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

Oh - poor Annie - that's the last thing you need. I hope your sister can support you and look after Mum until you're properly better.

Hope you feel better soon, but make the best of an enforced rest, I think you need it.

Websailor

Yes, my sister's been doing all she can, including last night she went round after working all day, washed and set Mum's hair ready for her birthday today. I'm still coughing & sneezing so I daren't go round.

happy birthday Mum (Violet)

Happy Birthday Violet!

Happy Birthday, Violet



lil x

Happy Birthday, Violet

Websailor

Happy birthday, Violet! The best of the day to you!

STOP copying me GB
don't you dare let yours go bronchial as mines done

I am not 100% better but my sister's just phoned, the morning carer rang her and told her Mum has soiled her bed and she (carer) didn't have time to strip the bed, put a wash on & remake the bed. As my sister's at work and I don't have a magic wandI'm off round there now. I'll try not to go near Mum in case I'm still infectious, although I do feel much better than I did and was hoping to get back to caring for Mum tomorrow, after a week off while recuperating. I'll be back soon, hope the kettle's on

What kind of carer has no time to care

Unfortunately, the kind of carer who has to use one of those electronic gizmos to clock on and off at each call. My neighbour is a carer (for the local authority) and is totally ed off with the system, which does not allow a minute over the allotted time at any one place. It's driving her to distraction and she is thinking seriously about packing it in; although she does love the job itself.

Ah, that kind. Yes, we have the same problems here as well. They only get time and pay for a certain amount of w*rk and that's it. But they really should be able to call somebody else than a relative who is sick herself

my son's carers are allocated a certain length of time per visit and they "clock in/out" on the phone

I have an old friend who is bedridden because the polio he caught as a newborn is returning. After struggling for many moons the powers that be have finally realized that they (and he) can no longer rely on his (few) friends helping him in and out of bed, carrying him to the loo in time, giving him showers and feeding him etc. So now they send both carers and around to make sure he's alright. And if one calls in sick they send somebody else. It's such a relief to us!

I've now been round to Mum's twice and got things in some semblance of order, including sticky labels on the packs of incontinence pants for day use. She's so pleased to see me back and told me off for doing jobs, saying I should rest. I come home to rest

Glad you are a bit better GB but be careful you don't relapse. I despair of 'care in the community' I really do.

Websailor

What Webby said!

I had 2 days pacing myself then yesterday I found the new staff rota for carers beginning that day (there are 4 per day, morning call 45 mins, lunch, tea and bedtime all 30 mins). The regular morning carer Pat wasn't on the list. But, there were 4 new carers listed, including 2 starting that day at teatime & the evening call. This left me no choice but to stay till teatime so I could show one of the new girls where everything was and tell her Mum's needs, etc. I know it's all in the care plan, but how on Earth do they have time to read it when they're logging in, logging out and having no travel time to get to their next destination? So it was 6pm that I left Mum. Night carer wasn't due till 8.20pm, but I did all I could, closed blinds & curtains, set up commode, washed all pots, brandy by the bed, left a note explaining that Mum sleeps downstairs in the dining room and please put a night pad on her.

Yesterday's lunch carer (a regular but not morning caller) was the one who covered for Pat on Mum's birthday. I asked her, calmly, if she realised that dressing Mum in knickers wasn't a great idea considering she's incontinent. She apologised profusely but said she'd read the previous day's morning carer's comments in their log and there was no mention of a Tena Lady. I checked the care plan with her and it said the morning caller had to dress Violet in clothes of her choice. No mention of a Tena Lady. Considering Mum has been incontinent since she left The Beacon at Easter I think that's a glaring omission. So, it was an accident, which I don't blame that carer for (she was truly mortified) but that didn't help my sister who, due to my being at home ill, turned up at my Mum's after working all day with a birthday for Mum, only to find her in sopping wet clothes and soaked chair that TWO CONSECUTIVE carers had failed to notice, the lunch call and the tea carer. We have now lodged an official complaint with the carer firm.

I've only just found all this out because I'm reading the backlog of the family carers log which my sister was continuing in my absence. They (sister & younger brother) also had to take Mum to the hospital GP Unit as she had blood on a pad that my sister freaked out about. Impacted bowel (again) lactulose subscribed (again) I know it's the codeine (for her cellulitis) making her constipated and I try to give her soluble paracetomol (on the care plan) rather than codeine. My blessed sister refused to allow anyone to contact me so I wouldn't worry and didn't mention anything that was going on during our texts to each other. She's so fraught that the joint birthday party for herself (the 10th) and Mum planned for today has been cancelled.

I'm off to Mum's now, but I'm leaving as soon as my younger brother arrives for his visit this afternoon, yesterday 9am-6pm almost wiped me out.

>>brandy by the bed<<

When my Dad was sent to the convalescent home, he was given his daily ration of whisky in a dispensary bottle, clearly measured off. They (my parents) thought this was really amusing, him being treated like a homeless drunk, but as he'd had his tot of whisky every day for 70 years, they allowed him to continue to do so. On the NHS.

My mother still keeps the bottle in her drinks cabinet as a souvenir.

Anyway - sorry to hear about this awful situation. Even if the carers are under stress, these do sound like very basic mistakes, and the first thing that they should check on when they get in the house.

GB, it seems to be the same with most care companies down here too.

Down here some can't read, can't use a microwave, don't know how to make a bed, or do even the simplest things. Most of yours sound not too bad.

i wonder if Fibergel (will check that out in a minute) would help your Mum. It is pleasant to take and worked for my other half.

Websailor