her arms and hands are so thin, she has a few bruises where she fell.
John found a tablet on the floor which the carers must have dropped, he gave it to Daphne,she was very matter of fact about it and said that it was only a statin !
Teresa is going in tomorrow.
Monday 13th August
Mums friends Jean, Bett and Hilda went in to see mum today, Jean said that Hilda was shocked when she saw her, which is not surprising as when she last saw mum she was a lot bigger and now she is so small and frail. She said that mum looked well but didn't know who they were but very happy to have visitors.
Thursday 16th August
We really shocked when we saw mum today, she was asleep in her chair and looked very weak and frail, it took quite a while to wake her up, she didn't know who we were. There was a jam sandwich on the floor, not happy as she is suppose to have all her food liquidised. When Tina came in to do mums eye drops mum told her that I was Teresa, I gave Tina the sandwich.
Mums speech has got very bad now. A carer came in and left mum a thicken tea and a yogurt, I got her to eat the yogurt but had trouble with the tea as it kept dribbling down her chin and onto her chest, I asked the carer if mum could have a cup with a spout on as she was finding it hard to drink from an ordinary cup... the carer went into the corridor and shouted 'Annie's family want her to have a cup with a spout on' she was away for ages, when she came back she said that she had found a cup but not a spout, she tried to force mum to drink some, then said that she couldn't do it. I asked her if mum was having fluids as it was important for her and she must have help eating, she said she was and not to worry.. We didn't feel to happy with the situation.
We tried to have a word with Tina but she was bathing on of the other residents. I phoned later in the afternoon and told her that I wasn't happy with the way the carer treated mum and asked about mums eating and drinking, she said that mum couldn't have a cup with a spout as she has to have thickening in her tea to help her swallow, she is given her food and if she doesn't eat it they feed it to her. I asked her about the jam sandwich and she said that mum enjoys them, I told her I wasn't happy as the GP said that her food has to be liquidised. Tina said that she will make a note in the communications book that mum needs help with her drinks. I also asked Tina not to send mum to the hairdressers if she is the same tomorrow.
Text Teresa and told her mum not to well today.
Sunday 19th August
Teresa phoned to say they had been in to see mum and that she was't too good, she wasn't able to get out of her chair last night and they had to use the hoist to get her up, which mum didn't like. It took 4 of them to get her into the wheelchair.
They took her round the park and that she was very talkative. They had weighed her today and she has lost 4 stone in the last year! They told her the same as me that if she doesn't eat her food they feed her.
Teresa had a word with Daphne and asked if mum could see the doctor on Tuesday afternoon when he comes. Teresa is going to be there when he comes. Daphne wonders if there is something else going on with mum.
Monday 20th August
I spoke to Daphne, she said that mum was brighter today and had managed to get up herself and they didn't have to use the hoist, she said that she thinks mum may have 'forgotten' how to do things, that can be part of the illness.
Text Teresa and past on the information.
Wednesday 22nd August
We took Dib in with us today, he was quite shocked with just how much weight mum had lost,she was sitting by the carers stations. John waved to her and she waved back, I don't think that she knew who he was, she called Dib Char when he asked if he knew who he was but later on called him Dibber. When John asked her what her name was she said Mrs Lee.. She wanted to go to the loo but the carers couldn't get her out of the chair then she said that she didn't want to go. Daphne said that it took 4 of them to get her out of the chair but when she wants to go anywhere she just gets up herself.
I gave her a yogurt and Yolanda (the carer) put her tea in a mug with a spout and she a little of it. I asked Daphne about the blood test and she said that the doctor is going to do them but didn't know when! She said that the doctor had told her that mum had the sort of dementia that plateaus and then she has episodes and goes down one more stage, the messages are not getting to her brain.
Sunday 26th August
Teresa phoned to say she went in to see mum yesterday and that she was very weak, she didn't look too bad, they took her over to Tesco but she wasn't really interested and wanted to go back. They had to get her out of the chair but had to call the carer to help. She now only weighs 8 stone.
Teresa is away this week so will not go in again until next weekend, she said that there still isn't any signs of a blood test, she is worried about what Daphne said about something else going on with mum.. We are wondering what will happen if mum doesn't eat will she be transferred to the nursing care part of the care home.
Wednesday 29th August
Mum was in the lounge she was very distressed and rambling saying 'they are killing me' .. I smelled that she had soiled herself and went to find someone to change her, I saw Tina and she said that they were busy at the moment, I made it clear that I was not happy, one of the other carers came along and she said that she would see to mum, when she arrived in mums room to help mum the weekly fire alarm went off and she left me with mum and went off to help sort the other residents out. I had to try and get mum to the toilet myself, when the carer came back I left her to deal with mum.
When mum was in the lounge there was a full mug of tea in front of her, which she would never have been able to cope with she also had a tablet in her mouth which she hadn't or couldn't swallow. In her room there was porridge all over the floor and yet another mug of cold tea...
Once we got mum changed and into her armchair she settled down and looked a lot calmer, another carer, who I hadn't seen before, came in with tea in a mug and a plate of biscuits I had to tell her that mum could not eat solids and could she please bring mum some yogurt, she said that she wasn't usually on mums unit and didn't know the the requirements of the residents, I wasn't impressed and told her that someone should communicate with all the carers and tell them the requirements of each person, mum could have choked on the biscuits. Tina came in and I got very cross with her about mums eating, she told me the same as last time about the food being put in front of her and if she didn't eat it they feed her. I said to her perhaps they were short staff, which she insisted that they weren't and that they have the allocated staff for 25 people which is 3 carers and 1 carer in charge, but then did admit that as they have several people who have deteriorated they really could do with more staff. I asked her about mums blood test and she said that she would phone the doctor and I went with her and spoke to Dr Chinnie, he said that he would get the district nurse to go in and do them, I asked him about mum not taking liquids and I was worried about mum getting dehydrated, he said that he would prescribe hi-energy drinks for her which she has had already and they weren't really successful, he said the only other way to get fluids into her was to have line put into her stomach but for that she would have to have nursing care and she would have to be reassessed by Salome and Social Services. Tina gave me the doctors number as he had said that we could phone and talk to him at any time.
