To enable family to keep those with Alzheimer's in their own homes the hospital board assesses these peoplr and provides some help in order to achieve this. George has someone coming each day to help him shower and dress. This also helps to minimise the risk of a fall as well as helping them to be clean and dressed appropriately. George has lost many cognitive skills and no longer knows the parts of his body. For example when I asked him to put a sock on his foot - I handed him the sock. He pulled it on to his hand. As he is incontinent it is essential he has a shower every day. At the moment one of the carers is away on annual leave. HealthCare, who provide the carers, sometimes let me know but more often or not don't. This is really frustrating and I am frequently waiting for someone to appear.
Yesterday, having heard nothing, I rang to find out who was coming today, they were not able to find someone to do it but they hadn't bothered to let me know. This makes life very difficult. UnfortunAnglo these people are oot
Showing posts with label personal care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal care. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Being independent
As I have said before caregivers spend an awful lot of time waiting on others. This morning George's caregiver was due to arrive well over an hour ago. George had his breakfast and then becamerestlesswandering around. I was doing some work on the-computer when I heard the water running in the shower. I went in there and found the shower on and him, still in his onesie, standing in the sower. Luckily he had the shower head dangling on theshoerfloor so the only thing wet was his feet. I have had to stop what I was doing and sit with him while we continue to
WAIT
Sunday, January 4, 2015
George enjoyed his day
It was a hot day here yesterday, over 30 degrees. George has a much lower body temperature as does Mum. He was up very early and I was spreading out breakfast and keeping him entertained while waiting for the caregiver - this can be easier said than done.
I took him to Brighton to have a milkshake and something to drink. He enjoys doing this sort of thing however I also have housework to do which I often have to do as and when I can, this can be very frustrating however all you can do is the best you can as I am only one person.
I was able to contact one of his sons on the iPad using FaceTime. They talked for about an hour and George loved it as he was able to stay on his chair and chat away as well as seeing his son in real time. I had hoped to do this using Skype with his sons but this has never worked out. We have now arranged to do this each Sunday. This is great as it frees me up to a large extent to do other stuff, I just need to keep an eye on George and the iPad every ten minutes or so.
Another hot day today, hope to get out into the garden for a bit.
I took him to Brighton to have a milkshake and something to drink. He enjoys doing this sort of thing however I also have housework to do which I often have to do as and when I can, this can be very frustrating however all you can do is the best you can as I am only one person.
I was able to contact one of his sons on the iPad using FaceTime. They talked for about an hour and George loved it as he was able to stay on his chair and chat away as well as seeing his son in real time. I had hoped to do this using Skype with his sons but this has never worked out. We have now arranged to do this each Sunday. This is great as it frees me up to a large extent to do other stuff, I just need to keep an eye on George and the iPad every ten minutes or so.
Another hot day today, hope to get out into the garden for a bit.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
What a day
This morning I emptied George's bag, all good! We had a community nurse coming round at 10 o'clock as George had a caregiver coming to take him for coffee at 11.30. At 10 I drained his bag and nearly took off - there was blood in the urine. I wondered if something had happened during his shower this morning but thought, great the nurse should be here in a minute. She turned up an hour late. She explained how to change the bag for the night bag - did what I was told tonight but could not get the day bag out the way it was supposed to and George was in pain so I gave up, I will drain the bag during the night. It is all very well but there must be a trick to this.
The nurse organised for me to take George back to the doctor later this afternoon.
George went out with the caregiver while I went to Mum's home for a family Xmas afternoon. I am pleased I did as she was awake and alert and I would hate her to think we didn't care. George was dropped at the home and then I took him to the doctor. He does have an infection and he has been given antibiotics.
Keep your fingers crossed!
The nurse organised for me to take George back to the doctor later this afternoon.
George went out with the caregiver while I went to Mum's home for a family Xmas afternoon. I am pleased I did as she was awake and alert and I would hate her to think we didn't care. George was dropped at the home and then I took him to the doctor. He does have an infection and he has been given antibiotics.
Keep your fingers crossed!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Up and dressed
George woke up this morning and I quickly took him to the toilet and emptied the catheter. He is very confused so we went quickly to the lounge to have coffee, fresh fruit and cereal as getting some food into him often seems to help.
After breakfast I got a bucket with warm water to give him a wash and got him dressed. He now seems a bit happier. I have to go to Mum's home this morning so will talk to the caregivers and nurse there on things I need to do and things to watch for. At this time I am not sure whether to continue using a onesie at nights or whether to use pyjamas. I think the onesie as I do not want him trying to get the catheter out.
To try to help with confusion I also keep plenty of jelly beans around to keep the blood sugar level up, he is not diabetic but they do seem to help.
After breakfast I got a bucket with warm water to give him a wash and got him dressed. He now seems a bit happier. I have to go to Mum's home this morning so will talk to the caregivers and nurse there on things I need to do and things to watch for. At this time I am not sure whether to continue using a onesie at nights or whether to use pyjamas. I think the onesie as I do not want him trying to get the catheter out.
To try to help with confusion I also keep plenty of jelly beans around to keep the blood sugar level up, he is not diabetic but they do seem to help.
Proud
I am very proud of myself.
On Wednesday they put a catheter in George. They told me on Thursday that they had taken it out again, what they never bothered to tell me was that they put it back in again! I have never had anything to do with these. I had no idea what to do. As we did not get home until late this afternoon I immediately rang the doctor's surgery and am seeing the nurse on Monday but that didn't help me over the weekend.
