For the last 12 months I have been doing the shopping and dropping sleeping tablets off for an older relative,
my daughter did this at weekends.
We drop the sleeping tablets daily as he has very mild short term memory loss and sometimes forgets he’s taken them but otherwise he’s fine.
His mobility has not been good for a long time and he is very frail but everything was fine until about two weeks ago, when he became very weak and has been bed ridden since.
He stopped eating and hardly drank, the GP came and thought like us that he was probably end of life.
He has always been terrified of going to hospital or a nursing home, so we promised we would do everything we can to keep him at home and the GP is onboard with this.
The GP came again this week and said he would ask District Nurses to call in but they haven’t been in touch yet.
The point I’m getting to is that we are finding it really hard to look after him, my daughter arrives to wet bed most mornings, although a special undersheet is sometimes the only thing needs changing, we don’t know if he’s spilling the bottle or actually wetting the bed.
She’s so stressed she’s had to take time off work, although she’s wonderful with him and looks after him in the day time but has her own family to look after.
I go up in the evenings to see he is ok and comfortable and to give him his sleeping tablets.
When I went last night, he was quite angry with me and asked why I didn’t give him the tablets to take himself, like I used to do.
I told him that for two nights he had taken them too early and couldn’t fall asleep but was just very woozy and as though he was drunk or something and from 6pm I went backwards and forwards because he was ringing me, to sit him up, lie him down, then a minute later sit him up again.
This went on till 12 midnight for two nights and I tried to be understanding but it was getting on my nerves a bit.
Anyway, my daughter told me it’s too much for me to do that and I should just take the tablets up about 8.30 and then it’s up to him if he takes them then …….but let him know, unless it’s an emergency you will not be going back.
He is very angry with me and thinks I am trying to control him, I’ve been upset all day as I’m just trying to do my best.
Also, daughter took time off work as she thought he was end of life but it now doesn’t look that way and soon she will need to go back.
Sorry this is long and a bit rambling but our lives have been turned upside down and I’m panicking a bit.
Has anyone been in this position and can offer any advice or anything.
Thankyou…
I’ve just finished a jacket for my grandson