Tina will also make a chart and put it in mums room so that they can keep an eye on mums food and liquid intake, she has also written in the communications book about mum and her having to have her food liquidised.
I told Tina that I would e-mail Salome as she wasn't in today and tell her that we weren't happy about what we had seen today, she said that was a good idea.
Phoned Teresa and told her all that had happened..
I got home and e-mailed Salome.
Copy of emails
Thursday 30th August
I phoned Teresa in the evening and read her the e-mails, she agreed that I had done the right thing as mums health and welfare are our first concern, she said that she will be going in on Saturday and will let me know how things are.
Friday 31st August
Tina phoned from the care home , she said that mum had a urine infection and low blood pressure, the doctor has started her on liquid antibiotics. Mum is finding it hard to swallow and couldn't swallow her morning capsule, the doctor told Tina to empty the contents into a drink, which they have done, the evening staff said that she had taken her evening capsule OK, they think it maybe because she is tired and doesn't have to think about it. They noticed last night that she drank her tea in a red cup so they gave the drinks that the doctor prescribe in it and she is drinking them too, it may simply be the fact that she doesn't like the see through mugs.
She is walking about today. Tina said they are finding it hard to get her to sit down.
Doctor seeing mum on Tuesday.
Mum was sitting in the lounge with a new lady who we hadn't seen before, she was verbally very muddled, we sat with her and watched some of the Olympics, we wondered if she has another water infection as she is so muddly today.
We took her to her room and brushed her hair, Tina told us that Teresa had asked for mum to have her hair permed on Friday and then a shampoo and set every week, I was worried that mum would not be able to sit through having a perm, Teresa and I had already agreed on that, I think that Tina must have got that wrong. Mum has often got to the hairdressers and then refused to have her hair done and they cannot force her.
Sunday 5th August
Daphne phoned to say mum had yet another fall she had tried to find the handrail and had missed, she has a bruise on both of her hips, she said that she is going to do another urine test and said that mum was very grumpy and aggressive today, she had refused to open her eyes this morning to have her eye drops put in. I think that Daphne is firmer with her and mum retaliates.
Michael and Linda went in yesterday and had taken her out.
Wednesday 8th August
Teresa text and said that when she went in to see mum today she wasn't too well, she had a UTI and also an upset tummy, I told her that we were going in to see her on Friday, I also told her about mum having a fall on Sunday.
Thursday 9th August
I phoned the care home and spoke to Tina and asked her how mum was, she said that mum was in her room but she seemed brighter today, I said that we would be coming in to see her tomorrow.
Friday 10th August
Mum in the lounge, Cynthia was just getting her into the wheelchair to take her to the hairdressers, her hair looked fine to me. We took her into the garden, it was looking really lovely, they have put a really nice raised bed with a fish pond and we tried to show mum but she really wasn't interested. I took my floppy hat again which she kept on but wasn't to happy about. She loved the roses, she couldn't tell us what they were just that they were flowers.
We took her round the garden and sat in the shade, she kept saying it was nice and looked brighter today, when we took her back in she was very tired and we took her to her room and put her TV on, she looks so small now, her arms and hands are so thin, she has a few bruises where she fell.
John found a tablet on the floor which the carers must have dropped, he gave it to Daphne,she was very matter of fact about it and said that it was only a statin !
Teresa is going in tomorrow.
Monday 13th August
Mums friends Jean, Bett and Hilda went in to see mum today, Jean said that Hilda was shocked when she saw her, which is not surprising as when she last saw mum she was a lot bigger and now she is so small and frail. She said that mum looked well but didn't know who they were but very happy to have visitors.
Thursday 16th August
We really shocked when we saw mum today, she was asleep in her chair and looked very weak and frail, it took quite a while to wake her up, she didn't know who we were. There was a jam sandwich on the floor, not happy as she is suppose to have all her food liquidised. When Tina came in to do mums eye drops mum told her that I was Teresa, I gave Tina the sandwich.
Mums speech has got very bad now. A carer came in and left mum a thicken tea and a yogurt, I got her to eat the yogurt but had trouble with the tea as it kept dribbling down her chin and onto her chest, I asked the carer if mum could have a cup with a spout on as she was finding it hard to drink from an ordinary cup... the carer went into the corridor and shouted 'Annie's family want her to have a cup with a spout on' she was away for ages, when she came back she said that she had found a cup but not a spout, she tried to force mum to drink some, then said that she couldn't do it. I asked her if mum was having fluids as it was important for her and she must have help eating, she said she was and not to worry.. We didn't feel to happy with the situation.
We tried to have a word with Tina but she was bathing on of the other residents. I phoned later in the afternoon and told her that I wasn't happy with the way the carer treated mum and asked about mums eating and drinking, she said that mum couldn't have a cup with a spout as she has to have thickening in her tea to help her swallow, she is given her food and if she doesn't eat it they feed it to her. I asked her about the jam sandwich and she said that mum enjoys them, I told her I wasn't happy as the GP said that her food has to be liquidised. Tina said that she will make a note in the communications book that mum needs help with her drinks. I also asked Tina not to send mum to the hairdressers if she is the same tomorrow.
Text Teresa and told her mum not to well today.
Sunday 19th August
Teresa phoned to say they had been in to see mum and that she was't too good, she wasn't able to get out of her chair last night and they had to use the hoist to get her up, which mum didn't like. It took 4 of them to get her into the wheelchair.
They took her round the park and that she was very talkative. They had weighed her today and she has lost 4 stone in the last year! They told her the same as me that if she doesn't eat her food they feed her.
Teresa had a word with Daphne and asked if mum could see the doctor on Tuesday afternoon when he comes. Teresa is going to be there when he comes. Daphne wonders if there is something else going on with mum.
Monday 20th August
I spoke to Daphne, she said that mum was brighter today and had managed to get up herself and they didn't have to use the hoist, she said that she thinks mum may have 'forgotten' how to do things, that can be part of the illness.
Text Teresa and past on the information.
