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Elderly parents

Another rocky road ahead.....

5 replies

skyblue11 · 30/05/2013 15:35

My mum is 79, we lost Dad to Dementia (DLB) 3 years ago. Since then she has gone downhill. I took her to the GP on Monday due to my concerns about her being confused. The GP also thought she wasn't her usual self and thankfully has given her a really comprehensive round of tests. Bloods, urine, 2 x rays, ashtma clinic, mini-mind with the nurse plus a referral to a psychiatrist which I found the most worrying and also the falls clinic and asked me to get Social services do to a full needs assessment. Most worrying is she is so frail and weighs just 5.5 stone (she was 6.5 stone last year). So much to worry about....hopefully things will be clearer soon, although she is refusing to let me take her for xrays at the moment! She is very obstinate it's difficult to help someone like this. I am very afraid for the future especially after losing my Dad to this awful disease.

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CMOTDibbler · 30/05/2013 15:51

I'm so sorry to hear that Sky, but it does sound like her GP is on the case to get your mum the help she obviously needs.

On her weight, did the GP talk about starting her on the supplement drinks like Ensure? They provide a lot of calories in a little drink.

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skyblue11 · 30/05/2013 16:05

Hi CMOT, I did mention this to the GP and my Mum refused these drinks, she said she didn't like them. I have bought her loads of 'ready meals' at least she won't have to put much effort into them.
Personally I think she needs them she must be vitamin deficient I think...

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CMOTDibbler · 30/05/2013 17:44

Is there anything she really likes to eat or drink? Thinking of icecream, bought milk shakes, chilled latte, that sort of thing? Anything that might tempt her to eat/drink something quite high calorie and with plenty of protein in.

Mind, I'm no expert as the only thing my mum is reliably eating is jaffa cakes atm. I've asked dad to get ensure prescribed, but he hasn't as yet so I must do a Boots order online to be delivered

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skyblue11 · 31/05/2013 11:27

I bought her some latte's high fat type but unsure what she actually likes at the moment, it's really hard.

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ssd · 31/05/2013 16:16

my mum could have eaten sweets and cakes all day, when I'm in the supermarket I always find you cant get near the sweeties for all the little old women round them..its hard getting them to eat a proper meal, I used to buy the M&S meals for one for my mum, I thought at least theres some goodness in them