Cockroach cafe - Spring to Summer 2026

[FiniteSagacity]

New thread for us all to gather and have tea, cake and something from the stronger shelf as needed.

Keeping the cockroach name in honour of those who have graduated the thread in spite of the suggested thread names!

Hi I’m a lurker, only posted once before but read a lot and it helps. My dad is back in hospital with aspiration pneumonia and just waiting to see if the antibiotics work - have before. Mums heroically caring for his puréed diet, catheter, dementia, anxiety, immobility. I’m feeling rubbish for being hours away and no support. He’s 90 tomorrow. Bless him, he worried he’d not get to 90, I fear we are in be careful what you wish for space.

Ah the joy of the late night phonecall. DF phoned half an hour ago requesting that we come to the hospital because he had soiled the bed. Not doing any worse, just said he wanted some TLC. I have been up since 6am, was working 7am-6pm and then spent two hours sitting with him after work. DH was there from 9.30am for 5 hours today too. I of course told him that we would not be coming up to the hospital to provide TLC at midnight.

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne I suspect that the lorazepam issue is becoming one of 'yesterday's problems'. DM now seems to be getting less distressed, mainly I think because she is less aware.

In case it is of any use to anyone DD’s partner (he works for the Ambulance service) told me about an app called iStumble which takes you through what to do if you find someone who has fallen, whether you should lift them or not and it will alert emergency services. Disclaimer- I haven’t tried it out.

@GnomeDePlume wishing you strength and hoping you are at least managing to eat, drink and sleep x

@Mumbles12 I’m sorry to hear about your uncle and glad people remember him fondly. It is really hard your DM is left behind 💐

Welcome @Houseplantqueen and I hope you were able to mark your Dad’s birthday in some way.

Thanks @FiniteSagacity mum took him a 90 balloon and lots of cards today. DB, DSis and I plus families are all up at the weekend. He may be home by then, with 4x carers. If not, we can see him in hospital. Dietician visited today and advised there is no more that can be done, he needs to keep trying to eat purée and thickened foods and drinks, only other option is not eating. I’ve made a photo book of his life so hopefully he’ll get some enjoyment from that.