Wednesday 22nd August
We took Dib in with us today, he was quite shocked with just how much weight mum had lost,she was sitting by the carers stations. John waved to her and she waved back, I don't think that she knew who he was, she called Dib Char when he asked if he knew who he was but later on called him Dibber. When John asked her what her name was she said Mrs Lee.. She wanted to go to the loo but the carers couldn't get her out of the chair then she said that she didn't want to go. Daphne said that it took 4 of them to get her out of the chair but when she wants to go anywhere she just gets up herself.
I gave her a yogurt and Yolanda (the carer) put her tea in a mug with a spout and she a little of it. I asked Daphne about the blood test and she said that the doctor is going to do them but didn't know when! She said that the doctor had told her that mum had the sort of dementia that plateaus and then she has episodes and goes down one more stage, the messages are not getting to her brain.
Sunday 26th August
Teresa phoned to say she went in to see mum yesterday and that she was very weak, she didn't look too bad, they took her over to Tesco but she wasn't really interested and wanted to go back. They had to get her out of the chair but had to call the carer to help. She now only weighs 8 stone.
Teresa is away this week so will not go in again until next weekend, she said that there still isn't any signs of a blood test, she is worried about what Daphne said about something else going on with mum.. We are wondering what will happen if mum doesn't eat will she be transferred to the nursing care part of the care home.
Wednesday 29th August
Mum was in the lounge she was very distressed and rambling saying 'they are killing me' .. I smelled that she had soiled herself and went to find someone to change her, I saw Tina and she said that they were busy at the moment, I made it clear that I was not happy, one of the other carers came along and she said that she would see to mum, when she arrived in mums room to help mum the weekly fire alarm went off and she left me with mum and went off to help sort the other residents out. I had to try and get mum to the toilet myself, when the carer came back I left her to deal with mum.
When mum was in the lounge there was a full mug of tea in front of her, which she would never have been able to cope with she also had a tablet in her mouth which she hadn't or couldn't swallow. In her room there was porridge all over the floor and yet another mug of cold tea...
Once we got mum changed and into her armchair she settled down and looked a lot calmer, another carer, who I hadn't seen before, came in with tea in a mug and a plate of biscuits I had to tell her that mum could not eat solids and could she please bring mum some yogurt, she said that she wasn't usually on mums unit and didn't know the the requirements of the residents, I wasn't impressed and told her that someone should communicate with all the carers and tell them the requirements of each person, mum could have choked on the biscuits. Tina came in and I got very cross with her about mums eating, she told me the same as last time about the food being put in front of her and if she didn't eat it they feed her. I said to her perhaps they were short staff, which she insisted that they weren't and that they have the allocated staff for 25 people which is 3 carers and 1 carer in charge, but then did admit that as they have several people who have deteriorated they really could do with more staff. I asked her about mums blood test and she said that she would phone the doctor and I went with her and spoke to Dr Chinnie, he said that he would get the district nurse to go in and do them, I asked him about mum not taking liquids and I was worried about mum getting dehydrated, he said that he would prescribe hi-energy drinks for her which she has had already and they weren't really successful, he said the only other way to get fluids into her was to have line put into her stomach but for that she would have to have nursing care and she would have to be reassessed by Salome and Social Services. Tina gave me the doctors number as he had said that we could phone and talk to him at any time.
Tina will also make a chart and put it in mums room so that they can keep an eye on mums food and liquid intake, she has also written in the communications book about mum and her having to have her food liquidised.
I told Tina that I would e-mail Salome as she wasn't in today and tell her that we weren't happy about what we had seen today, she said that was a good idea.
Phoned Teresa and told her all that had happened..
I got home and e-mailed Salome.
Copy of emails
Thursday 30th August
I phoned Teresa in the evening and read her the e-mails, she agreed that I had done the right thing as mums health and welfare are our first concern, she said that she will be going in on Saturday and will let me know how things are.
Friday 31st August
Tina phoned from the care home , she said that mum had a urine infection and low blood pressure, the doctor has started her on liquid antibiotics. Mum is finding it hard to swallow and couldn't swallow her morning capsule, the doctor told Tina to empty the contents into a drink, which they have done, the evening staff said that she had taken her evening capsule OK, they think it maybe because she is tired and doesn't have to think about it. They noticed last night that she drank her tea in a red cup so they gave the drinks that the doctor prescribe in it and she is drinking them too, it may simply be the fact that she doesn't like the see through mugs.
She is walking about today. Tina said they are finding it hard to get her to sit down.
Doctor seeing mum on Tuesday.
Wednesday 21 January 2015
Monday 9th July - Wednesday 25th July 2012
Monday 9th July
I went in to see mum with her friends Jean, Bett and Ann, she was so pleased to see them all, her face lit up when they walked in, she said that didn't know who they were but she loved it that they had gone in to see her, she talked a lot and was interested in everything that they were telling her about all the things that she did for the Legion, they told her that she was 'the boss' and in charge, she just laughed and said 'was I', she told them that 'they leave me here on my own'. She said that she didn't know us and Jean said 'you know Liz, your daughter' and she said 'of course I know her'. Mum asked me where Char was I asked her if she meant John and she said 'Oh Yes' I told her that he was at home with a headache.
It was nice to see her so happy while they were there, even though she didn't know them, They told her that they would go back and see her and take some photos of them all together.
I took her in a couple of smaller blouses for her as all of hers are too big.
Wednesday 11th July
Michael phoned to say that they had a phone call last night from the care home to say that mum had choked last night on her dinner, they call the GP and he said that she must have her food liquidised from now on.
Wednesday 18th July
Mum was in the dining room, we took her along to her room. Tina came in and said that she wanted to take a look at mum as when she was having her bath this morning the carer noticed that she had a bruise on her left shoulder, she said that she was off yesterday but in the accident book it said that she had another fall. I also noticed that she was very red over her right eye, the carer said that it was like that before her fall.
Mum really wanted to go out, John told her that if it was nice next week we would take her out for a ride in the car. She looked very stooped over and thin today, she was very sleepy and kept nodding off, she was quite happy when we left .
Phoned Michael when we got home and told him about mums fall he said that he would tell Teresa.
