Re: Infection?

[Guest guest]

My goodness, I read what your saying and I feel we are so spoiled by comparison

with our Health Service in Scotland.

Our family GP was a ten minute car ride away. But as soon as my dad was

diagnosed with Dementia our family practioner agreed to do house calls any time

my dad needed him, fully understanding that any outing can be traumatic to those

with Dementia and in particular Lewy Body.

So if we suspected my dad had an infection we'd ring for the family GP and out

he'd come.....it might not be our regular guy, usually just a call-out doctor,

but they always responded at least in the same day as we called, and we would

get the infection treated and cleared up instantly with anti-biotics.

Our Consultant also came to our home for my dads assesments and to monitor his

progress. When things got way bad and my dad would slip into the 'bed-bound'

phases we had a couple of admissions to hospital, first general side for

infections, oxygen levels etc. then a move over to the Geriatric Dementia unit

for a re-boot of the Lewy medications under supervision, then usually home

again. We also had a Community Physciatric Nurse who cae to visit once weekly,

she worked on behalf of the Consultant Geriatrician, and was his eyes & ears so

to speak when he was not there. Again she was useful to us in detecting

infections and would take urine samples to be tested on our behalf.

Finally my dad was admitted to Long Term Care but again a local hospital unit

specialising in Dementia. This was run by our Consultant who had been with my

dad since day one.......we were very lucky I guess although it didn't feel like

it a lot of the time.

Also at home we had a system here called 'Free Help for The Elderly' which meant

we had carers in every day to do my dads shower, shaving, dressing etc. it was a

tremendous help to my mum - and absolutely free. We moan and gripe about our

national Health Service but when I read how it is in other places I guess we are

ver lucky really.

Where do you live - I have a terrible memory and get mixed up with others

on the board? I'm guessing your somewhere in the U.S...........well at least

you have nice weather on your side, today in Scotland is grey and drizzling

rain.

Keep your chin up, your a strong lady to have come through so much already,

again I should count myself lucky that I am 47 and have only just lost my

dad..........he died one month ago today, already I cannot believe the time is

passing so quickly. Hang on in there, your doing a wonderful job for your

mother in law and juggling so many other things, you deserve such respect

already in our journey.

Kathleen.

Infection?

Hi Kathleen

Thanks for your words of support. I guess I am hesitant to take MIL

out to Dr as each time we go out she sinks down, seems to be traumatic

for her. We have a nurse that comes in on Thursdays. MIL's Dr is one

hour and 20 minutes away, so I guess I should take her to a clinic in

my city. I lost my Mom to cancer 14 years ago and my Dad, smoking

plus being a welder destroyed his lungs, 10 years ago. I remember

all too well what you are describing. The year after I lost my Mom my

first son was born and I remember crying and wanting her there so

strongly. I miss them both still so much. I am not discouraged by

what you say about further deterioration. I am aware of what is to

come. Thanks again, time for a quiet cup of tea with my husband and

then get the boy's off to school. It is supposed to be a beautiful

day here, 18C and sunny, it will help to keep me going. Talk to you

soon. Thanks,

Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen

I live outside of borough, Ontario, about 2 hours from

Toronto. It is a beautiful area called the Kawartha's. We will be

Living on Chemong Lake on the edge of borough. The reason that

my MIL's Dr is so far away is that she lived in Oshawa until the

second fall that broke her R hip on Dec. 9. I convinced my husband

to move out of the city after we married over 14 years ago. I grew

up in a small town east of borough. My Dr is in borough

but will not take MIL and we have an extreme shortage of Dr's here.

over 10,000 without one in borough. I get homecare through Red

Cross for free Monday through Friday for 2 hours. I am allowed 14

hours a week and will call after 9 this morning requesting the extra

4 this week. They do baths, change clothes, feed. With the rate of

accidents that happen i end up with partial baths several times to

to get her cleaned. This morning at 7:15 she took off diaper and

peed on bed and floor, then went to bathroom to pee! so she daid.

