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

I found Mum fast asleep on the sofa this morning and when I woke her up, she asked what I was doing there, when I told her it was morning, she said she'd been waiting all night for her carer and no-one had been. I checked the carer notes and yes, they'd been, although both logged concerns. The morning carer said her bed looked like it hadn't been slept in and the evening carer last night couldn't get her anti-biotic down her (Mum kept boking). My brother's texted me asking me to bring the bed back down from the spare bedroom so Mum can sleep downstairs. This is the bed Ian & I just moved upstairs at Mum's request because she couldn't stand looking at it, and we did it before Ian's double-hernia op. I can't manage it myself and there's no way I'd let Ian do anything like that yet. It doesn't have a mattress anyway, as we had an air mattress on load and that was collected when the bed was dismantled. I have no idea what to do other than order a magic wand, if anyone can tell me where they're on sale?

air mattress on load = air mattress on loan

You could ring the Red Cross, they used to lend stuff out, or maybe St John's could help in some way. Failing that Social Services. You can't get trying to move a bed on your own. Are there no neighbours who would give you a hand?


I am sorry you are having it so tough. Take care,

Websailor

could have posted earlierbut couldn't offer any form of adviceand this post is just to say I'm

So sorry GB! You shouldn't have to have these extra worries.

Websailor will probably tell me I've got this wrong; but she told me about an organisation some years ago; and I think this is it - may be worth a try anyway.




http://www.freecycle.org/group/uk/

I managed to get a memory foam single mattress from the same place we'd got the bed base from, and the two chaps who delivered it brought the bed base downstairs for me.

I ordered a chair from Eden Mobility over the phone, they seemed to know exactly what was required and it was delivered on Friday. Mum's happy with it

Mum had other visitors on Saturday which gave me the afternoon off and my niece from Nottingham wrote a nice report for me in my Carer's Log which I appreciated. My sister also visited with her mother-in-law Hazel, whose birthday it was. Hazel spent Christmas Eve, Day & Boxing Day at Yvonne's house, same amount of time as Mum did, when the alarm bells first went off about her behaviour. I swopped texts with Yvonne this morning, asking what Hazel thought of Mum's deterioration since she last saw her. Yvonne said Hazel thought Mum looked well. I wonder where she was looking

I had a night out with Ian's family on Saturday - a lovely meal in the Coach House in Humberston, I had beef lasagne followed by Coach House Mess (a variation on Eton Mess) which was and I was also on the Malibu as Ian's grandson had given us a lift to the Coach House. At 3am Sunday morning Mum's carelink bracelet fell off her wrist and the company called Mum, asked if she was OK, she said yes and why were they calling her at 3am? They said her bracelet had come off and she got upset because she couldn't reattach it, they asked if she wanted them to phone me up... good job they didn't as I couldn't have driven. Mum seemed reassured when they told her that the morning carer could put the bracelet back on her wrist and she'd be ok until then.

I arrived at 9am this morning to find a brand-new carer struggling to find things how hard would it be for the firm to call me and ask me to be there to assist a new carer? it was sheer coincidence I arrived that early, I normally leave it until after 9am to avoid the multiple school-runs between my home and Mum's, but the kids are on holiday now (hence my shopping in Tescos at 7am on Saturday...)

Glad you got stuff sorted GB, and Scorp my lot is now called Freegle now, but it is a good way to get stuff, and get rid of stuff if need be.

Websailor

Doctor visited yesterday and left a sample bottle for urine collection. Which is easier said than done. Suffice to say it was this morning before I was able to trundle back to the surgery with said sample. This was after I found Mum in her pj top and bed jacket, and complaining loudly that this morning's carer was a new one who didn't know where her clothes were. I didn't even know (according to the carer rota, it wasn't a new name) she must have been a substitute. I redressed Mum then set off to deliver the package, unfortunately it's very hot & humid here and there were acres and acres of traffic all heading in the opposite direction to me, which I knew I'd face on the way back



When I finally got back to her, she was fast asleep. I woke her, made her a buttered a scone and come home for a break.

Happy Yorkshire Day from me and the Yorkshire girl.

Do not pass Go - do not collect £200 - Just go up to the Sun Castle GB! Turn around, go down the steps onto the beach; and have a nice slow paddle in the shallows thinking calm thoughts.

this is a WHITE ROSE really!it's just blushing
my white rose was worn today

Managed to get some beans & sausage down her today, with a slice of buttered toast cut into bite-size pieces. I wish she wouldn't moan/complain so much! When I was changing her Tena Lady she said she never thought it'd come to this and one day I'll have to face it. Ahem.

GB, I really feel for you. My Mum is going through early onset herself and one of the symptoms is aggression.
When she's good she's fine, but other times I need to get out.

Be brave, and remember her as she was and just do your best.

As for the bed. I guess it'll be up and down like a barmaid's apron.

Contrariness.

and and caring



MMF

For Everyone in this situation I urge you to read this when things get too much and you feel like screaming or running (been there more than once) and take heart. I think there is a longer version of this but when time is of the essence I am sure you don't want a long diatribe.

to all of you coping with this sad situation:


http://nursing.uc.edu/centers/Look_Closer_See_Me/look_closer_see_mepoem.html

Websailor

F S

How very true WS! Like a lot of us - been tere too!

I'll save it for when I'm really down, thanks Webby.

Need I say how much I appreciate all the and and supportive words here. It means a lotand

braces - suspenders - elasticated bandages


here's some more supportive words

Mum has an appointment at the fracture clinic in the morning, at 9.05am, which means I'll have to collect her no later than 8.30am and then battle through rush hour traffic. And I've just seen the abysmal weather forecast. Oh joy. I'll be dashing between the raindrops into the hospital for a wheelchair, back to the car, collect Mum, back into the hospital, then the reverse for the trip home.

apologies, that was me, before I went to Mum's I was proof-reading and I forgot to log out as them and log back in as me.

Consider me slapped with a wet