Tuesday 24th July
Teresa text to ask which day we were going in to see mum, I told her that we were going in tomorrow
Wednesday 25th July
Mum sitting in the lounge, she said 'Oh good' when we spoke to her, we asked her if she would like to go out, she said yes she would, we asked her where she would like to go, she did a lot of rambling and said that she didn't know. I got a wheelchair and we took her to her room to tidy her up and brush her hair, she looked very disappointed as she thought that we just going to stay there, I explained to her that I needed to get her ready to go out.
It was difficult getting her into the car, made worse by a lady who thought that she was being helpful and started telling us the right way to put and old person in a car.... Mum enjoyed the ride, we took her to Ham Street garden centre, luckily she was OK getting out of the car. She always likes to look at all the flowers, John picked each one up and told her all the names but couldn't keep her attention very long, several times she asked him who he was.
I took my big straw hat and we sat outside in the sunshine and had an ice cream in a sundae glass, we had to feed mums to her as she couldn't do it herself, she keep saying that it was nice and loved watching all the people coming and going. When we got up to go the lady from the cafe took mums hand and told her that it was lovely to meet her and looked forward to seeing her again.
It was hard getting her back into the car, she kept flopping back into the wheelchair. When we got back to the care home we took her to her room and put her in her armchair. She was engrossed in TV when we left..
It was a nice outing for us all.
I went in to see mum with her friends Jean, Bett and Ann, she was so pleased to see them all, her face lit up when they walked in, she said that didn't know who they were but she loved it that they had gone in to see her, she talked a lot and was interested in everything that they were telling her about all the things that she did for the Legion, they told her that she was 'the boss' and in charge, she just laughed and said 'was I', she told them that 'they leave me here on my own'. She said that she didn't know us and Jean said 'you know Liz, your daughter' and she said 'of course I know her'. Mum asked me where Char was I asked her if she meant John and she said 'Oh Yes' I told her that he was at home with a headache.
It was nice to see her so happy while they were there, even though she didn't know them, They told her that they would go back and see her and take some photos of them all together.
I took her in a couple of smaller blouses for her as all of hers are too big.
Wednesday 11th July
Michael phoned to say that they had a phone call last night from the care home to say that mum had choked last night on her dinner, they call the GP and he said that she must have her food liquidised from now on.
Wednesday 18th July
Mum was in the dining room, we took her along to her room. Tina came in and said that she wanted to take a look at mum as when she was having her bath this morning the carer noticed that she had a bruise on her left shoulder, she said that she was off yesterday but in the accident book it said that she had another fall. I also noticed that she was very red over her right eye, the carer said that it was like that before her fall.
Mum really wanted to go out, John told her that if it was nice next week we would take her out for a ride in the car. She looked very stooped over and thin today, she was very sleepy and kept nodding off, she was quite happy when we left .
Phoned Michael when we got home and told him about mums fall he said that he would tell Teresa.
Tuesday 24th July
Teresa text to ask which day we were going in to see mum, I told her that we were going in tomorrow
Wednesday 25th July
Mum sitting in the lounge, she said 'Oh good' when we spoke to her, we asked her if she would like to go out, she said yes she would, we asked her where she would like to go, she did a lot of rambling and said that she didn't know. I got a wheelchair and we took her to her room to tidy her up and brush her hair, she looked very disappointed as she thought that we just going to stay there, I explained to her that I needed to get her ready to go out.
It was difficult getting her into the car, made worse by a lady who thought that she was being helpful and started telling us the right way to put and old person in a car.... Mum enjoyed the ride, we took her to Ham Street garden centre, luckily she was OK getting out of the car. She always likes to look at all the flowers, John picked each one up and told her all the names but couldn't keep her attention very long, several times she asked him who he was.
I took my big straw hat and we sat outside in the sunshine and had an ice cream in a sundae glass, we had to feed mums to her as she couldn't do it herself, she keep saying that it was nice and loved watching all the people coming and going. When we got up to go the lady from the cafe took mums hand and told her that it was lovely to meet her and looked forward to seeing her again.
It was hard getting her back into the car, she kept flopping back into the wheelchair. When we got back to the care home we took her to her room and put her in her armchair. She was engrossed in TV when we left..
It was a nice outing for us all.
Tuesday 20 January 2015
Tuesday 5th June - 27th June 2012
Tuesday 5th June
Michael text to say all went well with mums barium meal and that we will get the results next week
Friday 8th June
Mum was sitting in someone elses room, Laura came with us and mum looked at her and asked her who she was, we got her to go into her room and we sat with her in there, she was very jolly but kept asking Laura who she was, when Laura told her she said 'I'll write that down' so John gave her a piece of paper and a pen, she just put circles on the page, John wrote Laura's name down and she tried to copy it. She looked well but frail, she has lost a lot of weight she has dropped from a size 22 to a size 16 clothes size.
We told her that Laura was her grand daughter and she said 'I've seen one of those' we thing that she must mean Lissa who went in on Wednesday. She looked at me and said 'what have you done to your hair, it needs a wash!' .. John was being cheeky with her and I said 'slap him mum, he is being silly' and she said 'I like them silly'.
She was fine when we said that we had to go as we had to take Laura home, she looked at Laura and said that we could take her again.
Monday 19th June
We went in to see mum today after a week away, We parked round the back by her room, John looked in her window and it took her a while to realise who he was and then she waved at him to come in, she was on her way out of her room to come and look for us by the time we got there.She asked us where we had been and John said that we had been on holiday to Devon, she said to him ' well, you could have come for me'.
She has lost even more weight but looks well and was happy and talkative, I was a bit apprehensive about seeing her today but she was fine, she was OK when we left and said that we would see her later. to which she said 'I hope so'
Daphne told me the results of mums barium meal, she has a small pouch that has developed at the back of her throat that sometimes gets food lodged in it, they will not be doing anything at the moment just keeping an eye on things, Daphne says that she is eating and drinking OK.
Wednesday 27th June
Mum was walking to the lounge, I called her and she had her back to me and said 'what', I said 'it's me mum', she was so very pleased to see us, it was such a lovely day that we took her out into the garden, the roses were lovely, we had to move into the shady part as the sun was really hot, she talked quite a lot about Dib, Chris and Ken.
