I have read many of the accounts by wonderfully caring and compassionate people and can identify the problems they and their loved ones endure. I too became exhausted looking after my husband Terry with PD from the year 2000. This has a significant cognitive impact in the later stages, which has speeded up during lockdown. His care was undertaken by a reputable Nursing home in 2017 after nearly dying with a pulmonary embolism. This is steadily taking all our accrued savings until we get to the statuary £23000 when we might! get assistance. Apart from this worry I have campaigned through Alzheimer’s and other voices for access to our loved ones during this last year which has had a horrendous effect on my husband. I have been told that things have changed within the care home system with exercise and stimulation being practically absent alongside minimal opportunities for visits. Meals and meds are the basis of care now. Plus on line contact- what a joke ! Touch is the most important part of any visit.
The new emphasis does seem wrong and illogical even though the one carer access is now allowed one wonders why this was stopped in the first place.
I do admire those taking the brunt of the caring duties like David, I hear your voices.
I look back at the time when I was in the same position and I recognise how much more the government could have done to help with prioritising extra funding and respite.
There is a lot to be done on all fronts to look after the elderly, who have contributed so much to the life of this nation and world we live in. I will never stop speaking up about this.
Dementia Support Line
Paula Bullent
saysI have read many of the accounts by wonderfully caring and compassionate people and can identify the problems they and their loved ones endure. I too became exhausted looking after my husband Terry with PD from the year 2000. This has a significant cognitive impact in the later stages, which has speeded up during lockdown. His care was undertaken by a reputable Nursing home in 2017 after nearly dying with a pulmonary embolism. This is steadily taking all our accrued savings until we get to the statuary £23000 when we might! get assistance. Apart from this worry I have campaigned through Alzheimer’s and other voices for access to our loved ones during this last year which has had a horrendous effect on my husband. I have been told that things have changed within the care home system with exercise and stimulation being practically absent alongside minimal opportunities for visits. Meals and meds are the basis of care now. Plus on line contact- what a joke ! Touch is the most important part of any visit.
The new emphasis does seem wrong and illogical even though the one carer access is now allowed one wonders why this was stopped in the first place.
I do admire those taking the brunt of the caring duties like David, I hear your voices.
I look back at the time when I was in the same position and I recognise how much more the government could have done to help with prioritising extra funding and respite.
There is a lot to be done on all fronts to look after the elderly, who have contributed so much to the life of this nation and world we live in. I will never stop speaking up about this.