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Elderly parents

Advise needed

6 replies

Lightuptheroom · 22/02/2021 08:01

Mil admitted to hospital from a care home after a fall mid week, fractured hip.
Phone call after op, she's had a heart attack, has pneumonia and is on IV antibiotics and oxygen. Information minimal when we call, no visiting allowed.
Call via DH brother this morning that she's had another fall in hospital, again no information, again no visiting allowed. 92 years old and with a diagnosis of dementia made last July. What can we do and how do we find out what's going on when they aren't answering the phone?

OP posts:
LeaveMyDamnJam · 22/02/2021 09:06

Can you get her GP involved or the responsible person at her care home . I imagine they haven’t put the bars up on her bed - it requires paperwork if I remember correctly- I would request this as a minimum to keep her safe. A second fall at hospital is outrageous.

I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. I brings back memories of my DF. He had two long stays in hospital with pneumonia whilst in advanced dementia. He survived both pneumonia infections.

CrotchetyQuaver · 22/02/2021 09:16

I'm not sure about you'd go about finding out more details about the falls, but I do know that a hospital stay can completely pull the rug out from under them mentally. It did to my DM, tipped her over the edge really.
I'm guessing you've tried calling at different times to see if they answer? Is it possible to ask to speak to her consultant? I do recall from my mums last hospital stay that unless you spoke to the named nurse doing her care, you wouldn't get much information.

I would suspect that she's so confused, she's won't settle and is constantly getting up. My mum ended up in a ward bay with constant supervision to prevent further falls. It was very sad to see all those agitated old ladies trying to get home.

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/02/2021 11:50

If you have PoA for Health and Welfare, make sure they know about it.

Would it be worth speaking to PALS, complain about safeguarding (failure to prevent fall) and lack of communication?

And speak to GP and care home.

If she's 92, with dementia, and a broken hip, you would have imagined they would want to discuss care and level of intervention.

LIZS · 22/02/2021 11:57

It is normal for there to only be one point if contact, nominated next of kin. That may be your bil.

Yummymummy2020 · 22/02/2021 12:15

Definitely put in a complaint ASAP, this will draw attention to the situation and likely get you a lot more interaction regarding her care. It is standard that staff only want one point of contact and if that is BIL be best if he does the complaint also!

Hidinginstaircupboard · 07/03/2021 22:02

She's in hospital so GP won't get involved. The hospital will be contacting her NOK from her file not multiple relatives. (The ward staff really don't have time to ring round multiple relatives) So if your brothers name is on her medical file, he needs to contact them and keep you up to date. It's different times right now, due to COVID restrictions, because in the normal scheme of things prior to Covid you'd have been able to visit her on the ward.
I know it's frustrating and scary, she sounds extremely unwell. They'll be treating her illness and trying to get her well again. They won't want her to stay in hospital longer than necessary.

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