I took in a couple of photos of Matt and Laura, she kept looking at the one of the two of them together and saying 'that's lovely, they are mine'. We stayed outside for a couple of hours, we took her back to her room, John re-tuned her TV ..She was fine when we left.
On the way out I had to go and fine a carer as one of the ladies had taken all of her clothes off, she was sitting in her chair totally naked with all her clothes around her on the floor.
Michael text to say all went well with mums barium meal and that we will get the results next week
Friday 8th June
Mum was sitting in someone elses room, Laura came with us and mum looked at her and asked her who she was, we got her to go into her room and we sat with her in there, she was very jolly but kept asking Laura who she was, when Laura told her she said 'I'll write that down' so John gave her a piece of paper and a pen, she just put circles on the page, John wrote Laura's name down and she tried to copy it. She looked well but frail, she has lost a lot of weight she has dropped from a size 22 to a size 16 clothes size.
We told her that Laura was her grand daughter and she said 'I've seen one of those' we thing that she must mean Lissa who went in on Wednesday. She looked at me and said 'what have you done to your hair, it needs a wash!' .. John was being cheeky with her and I said 'slap him mum, he is being silly' and she said 'I like them silly'.
She was fine when we said that we had to go as we had to take Laura home, she looked at Laura and said that we could take her again.
Monday 19th June
We went in to see mum today after a week away, We parked round the back by her room, John looked in her window and it took her a while to realise who he was and then she waved at him to come in, she was on her way out of her room to come and look for us by the time we got there.She asked us where we had been and John said that we had been on holiday to Devon, she said to him ' well, you could have come for me'.
She has lost even more weight but looks well and was happy and talkative, I was a bit apprehensive about seeing her today but she was fine, she was OK when we left and said that we would see her later. to which she said 'I hope so'
Daphne told me the results of mums barium meal, she has a small pouch that has developed at the back of her throat that sometimes gets food lodged in it, they will not be doing anything at the moment just keeping an eye on things, Daphne says that she is eating and drinking OK.
Wednesday 27th June
Mum was walking to the lounge, I called her and she had her back to me and said 'what', I said 'it's me mum', she was so very pleased to see us, it was such a lovely day that we took her out into the garden, the roses were lovely, we had to move into the shady part as the sun was really hot, she talked quite a lot about Dib, Chris and Ken.
I took in a couple of photos of Matt and Laura, she kept looking at the one of the two of them together and saying 'that's lovely, they are mine'. We stayed outside for a couple of hours, we took her back to her room, John re-tuned her TV ..She was fine when we left.
On the way out I had to go and fine a carer as one of the ladies had taken all of her clothes off, she was sitting in her chair totally naked with all her clothes around her on the floor.
Tuesday 1st May - Thursday 31st May .. Mums moods are up and down
Tuesday 1st May 2012
Lissa text to say that they had been in to see mum and she was quite bright, Teresa had cut mums fingers nails and they stayed with her until she went up to have her hair done at the hairdressers
Thursday 3rd May
Mum was in the dining room asleep, John tapped her on the shoulder and she said 'Oh good', she looked better but rambling a lot. Tina told us that she was eating better and also walking a lot better, she didn't have her walking frame, it was in her room, she wanted to come home with us, John told her that we had to go to work and she would be on her own she said ' well I'll be one' ?
Sunday 6th May
Daphne phoned from the care home to say that mum has had a stumble this morning, she fell against the table and ended up on her knees, she is also having trouble swallowing again, it is as if her throat is really sore, they will get the doctor to see her on Tuesday, he may refer her to hospital to have a camera put down to see what the problem is.
Monday 7th May
I phoned to see how mum was, I spoke to Tina, she didn't seem to know much about what happened yesterday! she said that mum was fine but wandering around still. I asked her about mums throat and about seeing the doctor and she said she would make sure she was on his list for tomorrow. ( she did say that mum has been referred before, something we didn't know! )
Teresa text to say she was going in to see mum tomorrow as she was going to Steve's until Monday. I told her about mum and her seeing the doctor, she said that she would let me know if there was any news.
Thursday 10th May
Mum very muddly, Daphne told me the doctor is sending her for a barium meal to see what the throat problem is, her attention span today was very poor and a couple of times we noticed she could be quite aggressive in her looks and attitude. She said ' we haven't got any apples' I asked her if she would like one and she said 'only half way' I asked her if she liked to be awkward she gave a cheeky smile and said 'yes'.
She was in the dining room with Betty and she said to mum 'you used to live 2 doors down the road from me' mum looked confused and then just said 'yes'... I asked her where she lived and she said 'Hawkhurst'. I also mentioned that she lived in Hastings when she was younger and she agreed with me
She wasn't really that interested in our visit today.
Thursday 17th May
Mum in the lounge, she was happy to see us and remembered that I was her daughter, she was very talkative but we only understood a few of the things she said. She mentioned Char a lot and said that her mum had been gone for a long time. She looked well and Tina told us that she had an appointment at William Harvey hospital on Tuesday June 5th at 10am for her barium meal, I said that I would tell Michael and Teresa and we would work out who would go with her.
We walked mum along to the dining room for her lunch (she was actually using her zimmer frame,) , when we got her seated at the dining table we told her that we would see her after she had had her lunch, she really shouted at me 'NO' she didn't want us to go, I think that she had heard Tina telling me about her hospital appointment and thought that we would be taking her out.
Sophie (carer) came and put an apron on mum for her to have lunch and apologised to her for not putting one on when she had her breakfast and she had spilled her breakfast down her clothes. Mum looked at her and told her 'well, I kept telling you about it'
I text both Michael and Teresa and told them about the hospital appointment in June, I don't know who will be taking her, Daphne is on duty at the weekend and will know more about it.
Wednesday 23rd May
Teresa phoned, she had been into see mum today, she spoke to Daphne who had shown her the details of the barium meal, she is really worried about it, Daphne said that mum had choked on a cornflake so don't know how she will cope. Teresa is working on the Tuesday so will not be able to go with mum. Daphne booked the transport to take mum to the hospital. We have Laura coming for the day as she has the day off and we don't see her very often as she is working, she said that she would get in touch with Michael. I told her that we were going in to see mum tomorrow.
