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Elderly parents

Dad stuck on an acute ward for three weeks four days no physio please help

29 replies

MissTriggs · 15/03/2016 21:55

Dad (80) had his first fall and broke his hip three weeks and four days ago. he got a hip replacement within a day but reacted badly to the anaesthetic and has had episodes of confusion/depression since then plus he got a urinary tract infection. He has a diagnosis of dementia and because of this staff seem to have low expectations of his prospects for mobility. His mental states are hugely variable - he veers from total withdrawal to chatting lucidly about recent events (he has no short term memory loss which is why I suspect his Alzheimers dx is wrong but till now that hasn't mattered as he and mum got access to support groups they enjoyed, etc). He was fully mobile before he tripped and the hip has healed well.

He is bed-blocking in an acute ward but from our point of view the problem is that he is getting no support to stand. He was walking easily before the trip. He has stood once or twice on a zimmer but this ward is not equipped to spend the necessary time to help him.

Two weeks ago it was decided he should go to rehab. One rehab facility turned him down. They are waiting for a place at another one.

My mum is obviously at breaking point, being frail herself.

She has money but it's like being stuck in an airport for three weeks - you don't leave because you keep thinking "oh, I'd better not walk out now because it's about to end..."

Any advice on what we as a family can do? He can't go home until he's stronger as can't yet walk to the loo and mum is too frail to meet all physical needs.

OP posts:
GooseberryJam · 16/03/2016 09:34

I would focus on getting him back on the OT list and getting better treatment on the ward. Make a nuisance of yourself with management. Say you want to complain and you want him back on the OT list immediately and until he actually goes to rehab. Then there will be more incentive for management to find him a suitable place as they'll want to not have you chivvying them about him all the time. Who on the ward or elsewhere have you spoken to about it all?

MissTriggs · 16/03/2016 09:27

Bumpx
:(

OP posts:
MissTriggs · 15/03/2016 22:12

Just checked with mum.

It's worse than I thought.

Two community rehab centres have rejected dad because he has a buzzer under his bed to tell them if he falls and the rehab centres don't have these - they don't have beds with rails.

At the moment they are not offering any alternative and the OTs have stopped coming into to see him. He is off the OT list but on the rehab list but the rehab people won't take him. He is in limbo.

OP posts:
ApologiesToInsectLife · 15/03/2016 22:00

Did they say why he was turned down by the first rehab place? Is there any indication how long till he goes to another one?