MY SISTER, CAROLE

[mariana44]

I spoke again to Carole yesterday, and I thought that this subject now needed a separate thread.

She has taken herself off the morphine, and sounded much better and more like her old self.

But the care she is getting is far from ideal.

Firstly she had someone from Occupational therapy, who insisted that Carole should get up and go in the kitchen to make a pot of tea, and do the washing up--despite the hospital stressing that she had to have bed rest for at least 2 weeks, and NO weight bearing on her leg that had been operated on for at least another 6 weeks. This "lady" appeared to have no knowledge of this, and more or less implied that Carole was making excuses not to get up, believe me, that is the last thing Carole would do.

As for the carers--words fail me--one of them was a man, which she was not happy about--especially when he bought a bowl of water for her to wash with, and bought in the cloth she used to clean the bathroom, to use as a flannel, despite there being fresh clean ones available--then he watched her all the time she washed herself ! Then he decided to explore the bungalow ! He could have been looking round to see if there was anything valuable, pass the info to his mates, knowing that Carole is not mobile. It is no wonder she could not sleep that night.

They did not seem to do anything, not even rearrange her bedclothes, even though they were both there for half an hour, they just made her toast and tea. Then they left---leaving the milk out of the fridge, the fridge door open,the few dishes unwashed in the sink, the back door left open, the bathroom light on. Carole nearly fell over trying to shut the back door--if she had, she would never have got up on her own. I have advised her to get one of those emergency buttons that you wear round your neck, and Susannah is looking into this. Susannah has also complained about these carers, so maybe things will improve.

But I just wonder , why are these people in the "care" profession--as they obviously do not care. Carole has had a nightmare year, after leaving her husband after 49 years of marriage, with just the clothes she stood up in. Since then she has had no help from him, not a penny, despite him buying a car at £17,000, a Motor home at £50.000, a 3 week Christmas Mediterranean cruise, £2000.00 on new clothes,yet Carole is relying on benefits to get by. She deserves better. I know that they do not know this, but just basic care would suffice.

[Marian]

Sorry to hear Carole isn't getting the care she needs since coming home from hospital Marian, the carers sound very unsympathetic and careless.
The Occupational therapist was obviously visiting to see how much Carole could do for herself, as with any operation these days all patients are encouraged to do this as soon as possible to guard against deep vein thrombosis. Has she been supplied with crutches or sticks to help her mobiise?
What was actually wrong with her foot, as it seems strange to send a patient home on morphine? It could been causing her confusion, and it's good news to hear she has come off it now.
I hope her care improves after the complaint.

[karl]

Marian I have heard (and seen on tv) so much about so called "Carers" when their attitude seems to be "dont' care". Imagine leaving the fridge open and the back door unlocked - I often wonder if they have a brain?

Also the therapist shouuld have known what treatmenet Carole had and acted accordingly, I hope Carole did not do what she asked and perhaps damage her leg even more.

I hope the complaint is acted upon, sometimes it's the only way to get things done. However afer the terrible bed sores that Jim had I have no faith at all in any "carers". That happened six months before Jim died and they still had not cleared up proeperly when he passed away.

[john]

I am sorry Carole isn't getting the care that she should be getting. She has had a rough time recently, with one thing and another, Marian. I am glad she is feeling better in herself and hope she makes a full recovery very soon.

[mariana44]

Thanks John , Karl and Marian for your concern, I am quite worried as to how she will progress.

Marian, I think Carole has a frame on wheels to get about--she could not have crutches or anything like that because of the bad arthritis in her hands.

She had an operation on her foot to fuse 3 bones together--again something to do with the arthritis in her foot. She is definately better now that she has stopped the morphine--I think she was afraid that she would get confused and overdose, and she did not trust the carers to give her medication properly, as she is on quite a lot of different things.

In the hospital, they were giving her morphine along with paracetomol, which sounds strange, and I think that now she is just taking the paracetomol, but I know she does not like taking extra tablets , as she is on so many that have been presribed, plus injections for the arthritis.

My sister has been through a lot, and she is strong willed---but she is coming up to 70, so it is getting harder for her.

[Eman]

Thoughts and prayers going out to your sister Carole and you Mariana. Stay strong and hope all works out.

[mariana44]

Thanks Eman, it is a worrying time for us all.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

So sorry to hear about Caroles after hospital care treatment Marian. This has been less than satisfactory. It seems that there has been no liaison between the carers...such as they are, and the Occupational Therapist who's aim it is to help patients to get mobile and able to cope as soon as possible,
We know what a tough time she has had in so many ways these past few years, but we wish her well, and hope things will improve for her very soon.

[mariana44]

Thanks Harry & Lena. I have just spoken to Carole, and she is sounding really bright, and says she is feeling well.

She has mimimum care from the carers now--just breakfast, but again they do not wash up--luckily she has a neighbour pop in to make her a cup of tea half way through the morning, and her family is taking it in turns to go round at night for her evening meal, so I think things are improving. She is lucky in her new bungalow, as she has made a few good friends, alythough she has only been there 8 months, and it makes a big difference to have someone to rely on. Her dog Robson is staying with Susannah, so that is not a problem either.

On the whole things are looking up.

[maureen & harry]

We are back now from a lovely holiday on the Southwest coast of Scotland and have been reading the posts on the forum to catch up with the news.

It was sad to read about your sister Mariana but it seems now that she is getting better care and it's so good that her friends and family are helping out and looking after her.

Hope Carole continues to improve.

[Eman]

Glad to hear Carole is doing better Mariana.

[john]

Very pleased that Carole is feeling better, Marian.

[karl]

That IS good news Marian.

[ROBERT M.]

Pleased things are improving Marian ........what you said in your first post Marian was absolutely terrible

[Marian]

Good news about Carole Marian. Here's to a speedy recovery.