I phoned Michael and asked him if he could take mum for her hospital appointment and he said that he could.
Thursday 24th May
It took quite a while before mum realised that we were there and then she looked up and said 'Oh! they are mine' we decided to take her for a walk around the park, she turned to Daisy, who she was sitting with and asked her if she was coming too, I had to tell her that we weren't allowed to take her out.
She loved going out and chatted a lot, she seems to relax more and be more aware of everything around her and gave everyone we passed a lovely big grin and really loves it when they talk to her, she couldn't remember our names but kept talking about Char, her dad and Michael, she loves it by the pond, she wore my hat and took it off and held it up to John and said 'Look matching'. I gave her a drink and she was quite happy drinking from the bottle, we stayed out for over an hour and she enjoyed every minute of it, she didn't really want to go back.
She spoke to Karen and Salome on the way back in, we took her to her room, she kept looking around as if she couldn't work out where she was. we put her TV on for her and asked her if she wanted to stay in her wheelchair or go back into her armchair, she said that she couldn't get out, when all of a sudden she just stood up, took her zimmer frame and started to walk down the corridor, we asked her where she was going and she said 'to see Char'.
We went into the dining room and sat with her at the table as it was lunch but she kept standing up saying 'No let's go' the carer told her she would take her out into the garden after lunch, she told us to just go... It is hard to leave her it would be nice to pick her up and take her home...
We saw Daphne on the way out and told her that Michael would be going with mum to the hospital, she said would we still want transport or would he take her in his car and said that I would get in contact with him and get him to let her know ASAP.
Thursday 31st May
Mum was good today, she was in her room and so different from last week, she was quite talkative and looked very content and happy, when we left I said that I had to go to the office she asked me why and I told her that I had to leave some money for her, she said ' don't use yours, take mine' and gave me her photo album..bless her... when we were going she said, 'Hurry back, I miss you'
Lissa text to say that they had been in to see mum and she was quite bright, Teresa had cut mums fingers nails and they stayed with her until she went up to have her hair done at the hairdressers
Thursday 3rd May
Mum was in the dining room asleep, John tapped her on the shoulder and she said 'Oh good', she looked better but rambling a lot. Tina told us that she was eating better and also walking a lot better, she didn't have her walking frame, it was in her room, she wanted to come home with us, John told her that we had to go to work and she would be on her own she said ' well I'll be one' ?
Sunday 6th May
Daphne phoned from the care home to say that mum has had a stumble this morning, she fell against the table and ended up on her knees, she is also having trouble swallowing again, it is as if her throat is really sore, they will get the doctor to see her on Tuesday, he may refer her to hospital to have a camera put down to see what the problem is.
Monday 7th May
I phoned to see how mum was, I spoke to Tina, she didn't seem to know much about what happened yesterday! she said that mum was fine but wandering around still. I asked her about mums throat and about seeing the doctor and she said she would make sure she was on his list for tomorrow. ( she did say that mum has been referred before, something we didn't know! )
Teresa text to say she was going in to see mum tomorrow as she was going to Steve's until Monday. I told her about mum and her seeing the doctor, she said that she would let me know if there was any news.
Thursday 10th May
Mum very muddly, Daphne told me the doctor is sending her for a barium meal to see what the throat problem is, her attention span today was very poor and a couple of times we noticed she could be quite aggressive in her looks and attitude. She said ' we haven't got any apples' I asked her if she would like one and she said 'only half way' I asked her if she liked to be awkward she gave a cheeky smile and said 'yes'.
She was in the dining room with Betty and she said to mum 'you used to live 2 doors down the road from me' mum looked confused and then just said 'yes'... I asked her where she lived and she said 'Hawkhurst'. I also mentioned that she lived in Hastings when she was younger and she agreed with me
She wasn't really that interested in our visit today.
Thursday 17th May
Mum in the lounge, she was happy to see us and remembered that I was her daughter, she was very talkative but we only understood a few of the things she said. She mentioned Char a lot and said that her mum had been gone for a long time. She looked well and Tina told us that she had an appointment at William Harvey hospital on Tuesday June 5th at 10am for her barium meal, I said that I would tell Michael and Teresa and we would work out who would go with her.
We walked mum along to the dining room for her lunch (she was actually using her zimmer frame,) , when we got her seated at the dining table we told her that we would see her after she had had her lunch, she really shouted at me 'NO' she didn't want us to go, I think that she had heard Tina telling me about her hospital appointment and thought that we would be taking her out.
Sophie (carer) came and put an apron on mum for her to have lunch and apologised to her for not putting one on when she had her breakfast and she had spilled her breakfast down her clothes. Mum looked at her and told her 'well, I kept telling you about it'
I text both Michael and Teresa and told them about the hospital appointment in June, I don't know who will be taking her, Daphne is on duty at the weekend and will know more about it.
Wednesday 23rd May
Teresa phoned, she had been into see mum today, she spoke to Daphne who had shown her the details of the barium meal, she is really worried about it, Daphne said that mum had choked on a cornflake so don't know how she will cope. Teresa is working on the Tuesday so will not be able to go with mum. Daphne booked the transport to take mum to the hospital. We have Laura coming for the day as she has the day off and we don't see her very often as she is working, she said that she would get in touch with Michael. I told her that we were going in to see mum tomorrow.
I phoned Michael and asked him if he could take mum for her hospital appointment and he said that he could.
Thursday 24th May
It took quite a while before mum realised that we were there and then she looked up and said 'Oh! they are mine' we decided to take her for a walk around the park, she turned to Daisy, who she was sitting with and asked her if she was coming too, I had to tell her that we weren't allowed to take her out.
She loved going out and chatted a lot, she seems to relax more and be more aware of everything around her and gave everyone we passed a lovely big grin and really loves it when they talk to her, she couldn't remember our names but kept talking about Char, her dad and Michael, she loves it by the pond, she wore my hat and took it off and held it up to John and said 'Look matching'. I gave her a drink and she was quite happy drinking from the bottle, we stayed out for over an hour and she enjoyed every minute of it, she didn't really want to go back.
