Hospitalised & caught Covid

[Loopylou38]

Hi , I have posted on here previously regarding my dad that had a stroke nearly 6 weeks ago
He was doing so well with his recovery & physio albeit his mobility had declined he tends to lean to the left when walking .
He was number one to be discharged to rehab and had now lost that bed .

However last week shock , he tested positive for Covid and was moved into isolation where he quickly deteriorated into almost a coma sleeping , shaking it’s been an awful week and we didn’t see any chance of him coming out if it
He’s been on antibiotics and a fluid line .

However today what a surprise he’s perked up and was eating and drinking although his cognitive skills are not good things like holding a cup and his right arm is still shaking
we were told today he’s moving back to the normal ward which can’t be avoided but we are scared he’ll catch it again .

Ive been in touch with the hospital explaining that I would like him back on the rehab list as soon as possible so when he’s medically fit enough he can move
I’m really looking for advice from anyone that has had an elderly relative in hospital with Covid
Im not sure if my dad needs councilling as to what happened to a week of his life he doesn’t remember anything .

oh my goodness, how awful for your poor dad and family to go through this. Unfortunately, the NHS are stretched with staff absence and under funding. This is why I do not understand why they removed mask mandates for health care settings as it is a constant circle of covid infections in patients and staff. My uncle went in with serious health issues and caught covid, turns out the nurse who as treating him knew she had it but she was told to come in as they were short staffed but she wasn't wearing a mask!

I hope your Dad improves x

Rehab did help to a certain extent. He would improve but then each time he became ill again it was a major step back . I think it's very difficult for him to come to terms with being in a wheelchair, some days he can walk a few steps with the frame some days he can barely stand. I have to bear in mind that he is quite old now and the effects of the stroke are very significant. We try and look at quality of life, he likes to go out and see family. Hospital did make him depressed, he was there over six months, too ill to remember a fair bit of it but now says he won't go back no matter what.
He didn't get out of bed for three weeks with Covid but tbh the weakness of his muscles was always going to develop as the stroke was severe. Best wishes to your dad, best thing is probably to try and keep his spirits up, being disabled isn't the end of the world if you can still have a chat with your loved ones.

Sadly as has been said there aren't enough staff so the easiest and least time consuming option which is pads etc is taken. It is really heartbreaking and lots of elderly people deteriorate quickly and lose skills they've been working hard to upkeep for years. Hospital really isn't the best place for many of them, even if it's needed.

Sorry to hear about your dad.

Hi OP, I’m the general manager for medicine in our hospital and look after the Covid and stroke wards among others. I haven’t read the full thread, but he should be moved back to rehab ward asap after testing negative or the trusts IPC rules around Covid allow, firstly to free up space in the Covid area/isolation room, secondly because he needs to be in the right place. All stroke patients are meant to spend 80% of their time in hospital (from the second they arrive, not are admitted so this includes their time in ED) in the stroke/rehab ward and we are monitored (and financially penalised) based on this so they should be making every effort to return him. If not I would be expecting a “safari” ward round from the consultant/registrar or the outreach physio and OT teams from Stroke. You can ask for that if it’s not happening.

you can raise any concerns informally with Pals and they should help support you.

I agree totally funnelfan the whole thing for my dad is a nightmare he used to smoke like a chimney all his life and has copd I don’t know how he pulled through Covid he was so sick.
my mum in the same hospital 4 years ago and ended up in a nursing home double incontinent , vascular dementia she sadly passed away 3 weeks into lock down
I find myself doing the same thing with my dad getting to visit as often as I can as I work writing down notes etc a feeling of dread washes over me waking into this hospital .
I doubt dad will be able to go home either sadly
Hes now got constipation problems which he has never had before I’ve read catheters can cause this he’s going to end up double incontinent.

