Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Spent 3 hours in A&E this evening with my poor 88 year old dad, who fell and gashed his head open on a very low brick wall. I luckily work & live very closeby so managed to get there within 5 minutes of a call from my mum. I've never seen so much blood - it was everywhere . The gash looked awful - very deep and jagged, right in the middle of his forehead. Bless him, he said "just put a plaster on it. It'll be fine." He had to have x-rays (all clear) and ended up with 15 stitches and steri-strips on a badly grazed knee. I also had to just about hold my mum back from braining a poor doctor who was Spanish (I think) but with pretty good English (she looked about 15 ) because the doctor kept speaking to me about medication/aftercare etc. My mum squared up to her and said "He's MY husband and he lives with ME. SHE (ie me ) lives miles away". (Well, one mile actually.) The poor doctor wasn't to know and she and I tried to say so but my mum was in mega huff mode and wouldn't be placated. I mouthed "sorry" behind my mum's back and we left. What an embarrassment . The doctor's bedside manner left a bit to be desired and she did shoo us out of the cubicle while she did the stitching but still ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Oh no, your poor Dad! Glad he's OK now though. Head wounds are awful and always look much worse than they are - a big shock for you all. at your Mum, she was obviously upset, but doctors in A&E put up with a lot worse! Hope she's OK now. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Sorry to hear that Vicki - I hope he recovers quickly. He's lucky he didn't do a hip or wrist - common breaks when the elderly fall. Your mum must have got such a fright too, poor thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 your poor dad, your mum was clearly beside herself, hope they're both okay and what a shock for you! Hugs all round, hope he isn't too sore xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 oh no, poor you (and your dad). As Snowy says, the doctor is probably used to much worse! Hope he will recover quickly now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I hope your father is OK Vicki. I'm sure he'll have a terrible headache. My mother would be - and has been - exactly the same!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 (edited) Oh how awful. Very traumatic for you all. I hope your Poor Dad recovers quickly......and that you all get over the shock. It is quite alarming how much a scalp wound can bleed. Edited January 23, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Oh dear, sounds like it looked awful At least he's been seen to, and you can't really blame your mum, surely the doc should have ascertained who would administer aftercare, it's no worse than only talking to the husband when the wife is there too, kind of thing. Hopefully he'll be better soon and without too many headaches A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I hope that he recovers well from his injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I hope he heals up quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Your poor Dad.......hope he gets better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I hope he recovers soon Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Thanks for all your good wishes. He's pretty healthy for an 88 year old so I'm sure he'll heal OK. The problem may now be whether he's safe to be left alone. He went out into the garden alone where he tripped. My mum was in the house but didn't realise he'd gone out. He wants to be independent and can be stubborn so it's going to be an increasing problem. She's not going to feel able to go out and leave him at all now. He hasn't gone out alone for a few years so usually goes with her but can't walk or see very well so makes things difficult for her, which is why she has often leaves him at home while she goes food shopping etc. (She's 83 so no spring chicken (!) herself.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I hope he feels better soon- have you got any arnica pilliules? They are great for bruising. It must be a big worry for your Mum ( & you) that you think he's not safe now to be left alone. Here we have a day centre for people of all ages to go to which gives their carers a bit of a weekly break- is there anything like that near you- and do you think your Dad might go along? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Big hugs and healing wishes coming your way for all the family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 So sorry to hear about your dad. I wouldn't feel embarrased. I've worked in the NHS for nearly 13 years and we make more embarrassing mistakes than the patients do. I strongly recall causing much upset to a lady who I'd called a patients mother when infact she was his wife. Plus many times I've assumed mothers are grandmothers. Now I'm a little wiser and I always ask the relationship to the patient before having to remove ten little piggies from my mouth. Let's hope your dad has a speedy recovery and stays safely on his feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Give the council a ring and ask for the number for your local social worker who will come out and do an assessment of the situation I know this sounds extreme but I had to do this recently with my mum and dad and they couldn't have been kinder and more helpful They arranged to get equipment to ease mobility problems we have a care assistant to come and wash mum each day and they put us in touch with a local club that meets once a week so my mum can be left there for a few hours if needs be so dad can get things done like shopping etc They visited about once a week for 6 weeks but we haven't seen them for ages now but if we need anything else we have a social worker assigned to us now and we just need to give her a call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 What a shock. Glad the injuries weren't too serious. Would there be a freind near by to sit with Dad if your mum needs to go out for a couple of hours! [Or would he not agree to this been so independent] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Give the council a ring and ask for the number for your local social worker who will come out and do an assessment of the situation good idea, they should also be able to advise on what benefits your mum and dad might be entitled to, Disability living allowance, carer's allowance etc. Your dad would be able to get DLA by the sound of it and your mum might be able to claim carer's allowance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 That is a good point Poet DLA is payable at two levels (and not means tested) so even if slightly disabled he may be eligible for level 1 The carers allowance is means tested however Apart from pension if you have an income of more than £86 a week you are not entitled to it My dad has no pension coming in but is not eligible because he invested in property rather than his pension scheme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 My Gran lived with my parents for 21 years & my mum got attendance allowance for her. Gran also had a disabled badge for the car, & used the "ring & ride" bus service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 one more thing, my mum got refused DLA, even though she's had a knee replaced and can't walk very well! But, she filled the form in herself to make the claim and I think she was a bit economical with the truth and didn't say exactly how bad it was. So, the next time, the social worker filled it in for her and she got the money. Ask the social worker to help your parents fill the claim form in, they know what to put to make sure it gets accepted! The system is unbelievably strict and rightly so, I have no idea how people manage to cheat on benefits!? Trouble is, deserving cases do get knocked back sometimes so, get the social worker to help as your dad sounds like he's entitled to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Sorry to hear about your Dad, Vicki; here's to a speedy recovery. Some good advice here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Oh dear your poor dad, it sounds nasty. Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Thank you for all your kind words and advice. I'm going to respond later (going out to choir now) but had a quick question: my dad's 97% lambswool/3% cashmere jumper had copious amounts of blood down the front. My mum put it in a bucket of cold water overnight then put it in a wool wash. The stain is still there. Any advice on how to get it out, if that's possible ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