She spoke to Karen and Salome on the way back in, we took her to her room, she kept looking around as if she couldn't work out where she was. we put her TV on for her and asked her if she wanted to stay in her wheelchair or go back into her armchair, she said that she couldn't get out, when all of a sudden she just stood up, took her zimmer frame and started to walk down the corridor, we asked her where she was going and she said 'to see Char'.
We went into the dining room and sat with her at the table as it was lunch but she kept standing up saying 'No let's go' the carer told her she would take her out into the garden after lunch, she told us to just go... It is hard to leave her it would be nice to pick her up and take her home...
We saw Daphne on the way out and told her that Michael would be going with mum to the hospital, she said would we still want transport or would he take her in his car and said that I would get in contact with him and get him to let her know ASAP.
Thursday 31st May
Mum was good today, she was in her room and so different from last week, she was quite talkative and looked very content and happy, when we left I said that I had to go to the office she asked me why and I told her that I had to leave some money for her, she said ' don't use yours, take mine' and gave me her photo album..bless her... when we were going she said, 'Hurry back, I miss you'
Monday 19 January 2015
Wednesday 4th April - Sunday 29th April - Mum having lots of falls
Wednesday 4th April 2012
Mum in her room watching TV, she was very happy and content she looked really well, her face looked fatter.. She was pleased to see us but her attention kept going back to the TV. She was quite happy for us to just sit with her while she watched TV, when John said something she looked at him and seemed very surprised that he was there, I asked her if she knew who he was and she said that 'No she didn't' I told her it was John and she said 'of course it is' . I think that she was so engrossed looking at the TV to even realise we were there,
On the way out I took some pocket money to the office for her, they were saying that mum often sits out in the reception area and also goes over to the other unit and is always happy and smiley but they had noticed that she had lost a lot of weight.
Tuesday 10th April
Teresa phoned to say that when she went in on Friday with Michael Tina had told her that she had seen the opticians and that her glaucoma had got worse, her left eye is bad, her right eye isn't quite as bad, she also said that mum was very 'crabby' with them.
Wednesday 11th April
We found mum in the lounge she looked at us and said that she had been there nearly a year, we walked her to her room. She wanted to go to the loo so I took her, she was on good form and made us laugh several times, she asked me if I was a dog! .. She looked really well although she did talk a lot of rubbish at times but did say a lot of sentences that actually made sense.
John took a photo of mum and showed it to her, she said 'Christ I haven't seen her for ages'
When the carer came in with her lunch she said to her ' do you know who this is..it's my daughter and John' . When we left her we told her we would see her after lunch.
Before we left we popped over to see Daphne in the other unit to tell her about Daph dying we decided not to tell mum as she would be very confused, it was a bit tearful telling her.
We asked Daphne about mums eyes and she said that is probably why mum spills a lot of her food and drink down herself .. She just laughed when I told her about mum being Crabby.
Thursday 19th April
Tina told us that mum was in the lounge she couldn't work out who John was when he looked through and tapped on the window, she looked really worried, her eye sight has got a lot worse, we got her to walk to her room, her walking has got really bad and she kept tripping over her own feet, she was very muddly again, she does seem to be much happier in her own room. She looked really grubby, her blouse had a lot of jam down the front and when I changed it I noticed her vest was very dirty too, so I changed that too, she said that she wanted to go to the bathroom, I noticed two large bruises on her, one on her buttock and one on top of her right leg. I went a found a carer as she was very wet and mentioned the bruises to her she told me that she had noticed them before and that they were not new bruises...
On the way out I had a word with Tina, who I thought was very rude, while she was talking to me she saw Karen and shouted over my shoulder to her saying that she wanted to see Daphne, then looked at me and did say sorry, she told me that mum had had a couple of falls and that she had told Teresa, I told her that I didn't know and she said well we can't inform everyone!.. I also asked if mum could have a cup with a top on it as she is spilling her drink so she didn't want to drink anymore or perhaps she would find having a top on the cup undignified... she said that she would put an apron on her, I asked if they could not fill the cup so full as that is a problem too. I wasn't happy with the situation but had to agree, because of mums failing eyesight and mobility, falls are bound to happen .. I must admit I wasn't impressed with Tina's attitude, she probably thinks we are being difficult I understand what she is saying but mum is my main concern, her health,welfare and happiness is important to us.
Mum is also back on antibiotics as she had another water infection.
3.30pm Tina phoned to say that mum had another fall, after the entertainment in the lounge, they took mum to her room but as soon as they went she decided to go for a wander, she went back into the corridor and fell down, hitting her back, Tina said she had a bruise on her back , she said that she noticed how badly mum was walking, I told her that we had noticed too, she puts one foot right in front of the other causing her to trip, she said that she would get the doctor to see her on Tuesday.
7pm Talked to Micheal on the phone he said that Tina had called him and told him about mums fall and that the doctor had seen her and told Tina that mums 'wandering' is all part of the dementia getting worse. Micheal said that he will go in and see mum on Friday as he is going away for the weekend, if there are any problems he will give me a ring.
Saturday 21st April
Phoned to see how mum was, spoke to Daphne she said that mum was very subdued today, she was in the dining room looking out of the window, her eyesight is a lot worse, they are trying to get her to use her zimmer frame, she will be seeing her own doctor on Tuesday.
1.30pm Daphne phoned to say mum had yet another fall, she was OK, she had been in the lounge and had decided to get up but fell.. Daphne said that she had a word with the doctor and he had said the way mum is walking is quite common in dementia sufferers.
Sunday 22nd April
We went in to see mum as Micheal away this weekend and Teresa away until the middle of the week, we nearly walked past her, she looked so frail and her eyes looked sunken in, she was, as usual, pleased to see us. As it was a nice day we took her for a walk, she enjoyed it, although she did say 'it's bloody cold' .
We took Herbie with us, she made a bit of a fuss of him but I think that the other ladies enjoyed him being there more that she did.
We left her in the dining room with the others, she was quite happy when we left.
