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Help with eye drops after cataract op

(10 Posts)
Humbertbear Sun 25-Jul-21 16:09:34

Have you thought of booking her in to somewhere that offers respite care while she needs the eye drops to be administered? In a similar situation My mother stayed with me and then with my sister and then when the drops were reduced I used to do them on the way to work and come home at lunchtime while my DD volunteered to make sure she was around at bedtime to do the last dose. It really is a problem so if the GP cant book a district nurse I would suggest the respite care.

62Granny Sun 25-Jul-21 14:31:19

Does she have a any friends/ relative /neighbour that could help or perhaps contact Age Concern in her area they may have volunteers as it's only a short term thing it may her hard to get a care company to do it but a combination of people may be better one 1 person .perhaps you could come down to stay for a day or two as well.

Bridie22 Thu 22-Jul-21 15:29:00

You can buy at the chemist an eye drop device that helps to administer the drops, i use one as i also have arthritic hands.
They are quite inexpensive to buy.

grannysyb Thu 22-Jul-21 15:09:24

The district nurse should be doing this, ask her surgery.

V3ra Thu 22-Jul-21 15:05:50

daisychain42 the eye drops are an important part of your mum's recovery from the cataract surgery, they're not a minor thing at all.

My husband is currently having eye drops for a different condition and even with no hand problems he finds it easier if I administer them for him.

I would hope that the GP can arrange for your mum to have support with this, but if not ring the adult social care team.

Infinity2 Thu 22-Jul-21 14:50:30

daisychain42 - hope it all goes well for her ?

daisychain42 Thu 22-Jul-21 14:48:16

Thank you for this advice. I have seen the aids, but feel she may well struggle with those still. I will try her GP - I just didn’t want to waste their time during Covid with something that seems relatively minor!

Lincslass Thu 22-Jul-21 11:56:47

You can certainly ring the GP surgery and request help for your mother. In fact this was one of my jobs, to arrange after care help for people who needed it. I know they have Covid to contend with, but cannot just leave an elderly person with no help, otherwise the surgery will fail. Hope you manage to get help for her.

jaylucy Thu 22-Jul-21 11:46:34

If you are unable to help her by putting in the drops for her (they are usually antibiotic so are vital)
Ask at a pharmacy as they may well have some aids available that may help.
Also have a look at this link from Moorfields Eye hospital that may help.

www.moorfields.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Eye%20drop%20compliance%20aids.pdf

daisychain42 Thu 22-Jul-21 11:41:19

My elderly mother is due to have cataract surgery and following this she is required to take 4 (!!!) eye drops every day for a few weeks. Apparently there can be quite nasty consequences if she doesn’t keep up with these.

The problem is that she has bad arthritis in her hands and there is no way she will be able to put these eye drops in herself. She lives alone and I live too far away to help daily as she needs.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What did you do? Is this something you can ask a nurse or someone to come in for? She’s otherwise very independent and will hate the idea of having a carer of any sorts, but I can see this being an issue and so want to organise something before the surgery takes place.

Any suggestions much appreciated!