h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks, it means a lot, we seem to be dealing with an issue a day.

Reading the log by tis morning's carer, who called her "Vera" (not her name) caused me to almost rupture a blood vessel. It says her name on the folder it was written in, and on her medication, and on the carer's worksheet. There's no excuse for getting their client's name wrong, in my book. Good job Ian was with me. He is the most calm person I have ever met and he's having an amazing calm influence on me.

If this so-called "carer" company carries on like that, they'll soon have some serious cases to deal with.

In their defence, they are probably extremely overworked. But that is no excuse for not doing the job properly whilst they are at someone's house.

It's a good job I'm not with you GB! I would be certain to get arrested

You just couldn't make it up.

Same kind of troubles down here GB, think it is par for the course. They spend too much time and money on 'admin' and forms and questions and not enough on quality care.

If she is paying for it, give 'em hell, and even if she isn't that is appalling!! Sloppy, unprofessional, and few things I can't say here. If I could find your email address I would tell you of the many fiascos down here, but I am not sure it would help to hear them, except to know that you are not alone.

Thanks for updating us, I am sure I am not the only one who was getting worried.

Websailor

Thanks for the news. glad that you have a useful shoulder.
I would be furious if a carer called me by my given name, even if they got it right, but perhaps, if I were your mum, I would find it friendlier. Whatever she prefers should be correctly used. It sounds like a small thing, but it may help her to be less disorientated.

Correct names or forms of address, respecting age and attitude is very important. Anything less shows huge disrespect.

A friend of mine found his care notes had him down as a 'she' called Barry, which is no part of his name or nature

Hang in there Galaxy Babe.

Websailor

I used to regularly get begging letters from a charity which started "Dear Miss" followed by my recognisably male name. It's amazing how little inclined I felt to send them money. If they couldn't be bothered to read the letter before sending it to me, why should I be bothered to read it?

1 month after my dad died, my mam opened a letter addressed to him. The first line said "dear Mr *** etc sorry to hear that you have died. but can you..."
unfortunately mam threw it away, before I and my sister could have read it and replied

That's utterly disgraceful!

We had a good trial run with the Carelink bracelet this morning, 5am, phone rings, Mum's alarm had gone off, not answering phone so would I attend? There in a few minutes, Mum fast asleep in bed, she'd been to the loo then heard a noise (phone) thought it was next door so ignored it, no she didn't press the button on her wrist, and doesn't know how it happened. I am still calming down from the fright.

that carelink set up is brill', PJ can be anywhere in the bungalow and his voice and theirs is picked up no problem

not been ing for a weekhad no broadband, but repaired somewhere and back Thursday - phew!

Still thinking of you GB! How are things progressing?

What Scorp says

Websailor

I'm barely online at the moment, apologies. I'd be going insane without Ian - he's the one crumb of normality in this otherwise-whirlwind of chaos that is my life at the moment.

Yesterday after the cinema we went round to Mum's (Tuesday's Ian's day off from seeing his own Mum!) and I began to cook her a mushroom pasta lunch after saying hello, not 2 minutes later she yelled through from the front room, where was her lunch? I went and told her I was cooking it and she asked why it was taking so long
The lunchtime carer arrived to find nothing to do so she set about putting the washing on the airer. Later, I was at Ian's when my brother texted, he'd arrived after work to find the teatime carer cleaning Mum up, she'd pooed herself.

I know I've complained about the carers but now we're in a routine with ones who have visited before, they're worth their weight in gold.

That's true. Carers doing their job right are gold worth. Hope they stick around

To be fair GB! I don't think you have actually complained about the carers per se - You have quite rightly complained about the system, which fails to make sure the carers were aware of all the relevant details which they should have been given.

So delighted things are seeming to fall into place now. It should make things so much easier all round.

Hope they are now doing the job they are paid to do and that it relieves you of some of the stress.

Websailor

what a nightmare was yesterday

I was there in the morning, all seemed fine until I went to the upstairs loo, I noticed the 4-pack of Andrew cocoa-butter loo rolls I bought last week weren't where I put them (under the stool in plain view) so I checked the sink cupboard then the downstairs loo but promptly forgot about the mystery. Then about teatime my mother rang to say she'd pooed herself and could I go round and clean her up? I asked if the teatime carer had been and she said no, so I said she'd be there in a few minutes and she could ask her. I heard nothing else until later in the evening when my sister rang me. During the chat she mentioned that the teatime carer had rung her at work (? I was here and am first-call) asking Yvonne to bring some Tena ladies to the house for Mum. I thought, eh? I bought 2 packs last week, enough for 3 weeks. I told Y this, then asked her if she'd shifted the new toilet rolls I'd bought. No. She then asked me if I'd moved any of Mum's jewellery for safe-keeping. My heart sank. No, I hadn't, but I had got her purse which I carry around with me to use to buy her things. Y reported that she'd gone to check Mum's jewellery and all her rings are gone. Today I am going to search the house, see if Mum has moved them, before we go to the police to report them missing.

Oh blimey - it never rains . . .

I really hope your Mum has moved the stuff as the alternative is too dreadful for words. Sadly it is not uncommon.

Take care,

Websailor

That's stressful, GB. Hope it sorts itself.