Gransnet forums

Care & carers

Coping alone

(29 Posts)
Ethelwashere1 Wed 12-Jan-22 09:04:39

I have talked to her doc, she rang my mother who was cheerful and saying she could cope. The hospital sent her home after she refused a free care package. Social services said that if you refuse in hospital then you cant change your mind later. There must be 100s of people who think they can cope but when they get home find they cant. This is so unfair.

Dickens Wed 12-Jan-22 08:58:52

I'm also surprised she wasn't sent home with a care-package. Clearly she's ill if she's on oxygen and suffering from heart-failure. This just doesn't seem right.

I think maybe you ought to be either talking to her doctor, or to your own - from your post it appears that the call from the doctor was made to her and, given how you've described her, she might well have given him / her the impression that she was coping on her own.

You may end up having to pay for carers to come in - or she will - but it's obvious you're not going to be able to cope otherwise.

I'd start by making a call to your own GP and let him know that you are literally unable to cope and ask him what you should do. If that fails - you can request to talk to her GP, he may not actually discuss her case with you, but he needs to know that his patient is, basically, in need of some form of care at home. Get the ball rolling, at least that way you can start to plan a course of action. If your mother spoke to him it's quite possible she allowed him to think everything was fine and dandy - he needs to know that it's not, and that you have not been given any instructions regarding her oxygen management or care.

Social services will always try to fob you off, but if her doctor gets involved, they won't be able to do that so easily.

I sympathise with you. What a terrible state of affairs. Elderly people are simply being pitchforked out of hospital and left to get on with it because the NHS and the care system is totally overwhelmed and underfunded.

Make a decision to make that call - or those calls - at least you will feel more in control of the situation, don't just struggle on, you can't manage this on your own.

Oopsadaisy1 Wed 12-Jan-22 08:30:40

It sounds as though you or your Mother will have to pay for care. I’m surprised that she wasn’t sent home with a ‘care package’ which usually lasts for 6 weeks which usually gives you time to organise care.
Sorry but you will have to be firm and tell her that carers are coming in and that’s that.
Have a look at local care companies online, I’m sure you can get something organised quite soon.

Ethelwashere1 Wed 12-Jan-22 08:01:20

My mother, 90, has recently returned from hospital, im the only person to keep an eye on her.
She has refused help from anyone, shes on oxygen so is limited physically. Her condition is heart failure and recovering from pnewmonia. My problem is that as shes mentally ok, everyone has washed there hands of her. I tried social services but shes nit entitled to any care.
When she left hospital, i wasnt asked if i could look after her, i wasnt given an6 instructions. Now after over a week, shes had one doctors phone call, call from social services to say they cant help her.
I live nearby but cant cope with her housework, im exhausted doing my own. Im off on sick leave with this super cold so i can visit but i wear my mask so she says she cant lipread. She has expensive hearing aids but refuses to wear them.
My visits always degenerate into a row as she wont try anything to help herself, she makes snack meals, says if i bring anymore food she wont eat it. Occasionally she cooks veg in her microwave but not allowed to fry as shes on oxygen.
The negativity just drains my energy before i get in the door knowing everything i do or say is wrong. I know it must he frustrating after being active. The other worry is that no one checks her heart or other medical signs, she has high bp. Im just left with battling every day. Any advice