I am so cross and am probably being unreasonable, but I could scream!
My DAunt was recently sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour, her condition is terminal and I have been told that she has weeks to live. I am my DAunt’s only NOK as she doesn’t have a partner or children.
DAunt was recently moved from hospital to a nursing for palliative care. I had mixed feelings about the move because the nursing home is in tier 2 and has prohibited visiting, but I live very locally and am in tier 1. I considered having DAunt home with me but the hospital felt that I wouldn’t be able to cope as I have a very small family.
As a compromise, the nursing home agreed that I could visit once per day. DAunt’s room doesn’t have a window that can open and her view is the store cupboard. I have been allowed into the home with face mask and followed strict guidelines to stay 2 mtrs away and no touching. I stay in DAunt’s room when visiting and keep the door closed.
DAunt is bed bound, doubly incontinent and her only way of communicating is by facial expressions and saying yes. Staff keep expressing concern that she won’t drink and that she has developed another UTI. I have been taking a variety of fruit juices and cut up fruit, which she has enjoyed and I have been successful getting her to drink by encouraging, reasoning and a bit of nagging! Daunt won’t use sippy cup or straw, she will drink from a glass but spills a lot. I’m racking my brains what else I could try.
Today, I got caught in traffic on the way home from work and didn’t get to the nursing home until 5:50pm and was refused entry as it wasn’t convenient. I couldn’t understand the problem as I had previously arrived at the home at 4:30pm and left at about 6:50pm. I asked if DAunt had been drinking today, which she hasn’t.
I realise these are unusual times and I am really lucky to be able to visit, but surely in these circumstances they could make an exception. The hospital visiting times in the evening were 6pm to 8pm, which I was able to do, but I work and find it difficult to visiting the afternoon. I am so worried about her and hate her thinking that I have forgotten about her.
Wish bloody Covid would bog off!!!