Tuesday 24th April
Michael phoned early evening and spoke to John, he said that Tina had phoned and told him that mum had another fall, the doctor had been and checked her over and found no breaks or fractures. They are still having trouble keeping her from wandering around. I phoned and had a long chat with Tina, mum had got cross with them and shouted at them when they told her that she must stay in her chair and not to walk around as she keeps tripping up.
Friday 27th April
Mum was in the dining room, she was pleased to see us, a new young carer was with her, we had a good giggle with her as she was a lot brighter, although she kept getting distracted by the other visitors, it was nice to see her looking better. I tried to get her to go to the hairdresser but she refused to go.
Sunday 29th April
Teresa text to say she was going in to see mum with Lissa on Tuesday she had been in today and mum was a lot brighter.
Mum in her room watching TV, she was very happy and content she looked really well, her face looked fatter.. She was pleased to see us but her attention kept going back to the TV. She was quite happy for us to just sit with her while she watched TV, when John said something she looked at him and seemed very surprised that he was there, I asked her if she knew who he was and she said that 'No she didn't' I told her it was John and she said 'of course it is' . I think that she was so engrossed looking at the TV to even realise we were there,
On the way out I took some pocket money to the office for her, they were saying that mum often sits out in the reception area and also goes over to the other unit and is always happy and smiley but they had noticed that she had lost a lot of weight.
Tuesday 10th April
Teresa phoned to say that when she went in on Friday with Michael Tina had told her that she had seen the opticians and that her glaucoma had got worse, her left eye is bad, her right eye isn't quite as bad, she also said that mum was very 'crabby' with them.
Wednesday 11th April
We found mum in the lounge she looked at us and said that she had been there nearly a year, we walked her to her room. She wanted to go to the loo so I took her, she was on good form and made us laugh several times, she asked me if I was a dog! .. She looked really well although she did talk a lot of rubbish at times but did say a lot of sentences that actually made sense.
John took a photo of mum and showed it to her, she said 'Christ I haven't seen her for ages'
When the carer came in with her lunch she said to her ' do you know who this is..it's my daughter and John' . When we left her we told her we would see her after lunch.
Before we left we popped over to see Daphne in the other unit to tell her about Daph dying we decided not to tell mum as she would be very confused, it was a bit tearful telling her.
We asked Daphne about mums eyes and she said that is probably why mum spills a lot of her food and drink down herself .. She just laughed when I told her about mum being Crabby.
Thursday 19th April
Tina told us that mum was in the lounge she couldn't work out who John was when he looked through and tapped on the window, she looked really worried, her eye sight has got a lot worse, we got her to walk to her room, her walking has got really bad and she kept tripping over her own feet, she was very muddly again, she does seem to be much happier in her own room. She looked really grubby, her blouse had a lot of jam down the front and when I changed it I noticed her vest was very dirty too, so I changed that too, she said that she wanted to go to the bathroom, I noticed two large bruises on her, one on her buttock and one on top of her right leg. I went a found a carer as she was very wet and mentioned the bruises to her she told me that she had noticed them before and that they were not new bruises...
On the way out I had a word with Tina, who I thought was very rude, while she was talking to me she saw Karen and shouted over my shoulder to her saying that she wanted to see Daphne, then looked at me and did say sorry, she told me that mum had had a couple of falls and that she had told Teresa, I told her that I didn't know and she said well we can't inform everyone!.. I also asked if mum could have a cup with a top on it as she is spilling her drink so she didn't want to drink anymore or perhaps she would find having a top on the cup undignified... she said that she would put an apron on her, I asked if they could not fill the cup so full as that is a problem too. I wasn't happy with the situation but had to agree, because of mums failing eyesight and mobility, falls are bound to happen .. I must admit I wasn't impressed with Tina's attitude, she probably thinks we are being difficult I understand what she is saying but mum is my main concern, her health,welfare and happiness is important to us.
Mum is also back on antibiotics as she had another water infection.
3.30pm Tina phoned to say that mum had another fall, after the entertainment in the lounge, they took mum to her room but as soon as they went she decided to go for a wander, she went back into the corridor and fell down, hitting her back, Tina said she had a bruise on her back , she said that she noticed how badly mum was walking, I told her that we had noticed too, she puts one foot right in front of the other causing her to trip, she said that she would get the doctor to see her on Tuesday.
7pm Talked to Micheal on the phone he said that Tina had called him and told him about mums fall and that the doctor had seen her and told Tina that mums 'wandering' is all part of the dementia getting worse. Micheal said that he will go in and see mum on Friday as he is going away for the weekend, if there are any problems he will give me a ring.
Saturday 21st April
Phoned to see how mum was, spoke to Daphne she said that mum was very subdued today, she was in the dining room looking out of the window, her eyesight is a lot worse, they are trying to get her to use her zimmer frame, she will be seeing her own doctor on Tuesday.
1.30pm Daphne phoned to say mum had yet another fall, she was OK, she had been in the lounge and had decided to get up but fell.. Daphne said that she had a word with the doctor and he had said the way mum is walking is quite common in dementia sufferers.
Sunday 22nd April
We went in to see mum as Micheal away this weekend and Teresa away until the middle of the week, we nearly walked past her, she looked so frail and her eyes looked sunken in, she was, as usual, pleased to see us. As it was a nice day we took her for a walk, she enjoyed it, although she did say 'it's bloody cold' .
We took Herbie with us, she made a bit of a fuss of him but I think that the other ladies enjoyed him being there more that she did.
We left her in the dining room with the others, she was quite happy when we left.
Tuesday 24th April
Michael phoned early evening and spoke to John, he said that Tina had phoned and told him that mum had another fall, the doctor had been and checked her over and found no breaks or fractures. They are still having trouble keeping her from wandering around. I phoned and had a long chat with Tina, mum had got cross with them and shouted at them when they told her that she must stay in her chair and not to walk around as she keeps tripping up.
Friday 27th April
Mum was in the dining room, she was pleased to see us, a new young carer was with her, we had a good giggle with her as she was a lot brighter, although she kept getting distracted by the other visitors, it was nice to see her looking better. I tried to get her to go to the hairdresser but she refused to go.
Sunday 29th April
Teresa text to say she was going in to see mum with Lissa on Tuesday she had been in today and mum was a lot brighter.
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