My dad was moved to she stroke ward out of isolation yesterday , he’s vunerable to infection although he does have a uti due to the catheter
However at least he can be amongst people instead of being isolated

I have been in touch with pals and they have been forwarding my emails to the ward sister
However I am worried about long term catheter as he could have ongoing problems with infection and if he goes into a care home will they be bothered to change the bag
My head is all over the place

I’m so stressed with all this , my dad contracted Covid on the 20th June , and while he didn’t have any continence issues and opened his bowels regularly the hospital said he had retention and fitted a urine catheter
it’s been in place since then they say that they’ve taken it off twice and they don’t try a 3rd time and that he’ll be discharged to rehab with it .
My dad doesn’t drink enough on the best of days & it was even worse when he was poorly
I don’t think that it’s in his best interests to permanently have a catheter and the longer it’s in the more reliant his body is becoming
He also was on the mend after Covid and now has a UTI due to Covid which is being treated and still the dr refuses to take the Catheter off
Amy advise on Where we stand with this please as I think they took it off and didn’t give him enough time to get going again naturally

We’ve got a meeting with the consultant tomorrow

I don't know where you stand re getting the catheter removed but want to wish you well for your meeting with the consultant tomorrow.

Thankyou , I think that we’re onto a losing battle to be honest , so many people enter hospital continent and leave incontinent
last week my dad was told to poo in his pad as there wasn’t a nurse to get the commode I went mad and emailed pals to put a complaint in to the sister of the ward
its disgusting how our elderly are treated where’s the dignity

soiling causes More problems and skin break down

I would say you absolutely have to take a stand against the issue of healthcare ‘professionals’ and care assistants not supporting continent patients in going to the lavatory or using a commode or bedpan. I had strong words with staff on this when my relative, now aged 93 was in hospital.

How often are you managing to visit? Are you stressing he must drink lots of water or weak squash, such as barley water. He needs to be properly hydrated to help with the UTI, constipation and his general well-being.

Is your dad getting out of bed and having physio every day?

How did the meeting go, @Loopylou38 ?

My mum caught covid in coronary care last November, she came home on the Wednesday with a temperature & tested positive on the Friday. She said staff were coughing & spluttering with no masks, leaning over patients.

Hi everyone ,Thankyou all so much for your replies and kind advice I’m at my wits end .

The meeting went ok yesterday but the consultant is still reluctant to remove the catheter to allow my dad to use the loo normally as he currently has a uti due to it .
He said that when my dad was very sick with Covid they done a scan and he was retaining urine hence they fitted a catheter
He said they have removed it twice and my dad has retention .
I don’t understand how this can happen so suddenly he was fine prior to Covid .
Im quite keen for them to try and remove it again but tbh the longer it’s in the less chance of him returning to normal .
My dad has never drank much fluid so when I visit which is every other day I’m constantly encouraging him to drink more , I will buy some barley water Thankyou for your advice .

They also can’t do a referral to rehab until he’s medically fit so this leaves him very vunerable to catching another infection it’s one big stress

I always wear a mask in the ward and wash my hands , I agree that the staff are coughing and splattering everywhere , I honestly think that masks should be worn in hospitals

so sorry for so many posts but I’m so grateful for all your advice

Virtually every elderley person I have seen recently ( as part of my job) has caught covid on recent hospital stays, it just still seems to be rife. Hope your dad is on the mend soon.

My dad is fully jabbed but never the less has been seriously ill, hospitals are the worst places for the elderly they can pick up infections which can be fatal

My dads suffering is unbearable at the moment it’s one thing after another

It’s a sad state of affairs in hospital at the moment. I don’t understand the logic of health care staff who are coughing and spluttering over sick patients and don’t think to wear a mask to at least try and reduce the risk of further infections.

There is no such thing as "fully jabbed".

Wow a woman in her 90s!

strongtsandcs Made of strong stuff my mum 🤞 She’s also had two heart attacks since.

“There is no such thing as "fully jabbed".” Doesn’t it just mean “had all the jabs available to him”? For me that’s 3, for DH that’s 4.

“Wow a woman in her 90s!” Dad got it when care homes were licked down, when he was 97. We didn’t think we’d see him again, but he got over it quickly.