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Can my mum get any help in caring for my dad in advanced stages of Parkinsons?

10 replies

busyboysmum · 16/12/2012 21:08

Just wondering if there is anyone out there who knows what help is available.

My dad is 86 and in the advanced stages of Parkinsons - mum is 70 but has a bad back. She does everything for him but recently he has started freezing and is currently unable to move at all. This has been for the last 5 days. She is having real problems getting him up in the morning and putting him to bed - is there anywhere she can go to get help with this?

Thanks in advance.

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msrisotto · 16/12/2012 21:10

Yeah, contact social services, depending on where you live, they can take ages, but they're there to help.

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Lifeisontheup · 17/12/2012 16:40

Not actual help I know but make sure she's getting attendance allowance, it's not means tested and would perhaps help her to pay for some help.

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FireOverBethlehem · 17/12/2012 16:46

Get her to see her GP - they can involve social services - your mother is entitled to a carer's assessment in her own right.

Also, some people who freeze with Parkinson's find that a sharp noise jolts them into getting moving again, something like a whistle or a clap. your mother could try that as well, but really if she's struggling to get him into / out of bed, they need to have a hoist and support to get him dressed.

Big hugs for you and your parents - Pd is a shitty disease for the whole family involved.

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CiderwithBuda · 17/12/2012 17:01

The Parkinsons Society is apparently very helpful. A lady I know said they have been very helpful to her.

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busyboysmum · 17/12/2012 20:26

Thanks everyone, we came back from the shops today to find him in a real mess. He had frozen and slid right down his chair, almost out of it and was stuck like that for 2 hours, complete nightmare for him. His back is agonisingly painful. We had to call an ambulance and he is now at the hospital with my mum, I'm waiting for her to call me.

We did call the Parkinsons nurse and she is coming round on Wednesday to reassess him as he was doing brilliantly considering until really recently. She has put in the paperwork to get my mum some help. I will of course do everything I can as well. It's so upsetting to see him like this and he doesn't complain, he is so good at putting up with it. My poor mum, she is never going to be comfortable leaving the house now.

Thanks for the hugs as well, I need them tonight.

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msrisotto · 17/12/2012 21:29

Big hugs busyboysmum, it must be horrible for you as well x

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gingeroots · 22/12/2012 21:32

oh dear OP ,sounds very hard .

Ask SS if they have a pendant alarm scheme that he could have .

Good luck and hugs .

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Em2010 · 22/12/2012 21:37

Really sorry op. Big hugs. My parents are in the same situation. Dm won't let me get anyone to help. So frustrating. I hope you can find some help and support x

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Em2010 · 22/12/2012 21:38

Really sorry op. Big hugs. My parents are in the same situation. Dm won't let me get anyone to help. So frustrating. I hope you can find some help and support x

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busyboysmum · 30/12/2012 19:55

Ah thanks Em, turns out his bad back was in fact a broken disc in his back hence the extreme pain he was in. It took 10 days in hospital and 3 scans to determine this, now he is pretty much sedated on morphine, not looking good I'm afraid as he is so frail from the Parkinsons, I'm not sure how they are going to treat it as so far we have not managed to see a doctor with it being Christmas and New Year there seems to be a suspension of normal staffing.