Hi,
my husband and I are informal carers for both my elderly parents. More of a supportive and organisational care ATM.
Both have memory problems and Dad has just been diagnosed with vascular dementia and also has physical disabilities secondary to arthritis , a previous hip fracture and a small stroke last year. He has osteoporosis and fully anticoagulated for stroke prevention.
Mum (who does all the cooking, and most of the washings and shopping) has widespread arthritis (ankles/shoulders/hips/spine) with quite bad curvature in her spine which was aggravated after she had a hip replacement which left her with leg length discrepancy. Also neuropathy in her hands and feet.
Never realised how hard it would be to get them the care and living modifications they need. Leaves you wondering why exactly the NHS seems to be focused on reducing heart attacks and strokes ie getting people to live longer when health and social care is for the elderly is so uncoordinated and fragmented and just doesn't help people maintain their independence. Where's the "rehabilitation"? Even after Dad's fractured hip when he was in hospital for 4 weeks on an elderly rehab' ward the focus wasn't on rehab aspects like getting washed/shaved in the bathroom (as opposed to in bed with a bowl of water), eating meals at the table (Dining room and TV room there but just not used) and dressing independently. Very, very limited OT input and nursing staff didn't seem to have a clue how to encourage independence.
The carers we have going in are about 19/20. Little experience and probably don't even have an NVQ in care. I'm a retired nurse and hoped that (as things like instilling eye drops and putting compression stockings on seem to be classed as social care these days) they would pick up on and report skin issues, red eyes etc. Almost be my extra pair of eyes. The £15.60 an hour he pays is a rip off. I know registered nurses working in the NHS who don't earn anything like that amount.
Would love to try and find a carer privately.
my husband and I are informal carers for both my elderly parents. More of a supportive and organisational care ATM.
Both have memory problems and Dad has just been diagnosed with vascular dementia and also has physical disabilities secondary to arthritis , a previous hip fracture and a small stroke last year. He has osteoporosis and fully anticoagulated for stroke prevention.
Mum (who does all the cooking, and most of the washings and shopping) has widespread arthritis (ankles/shoulders/hips/spine) with quite bad curvature in her spine which was aggravated after she had a hip replacement which left her with leg length discrepancy. Also neuropathy in her hands and feet.
Never realised how hard it would be to get them the care and living modifications they need. Leaves you wondering why exactly the NHS seems to be focused on reducing heart attacks and strokes ie getting people to live longer when health and social care is for the elderly is so uncoordinated and fragmented and just doesn't help people maintain their independence. Where's the "rehabilitation"? Even after Dad's fractured hip when he was in hospital for 4 weeks on an elderly rehab' ward the focus wasn't on rehab aspects like getting washed/shaved in the bathroom (as opposed to in bed with a bowl of water), eating meals at the table (Dining room and TV room there but just not used) and dressing independently. Very, very limited OT input and nursing staff didn't seem to have a clue how to encourage independence.
The carers we have going in are about 19/20. Little experience and probably don't even have an NVQ in care. I'm a retired nurse and hoped that (as things like instilling eye drops and putting compression stockings on seem to be classed as social care these days) they would pick up on and report skin issues, red eyes etc. Almost be my extra pair of eyes. The £15.60 an hour he pays is a rip off. I know registered nurses working in the NHS who don't earn anything like that amount.
Would love to try and find a carer privately.