Poorly chicken

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Wow, that looks scary .

[The Dogmother]

Latest news and pictures here, the tool hire place next door has extensive damage, the nearby retail park was under threat at one stage, and was still cordoned off this morning. Te$co was open, but their petrol station was closed.

 

No-one hurt, but there is talk of an insurance job as the place was making a loss and was always empty, with nowt on the shelves.

 

The site is still smoking, and fire tenders were still there this evening when I drove past on the way to work. It is only a mile from us, and was clearly visible last night.

[Eggasperated]

Has anybody read Over Streams & Squirrel Woods by Alys Williams? It's about her mother developing Alzheimer's and the treatment she received.

 

I've been reading it over the weekend and even though I'm only part way through it I have found it very disturbing and had difficulty sleeping last night. It's made me quite afraid for my mum, who at 93 nearly died this year from a calcium overdose thanks to a consultant who ignored all her symptoms and continued to prescribe this for her without doing blood tests or taking any notice of her sudden decline. Mum was only saved by my sister, a former nurse, and her GP who took his own blood tests and stopped the calcium to the annoyance of the consultant. Mum is now back to normal, living her independent life in her own home, albeit she is still having trouble with her bones - the original reason for the calcium injections prescription. As with the lady in the book Mum thought she had to do what the consultant told her and believed that doctors should not be questioned.

The book has also made me afraid for OH and myself, and made me wonder what plans I should be putting into place for our old age.

[Bramble]

I understand your concerns Eggasperated. Old age can be a worrying and very frightening time. As for plans to put in place - I would STRONGLY recommend that absolutely EVERYBODY regardless of age and current health should put in place Lasting Powers of Attorney (there are two types and I would advocate that you do BOTH - for health and welfare and property and affairs) so that you can say NOW who should manage your affairs in future should you become unable to do so. This is just as important for young healthy people as those who are getting on a bit - any of us can be taken ill or have an accident that leaves us unable to manage ... it's so so so so important.

By all means go to a solicitor to do this (the forms are very long and can be quite daunting) but you can also DIY online https://www.gov.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney

Sorry, I'll stop ranting now, and hope that you sleep better tonight!

[The Dogmother]

This one is close to home for me; my mother developed dementia after a series of strokes a few years back - physically she's still pretty fit, but my father is caring for her at home with very little carer help. We are currently trying to sort a live-in carer for her as he isn't happy with any of the local private care homes he's looked at.

 

When we realised that something was up, we sorted power of attorney, so all of that side is taken care of, but unless you really push the NHS, the care they offer is very poor. Luckily I come form a family of medics and we were able to pull on contacts to get her to see the top specialists in London and get a decent diagnosis/treatment.

 

It's very hard and horrid to see her like an empty shell. I have told Rosie that I shall be booking my one way ticket to Dignitas if that happens to me

[chickencam]

The treatment of the elderly is often poor. My Grandad went into hospital at the age of 92 after a series of falls, he went from being frail and injured to having severe dementia within a couple of weeks. He was struggling to sleep as a result of unfamiliar inactivity and was immediately put onto the anti psychotic drug Haloperidol because he was becoming distressed during the night. He immediately went down hill and had another fall in hospital, we were told that he had suffered a series of small strokes, which may well be true, but I know of other elderly people whoc have deteriorated in a similar way on entering hospital, one of whom drastically improved when he moved to a nursing

 

I understand that the NHS is stretched to breaking point, but with a rapidly increasing elderly population their treatment needs to be urgently addressed.

[The Dogmother]

It really does!

 

I can't fault the NHS in other areas, but treatment of he elderly is poor; the attitude seems to be 'well, they're old and going to die soon, so why bother'. The funding, facilities and training really need sorting; I have seen this with my mother and Phil's parents too..

[Bramble]

I think there's also a lot of buck-passing between the NHS and Social Services - there needs to be a clear dividing line between what each is expected to provide and the difference between health care (for which the NHS is responsible) and social care (for which social services is responsible). Easier said than done, I completely realise, but unless the elderly patient has an "advocate" to stand up for them, they just disappear into a system that can't cope.

[Eggasperated]

I think I will finish the book and then pass it on to my daughter to read and then discuss options. The power of attorney is certainly worth looking into, thank you Bramble. OH and his brothers are currently trying to set up POA for his mum but due to her already having early signs of dementia, family disputes, the involvement of a solicitor, and us being 500 miles away in Scotland, it is being a long drawn out process.

