We found up here that respite care was only available for a minimum 1 week stay, where available at all. You may have more provision but bear in mind, particularly in a covid era, you may not get exactly what you want. A degree of flexibility may be needed.
I hope it is just a start. Been out of the loop the last 10 days With jols..normal service resumes on Wednesday
I think it varies mate, fil went in for 2 weeks respite. That was a few years back so may of changed due to availability etc.
Very much so. We originally looked at putting my MiL in for a couple of days but soon discovered 1 week was the minimum option. No doubt it will vary from area to area, some shorter, some longer. I just wanted Tashy to be aware of that and be prepared.
Personally I don’t think either would bother going on the course. My sister has moved 70 miles away. I don’t think point blank she is interested. My elder brother, again he has moved 15 miles away and has other priorities. At the moment I think both me and my brother would be happier if they did what they do which is nothing. They told my father that they would take him out for a meal on Wednesday. He said 3 times in hospital he did not want to go as he never knew anything about it. He said “ first Ave known about it”, “ wish I had known”, “ no one told me”. They don’t understand. Like my younger brother said “ why were we not asked to go as a family anyway”. I feel a storm is brewing
The memory tests are guff. My MiL passed her first one, on 'a good day'. We talked the doctor through the issues but no, she passed the test. We took her again a month later and she was suddenly diagnosed
. Anyone who knows someone with dementia can see the signs a mile off. You can play dementia bingo, it doesn't need a memory test. Hey ho.
Tough and frustrating times. Especially when there are two of them you have to deal with. You have my sympathies. It's a very difficult situation to manage. Getting care can be a real challenge at times and sometimes you have to work on the old "squeaky wheel gets the grease" basis of chasing them up. If you don't do anything, they will tend to think it's not a priority. Are the hospital aware he has dementia? That may move him up the waiting list. The nurse came to the house to do the one for my Father-in-Law fairly quickly. It was fascinating to watch in terms of how simple questions like understanding the position of hands on a watch couldn't be answered. Obviously the tests are tailored to highlight any issues. By the test, he was officially diagnosed as having vascular dementia.
If anything it’s just a time consuming day. Missis T took me mum into A and E. she got back in the car and explained a nurse and Paramedic were doing CPR on a large woman sat in front of a car. She was to large to get out. If that wasn’t bad enough. Her family were stood watching the situation unfold. Sometimes Life or the loss of helps to put things into perspective.The memory tests are guff. My MiL passed her first one, on 'a good day'. We talked the doctor through the issues but no, she passed the test. We took her again a month later and she was suddenly diagnosed
Stick in there Tashy, it's hard going and it doesn't get easier. Keep getting all the advice you can from Age UK and the Alzheimers Society, particularly when it comes to the money side of things. As you say though, at least the hospital tea is cheap
Re me dad. He has not yet been diagnosed. Hopefully by the end of January we will know one way or the other. Listening to him (me dad )it is like listening to FIL about 4 yeas ago. The likeness is sadly uncanny.
The slow decline into dementia is horrible for the person going through it. They know what's happening to them, they've seen what happens to other people it has happened to, and they know there is nothing that can be done about it. It's a black cloud on their horizon. I know my FiL knew he was losing it and I took great care not to comment on it. I'd hate to go through it.
