And Finally...

[gness]

....after two months of interviews, phone calls, letters and assessments the Deprivation of Liberty folk have agreed that the best way to keep my mother safe in her chair in the home is........

....to continue using the lap belt.......☺

I wonder how much all this faffing cost......and yes.....I know vulnerable people have to be protected but this could have been agreed at the very first interview in December.

They had asked the home staff and us to think of alternatives to the lap belt.....best I could come up with was a taser gun.......x

[anneasquith]

No winners no losers no change, but lots of money wasted .

[gness]

Exactly, Anne.....and my mother and her family weren't the only ones having to do this......so lots of money that could have been better used......

Still......we have until December before we have to do it all again I believe......x

[anneasquith]

So till December to help avoid a fractured limb . !!!!

[ubasses]

Still with you on this one Gness, the decision I got is that it was for the best to keep Mum in bed for her own safety. If she is awake for 2 out of every 24 hours it's a good day!!!. She cannot even sit up without flopping to one side or forwards.

[Mamyalynne]

It's an incredible waste of money and resources and only puts pressure on the family and the person being cared for too.

[gness]

Frustrating isn't it, Ubassess....my brother and I have been looking after Mum for over ten years now.......we've seen every step of the Alzheimer's and tried to make her life the best we possibly can as the condition has worsened.....

Yet a lass can, after interviewing me and trying to have a very shouty talk with my mother who neither moves much nor speaks, decide we are doing something wrong and she tries to change it.....to something we don't think is safe or comfortable.....

Mamya....this did make me cross. A chat with the home manager told me how many cuts are being made to the hours of social workers who were being really useful.....and then they spend money and hours on this......x

[woofgang]

I am glad you got the result you wanted but For Funks Sake!

[ubasses]

We seem to be having parallel lives, I have been in exactly the same position, also for 10 years, only it is Vascular Dementia. Watching the deterioration has been heartbreaking and as Mum can no longer talk I the Social Worker just noted that there was a small response when I spoke to her.
Two of my yearly interviews have been with a Freelance Social Worker. so goodness knows how much that is costing.

[gness]

It's the only sensible result, Woof......x

I've yet to have a Freelance Social Worker, Ubasses.....though we are to have somebody appointed to us.....well to my brother....they don't have the "framework" to appoint both of us......☺

One paragraph in this latest letter tickled me......the person who wrote it says......I concede that this legal process is both cumbersome and complicated and does give rise to questions from residents and family members who are happy with the care being provided........☺

[Patsy33]

Absolutely ridiculous, all this untold stress they're putting on families. What a terrible waste of time and money too. RIP common sense!

[gness]

Indeed, Patsy......my brother was abroad for work meetings at the time of the first interview.....I asked the social worker to deal with me til he returned..but no.....she was calling him on his mobile with questions......such a waste....x

[marval]

What a daft waste of money and time. All that worry for nothing.

[gness]

It was frustration more than worry I think, Marval.......this home is good and the carers are brilliant with my mother......yet this social worker began to make them feel they weren't giving their best...

In fact, she said to me that we had to make sure they never did anything that would be bad for my mother just to make life easier for them.....I did tell her I'd have noticed during my regular visits over the last years.....x

[Tilly2]

I'm glad that's been sorted.......for now, Gness. It is so frustrating!

[carolegif]

Terrible disease, watched my lovely mother who sang, played the piano and danced, slowly fade away both mentally and physically before our eyes. Still miss her smile and vitality every day.

[gness]

For now, Tilly.......unless the rules are changed somehow.....x

It's awful, Carole....a friend and I visited the other day and just stayed by the bed......no eye contact this time.....no response.....just her fingers twitching......I hate it......so cruel....x

[wolf63]

My dad had a solution to the problem of dementia - "Blue pill" he would say. Luckily he died before it became an issue.