She also said she can't understand why there is always water in the

bed and on floor. After i drive 30 minutes to borough, not much

time to do banking, get supplies for house, car needs oil change

desperately. I need to clean and paint new house to move in. So

very busy, But I do lay down in afternoon for a nap each day. This

helps. I asked her this morning if she new who I was and she

responed . However when I asked her how I was related to her

she said that I wasn't. I aksed if I was the nurse that looks after

her and she said yes. Oh well at least she knows my name. My

husband strongly believes that she has given up with so much loss in

her life on top of the second surgery. I will call her Dr today and

ask for Seroquel as I have heard that it is not as hard on motor

skills as risperdal. You hang in too, thanks, .

> My goodness, I read what your saying and I feel we are so spoiled

by comparison with our Health Service in Scotland.

>

> Our family GP was a ten minute car ride away. But as soon as my

dad was diagnosed with Dementia our family practioner agreed to do

house calls any time my dad needed him, fully understanding that any

outing can be traumatic to those with Dementia and in particular

Lewy Body.

>

> So if we suspected my dad had an infection we'd ring for the

family GP and out he'd come.....it might not be our regular guy,

usually just a call-out doctor, but they always responded at least

in the same day as we called, and we would get the infection treated

and cleared up instantly with anti-biotics.

>

> Our Consultant also came to our home for my dads assesments and to

monitor his progress. When things got way bad and my dad would slip

into the 'bed-bound' phases we had a couple of admissions to

hospital, first general side for infections, oxygen levels etc. then

a move over to the Geriatric Dementia unit for a re-boot of the Lewy

medications under supervision, then usually home again. We also had

a Community Physciatric Nurse who cae to visit once weekly, she

worked on behalf of the Consultant Geriatrician, and was his eyes &

ears so to speak when he was not there. Again she was useful to us

in detecting infections and would take urine samples to be tested on

our behalf.

>

> Finally my dad was admitted to Long Term Care but again a local

hospital unit specialising in Dementia. This was run by our

Consultant who had been with my dad since day one.......we were very

lucky I guess although it didn't feel like it a lot of the time.

>

> Also at home we had a system here called 'Free Help for The

Elderly' which meant we had carers in every day to do my dads

shower, shaving, dressing etc. it was a tremendous help to my mum -

and absolutely free. We moan and gripe about our national Health

Service but when I read how it is in other places I guess we are ver

lucky really.

>

> Where do you live - I have a terrible memory and get mixed

up with others on the board? I'm guessing your somewhere in the

U.S...........well at least you have nice weather on your side,

today in Scotland is grey and drizzling rain.

>

> Keep your chin up, your a strong lady to have come through so much

already, again I should count myself lucky that I am 47 and have

only just lost my dad..........he died one month ago today, already

I cannot believe the time is passing so quickly. Hang on in there,

your doing a wonderful job for your mother in law and juggling so

many other things, you deserve such respect already in our journey.

>

> Kathleen.

> Infection?

>

>

>

> Hi Kathleen

> Thanks for your words of support. I guess I am hesitant to take

MIL

> out to Dr as each time we go out she sinks down, seems to be

traumatic

> for her. We have a nurse that comes in on Thursdays. MIL's Dr

is one

> hour and 20 minutes away, so I guess I should take her to a

clinic in

> my city. I lost my Mom to cancer 14 years ago and my Dad,

smoking

> plus being a welder destroyed his lungs, 10 years ago. I

remember

> all too well what you are describing. The year after I lost my

Mom my

> first son was born and I remember crying and wanting her there

so

> strongly. I miss them both still so much. I am not discouraged

by

> what you say about further deterioration. I am aware of what is

to

> come. Thanks again, time for a quiet cup of tea with my husband

and

> then get the boy's off to school. It is supposed to be a

beautiful

> day here, 18C and sunny, it will help to keep me going. Talk to

you

> soon. Thanks,

>

>

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

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>