Hospital V Nursing Home

[horseshoes]

My Mum died a few weeks ago aged 86. she was very fit and well right up to the day she had a heart attack. She was sole carer for my Dad (88) who has Parkisnons disease (or so we thought). Since the day she died, he has given up. He took to his bed and doesn't eat. We did have carers coming In 3 times a day but then he started getting really, REALLY bad shakes. We called the doctor acouple of times. and the carer called the paramedics a couple of times. We've seen him during and after these episodes and its very scary.it's ALWAYS been assumed its the Parkinson's. To be honest the care he's received for that is practically NIL. Anyway then last time the GP came she asked if hed like to go to hospital!!! he said yes, so off he went. While there he had a very bad episode of these shakes, and someone decided to give him a scan which has revealed a large cancerous tumour behind his eyes and metastatic tumours in brain. Yes not having treatment, just symptom management. So possibly that which was causing the ever worsening shaking. He's now blind and his speech is very bad. The hospital is pestering us to find a nursing home but we'd prefer him to stay in hospital even if they move him to the community hospital in the next town. Can they make us take him out of hospital?

[horseshoes]

Thank you Anne

[tinkerbell23]

Keep in touch!!!

X

[Peter Pedant]

// Calmck yes we've considered that but he doesn't want that. //
//I’m sure the hospital where your father is have a social work department. A discussion with them may be of benefit. I hope your father is pain free and settled . //

I agree - your dads wants and needs are important and he should be in discussion with the hospital social

since he is terminal - I think a consuilt with the palliative doctors seems sensible

and get PALS involved. and yes if they arent treating they can say - look there is somewhere else where he is better off

[rowanwitch]

When my husband was dying the options were limited by his choice but in our area there are some nursing homes with sub units classed as extra care which have a higher staffing ratio. They are hard to find but usually prioritise patients from acute settings and have close links to the hospitals.

[Peter Pedant]

a lot of nursing homes say they dont do palliation

[rowanwitch]

They can provide good care and the local community palliative care team will usually come in to support, either nurses from the hospice or Macmillan.

[murraymints]

so very sorry to read your news..Hospices are really very bright and strangely cheery places....an option in your area ?

[horseshoes]

Thanks all. I spoke to the nurse yesterday about the palliative care and she said at present, they're managing his care but the palliative team would be called in as and when necessary. There is a possibility that they will move him to the community hospital. She said he's still able to take his medication (for the fitting) but if that becomes an issue then he will be given patches. I asked again about his life expectancy but again, she couldn't say, but she added that he is deteriorating quite rapidly. There is a hospice about 30 miles away Minty. The one in our area is just a day hospice.

[anneasquith]

The most important issue at the present time is dad, comfortable and pain free.? Communication between yourself, nursing/ medical staff is vital, good luck .