I looked up on the internet on how to empty it. Went down to the chemist to get some alcohol wipes and spoke to the people down there, none of them knew how to do it. Got the general idea from the internet so after tea got George into the toilet and got us ready to empty this thing.
Problem: couldn't find the pocket they were talking about in the instructions. I tried to unscrew a bit I found (quite the wrong thing to do).
I then went back to the internet and found myself a video which was about a catheter and while it was not on my problem it gave me enough of a guide that I was able to then work out what I needed.
All sorted now!
The bit at the bottom pushes left to right but does not come apart like I was trying to do.
What a learning journey the last four years have been although I have to say that none of it has been anything I ever wanted to know about.
On Wednesday they put a catheter in George. They told me on Thursday that they had taken it out again, what they never bothered to tell me was that they put it back in again! I have never had anything to do with these. I had no idea what to do. As we did not get home until late this afternoon I immediately rang the doctor's surgery and am seeing the nurse on Monday but that didn't help me over the weekend.
I looked up on the internet on how to empty it. Went down to the chemist to get some alcohol wipes and spoke to the people down there, none of them knew how to do it. Got the general idea from the internet so after tea got George into the toilet and got us ready to empty this thing.
Problem: couldn't find the pocket they were talking about in the instructions. I tried to unscrew a bit I found (quite the wrong thing to do).
I then went back to the internet and found myself a video which was about a catheter and while it was not on my problem it gave me enough of a guide that I was able to then work out what I needed.
All sorted now!
The bit at the bottom pushes left to right but does not come apart like I was trying to do.
What a learning journey the last four years have been although I have to say that none of it has been anything I ever wanted to know about.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Mooning
Something George does is he often returns to the lounge after going to the toilet without his trousers and continence pants on. I then have to tell him how to put them back on!! Luckily this has not happened when we have been out but could be a rude shock to others. This is where it becomes difficult as he is going to have to miss out on his son's second wedding as it is in Auckland. It is not possible to travel any more.
My sister has been in NZ for about 10 days and it has been nice to catch up with her. She and her husband have visited Mum, their friends and done a tiki tour while here. They stay at motel while in NZ.
Tomorrow we have meetings at the home as they are trying to move Mum to a different home as they seem to think she no longer shows dementia signs!! After 3 and a half years of living there this would be traumatic for Mum as she regards it as her home and knows the staff. Putting her with strangers is the last thing I would have thought she needed at this time. It is lucky that my sister is here to attend with me. I have also organised for a Patient Advocate to come as well. Because I will be away so long I am taking George to the home with me. I have therefore had to reorganise his care and our morning routines, so much to remember to do just for a simple thing like being ready for a meeting.
My sister has been in NZ for about 10 days and it has been nice to catch up with her. She and her husband have visited Mum, their friends and done a tiki tour while here. They stay at motel while in NZ.
Tomorrow we have meetings at the home as they are trying to move Mum to a different home as they seem to think she no longer shows dementia signs!! After 3 and a half years of living there this would be traumatic for Mum as she regards it as her home and knows the staff. Putting her with strangers is the last thing I would have thought she needed at this time. It is lucky that my sister is here to attend with me. I have also organised for a Patient Advocate to come as well. Because I will be away so long I am taking George to the home with me. I have therefore had to reorganise his care and our morning routines, so much to remember to do just for a simple thing like being ready for a meeting.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
What a day!
George woke up this morning and his pad had worked well. He needed to go to the toilet so off he went but took his pyjama pants etc off first. He piddled all the way down the hall and all over the toilet floor.
Then -
He did not wipe his bottom and went back into the bedroom and sat on the bed soiling the sheets. Before I knew it he had wandered out to the lounge and sat on the sofa.
Done the floors and washed the sheets!! It is important for caregivers to ensure that they have the tools to help make these tasks easier.
Frankly he does not appear to understand what he is doing at these times. It is hard as if I try to explain he goes very quiet as he tries so hard not to 'do the wrong thing'.
Today he is at his club. We bought two candles (one in the shape of an 8 and the other a 0) and two cakes (chocolate cream sponge ones) and took them to the club where they will celebrate with him today.
Then -
He did not wipe his bottom and went back into the bedroom and sat on the bed soiling the sheets. Before I knew it he had wandered out to the lounge and sat on the sofa.
Done the floors and washed the sheets!! It is important for caregivers to ensure that they have the tools to help make these tasks easier.
Frankly he does not appear to understand what he is doing at these times. It is hard as if I try to explain he goes very quiet as he tries so hard not to 'do the wrong thing'.
Today he is at his club. We bought two candles (one in the shape of an 8 and the other a 0) and two cakes (chocolate cream sponge ones) and took them to the club where they will celebrate with him today.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Shaving
George has been having some difficulty shaving; he doesn't see all the areas he is missing. His old razor packed up six months ago and was unable to be fixed. I bought him a new one, the equivalent of the old one. He keeps mucking things up so it won't go. This time I have been able to fix it and will have to take in to the shop for repair. I know that it is going to happen again. Yesterday George and I bought a disposable razor and shaving cream. He had never used one before so I taught him to use it. He did do a better job than with an electric one - I suspect it is because he was carefully looking in the mirror while he did it. We'll need to see how things go.
My sister has been wonderful and done a lot of housework while she has been here which has been marvellous as this chest infection I have had has left me breathless after small amounts of work. She has just been a godsend.
My sister has been wonderful and done a lot of housework while she has been here which has been marvellous as this chest infection I have had has left me breathless after small amounts of work. She has just been a godsend.
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