Elderly Mother......

[yelenots]

A couple of weeks ago my mother was taken into A & E with back pains, had an xray, blood tests then given Iron and Paracetamol and sent home!
Today we have been back to A & E after she couldnt get out of the bathroom for the severe back pain - after more blood test and another xray it has now come to light she has a fracture on a vertebrae. She has been sent home again with more paracetamol and Ibuprofen and I have been advised to get some help for her . Is this all that can be done for her - she has osteoporosis.
Does anyone know how I go about getting help for her around the house, do I need to speak to her Dr first?
Thanks :)

[ubasses]

Speak to her doctor and ask him to get social services involved, they can provide care in the home on a temporary basis until she can manage. depending on her circumstances she may have to make a financial contribution. they won't take her house into the equation though.

[DTCwordfan]

Go to another hospital................that is disgraceful.

[yelenots]

ubasses.... do you know if the care can start immediately? What made me laugh this afternoon is the young lady Dr told my mum not to do any heavy lifting & strenuous excersise....shes 88 years old and can only just about to get around! My mum is deaf as a post but the Dr insisted on talking to her and not me...treated me as though I was interferring!

[ubasses]

when my mum required it , it was in place within days. I cannot say it was good though, but every area is different

[yelenots]

Thanks

[ubasses]

Have you thought about asking for respite care in a care/nursing home. Unfortunately mum had to go into one permanently but it is fantastic

[yelenots]

I am going to phone her Dr tomorrow to discuss the options...thats if he'll speak to me with all that patient confidentiality thing!

[ladyalex]

I do not think that there is anything to stop you from contacting Social Services yourself.
They will (should) have a 'Care of the Elderly' Team who will (should) help you and your Mum.
Obviously, speak to her Dr too, but do not let getting through to him/her delay you from speaking to Social Services.
Have you tried looking at your Local Council's website ? If they have one it will probably list the services they provide and how to access them.
They should also have an 'out of hours' or emergency service so that , if, God forbid, Mum deteriorates before you can get things fixed up, you shoudl be able to make contact with someone who can help.
Good luck and all the best.

[yelenots]

Thank you - I'll look at their website now - fortunately she lives in a purpose built retirement flat so she has the pully cords to alerts someone if necessary. Thanks

[Eve]

Oh bless her heart! If they don't provide the help she needs (which I hope they do) while she recovers, would a stay in somewhere who could care for her be an option for her, make sure she is warm, clean, fed and looked after and has people about whenever she needs them?

Do you think it would be a shorter or longer term thing?

[nooops]

You might also consider setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney so you can be actively involved in your mum's care without any of the patient confidentiality stuff getting in the way. The official wording is that it gives you power when she 'lacks mental capacity' to make her own decisions, however a friend of mine has it set up (for her non-lacking mother) and can access her mum's medical information by producing the document. It's perhaps a little late to help you with this situation, but might save you a load of hassle in the future.

Have a look at http://www.direct.gov.uk - you'll probably want the Health and Welfare LPA.

[rowanwitch]

crisis teams should be available for someone who suddenly can't cope...get back onto the hospital and speak to the social work dept there it might be quicker