Just had the care home call I've been dreading

[lollipoprainbow]

Mum has tested positive for Covid, she's 83 and has mixed dementia. The home have managed to keep it at bay for so long but it's rife. So worried and sad, love my mum so much.

Oh OP, I’m so sorry. I can only imagine the worry you have had and will now face.

Sending positive thoughts your way. I wish I could say something more reassuring. 💐 ❤️

I'm so sorry to hear that! Have you been able to see her much throughout the pandemic? You never know, she may be asymptomatic or have a very mild case of it. I really hope she makes a full and swift recovery 🤞🏼

I’m so so sorry. How is she symptom-wise? How advanced is her dementia?

I know it's hard, my grandma was in exactly the same boat. She was fine, even in this age group with other factors many people are absolutely fine.

Does she have symptoms or was it just a routine test?

Please don't think 'this is it, this is the end.'

I work in a care home and many of our residents who catch covid have a mild case and recover quite quickly.

Not the same for everyone but please don't think it is the only ending.
It may not be.

My best friend’s mum and dad who are a similar age had it recently and both recovered quickly with no complications. I was so pleased to hear about an elderly couple who had been fine. I hope this helps at all OP and raises your spirits a bit, so sorry to hear this

I'm so sorry. I don't know how dementia affects Covid but I know people in their late eighties who have coped well with it. One of them was barely ill.

If it’s any reassurance to you OP, my 98 year old grandfather had it in his care home last year and recovered well

Sorry to hear this, best wishes and prayers for you DM.

My friend works in a care home, all residents tested positive 2 weeks ago, only one had symptoms, but stayed at care home and they’ve all recovered. I hope your dear Mum recovers.

Has she had a vaccine yet? She could have it v mild or asymptomatically if so.

I work for social services and I've had many service users 80plus who have all been absolutely fine. I'd say most of them have to be fair.

Fingers crossed for your mum.

Thanks all she is at the later stages of dementia, she had her vaccine last week so won't be fully immune yet sadly. Fingers crossed she has it mildly.

Sorry you’ve had this call. I’ll keep everything crossed 🤞 hopefully she will not have symptoms and recover quickly.

Sorry you had this call, my 89 year old MIL tested positive a couple of weeks ago whilst in hospital, she has been moved again and is now in a care home with a covid section to finish her isolation. After that she will have some R&R on the main part. Wouldn't know she had it.

Have they told you what the plan is?

I work in care, one of the homes I worked in last year all 13 residents on one wing had it, I was convinced they would all die, all 85+, lots of other things wrong with them, one is on oxygen. They are all still there don't lose hope.

Hi OP - so sorry to hear this. I know you will be worried but just to say my 92 year old Nana, who has dementia and diabetes and is bed bound, tested positive. Obviously we were all very worried but she stayed completely asymptomatic the whole time.

I know it is worrying but you just don’t know how it will affect people and some do have it milder. I will be rooting for you and keep everything crossed it is the same for your Mum. Xx

I had this call 12 days ago - very similar, Mum 83, dementia, had had vaccine 5 days earlier.....

She is now recovering well. Serious delirium and tiredness but nothing else. Now just tired, a bit confused and getting better every day. THERE IS HOPE... and most people this age do recover... I cant remember the figures but it is I think over 85% who do recover.

The one thing I did do was make sure the GP gave her a Vitamin D prescription as she was only on 400 IU a day... she happily upped it to 20,000 IU a week for a course of 12 weeks. Took a couple of days but did set my mind at rest ... especially since France automatically gives all new Covid cases 50,000-100,000 IU of Vitamin D on diagnosis.

The home were brilliant - their main focus was on keeping her hydrated and a wonderful Mumsnetter suggested I take in some of her favourite drinks - so I did, like Lychee Rubicon. They also gave her extra Ensure as she lost her appetite and wasn't eating.

Really good luck - I so feel for you ... I had endless sleepless nights but it really helped when one of her carers who looked after her 4 or 5 days out of every 7 was able to ring me every couple of days. I don't know if that is something you can arrange? It took a while for me ... initially I just had assistant manager who didnt know my Mum but kept trying to reassure me that because she was so tiny she wouldn't get really ill.

One of the toughest things was not being able to go in and hug her or hold her hand..... Be kind to yourself through these days. They'll be tough, so just helping yourself take it easy does help

Thanks all I just feel so helpless not being able to see her or do anything, also not knowing which way it is going to go, all very worrying.