The treatment of my dads death 5 years ago was much more sympathetic, he had heart disease and asbestosis and was well cared for - especially in the latter stages when he was supported by the hospice and remained at home until the

last week.

[chickencam]

DS's American girlfriend offered unconditional place at St Andrews university, they may be living in the same time zone within 9 months.

 

Still 400 miles and 7 hours by road or rail away.

[bluekarin]

Am quite fed up with the little cliques on certain Facebook groups I know, should leave it, but am interested to see what is being said around me but not to me. I thought I'd left all this behind when I left school I don't normally comment when I read the things the members get up to, but someone rehomed a cat for a friend when she herself couldn't keep in her house and then wondered why she couldn't find it anymore after a day!!! Made me quite cross.

 

And breathe.......

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's great news, Chickencam . The son of a good friend of mine has just married his American girlfriend - they met online aged about 12 and they only met when she came to uni in the UK.

 

Bluekarin, best to ignore it, easier said than done, I know .

[Alis girls]

Going back to the elderly I was disgusted to find a frail elderly lady of ours who is in her 90's and is tiny and thin takes 2 buses to the surgery to see me for her dressing. yesterday the weather was vile and thankfully she got a lift. I referred her to the community nurses for a weekly visit but they referred her back. If she falls and fractures a femur it may well kill her or cost the NHS a lot more than a nurse to visit. We dont do visits from our surgery as we are needed there. I was so cross. I would like to shake a fellow nurse by the neck - compassion - pah they dont know the meaning of the word.

On a lighter note I just found our big kitten licking the George Forman grill It was clean but obviously not to his standards toasted cheese sarnie anyone?

[The Dogmother]

I think I've mentioned before that Phil's dad is very poorly with heart failure; he got a lot worse just after Christmas, but I can't praise their surgery and his consultant enough... they have been very helpful and understanding the family would rather nurse him at home than have him in hospital.

 

I drove over on Boxing Day to find that he'd just had a fall, so cleaned and dressed his elbow, which was badly grazed. I doubt that I shall see Phil now for a few weekends as he daren't leave them at the moment. He and his mum are on 2-hourly shifts during the day, and 4-hourly through the night as he needs watching constantly.

[LolaLayla]

Sorry to hear this DM. I hope his condition improves

[The Dogmother]

Thanks, but sadly that's not going to happen

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear that DM, it is good that the surgery and consultant are being helpful. To care for a relative you need as much help as you can get, not an easy job to do.

 

Chrissie

[The Dogmother]

Phil's mum is in her 80s and frail herself, but she's a farmer's wife, so very practical and able. P is very calm and laid back, with endless patience, so not much flusters him. Together they are managing, although I suggested that they get the community nurse to come in daily... that's if the farm isn't cut off by floods or fallen trees

[Alis girls]

Sorry to hear that DM - make sure they get the help they can weather permitting. Caring for someone is tiring more so when elderly and frail yourself. Hugs Ali x

[Lewis]

Hey

Feel like I haven't been on here for weeks - well, I haven't!

 

Had a fantastic time in New York just before Christmas and have been really busy with work and socialising

 

I've put on so much weight since I started Uni so I'm starting my first proper diet on Monday. Was kind of embarassed about it but apparently if you tell friends you're more motivated to stick to it - am looking forward to it though!

 

Hope family members get well soon

[The Dogmother]

Just had my first mammogram.... slightly uncomfortable, but nowhere as bad as I'd been told.

[Alis girls]

Ouch - mines on the 16th. Not looking forward to it as sore+++. Hormones I think.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think it depends on the skill of the person doing it. I've had a couple that were just uncomfortable but one which was so painful I nearly passed out .

[Alis girls]

Bit miffed - went to buy some ankle boots in sale in a local shop. The very nice young man in the shop decided as the ones I wanted werent in my size that a pair of granny boots might suffice (ankle boots with sheepskin linings in suede which my lovely gran RIP used to wear).

Several things wrong with this and I told him so -

1 I aint a granny

2 No grey hairs as my blond and pinky red highlites are covering it

3 I have lost weight and was feeling pretty spritly.

OH was trying not to laugh. I came away with a black pair with a hidden zip and studs and have pointed out a pair of pink (yes pink) Doc Martin types boots I would like for the birthday next month. Grow old gracefully - not likely. OH reckoned the poor guy had a job lot of granny boots and would try and flog them to anyone over 30.

[chickencam]

 

You tell em lady.