My old mum, help please

yvonneem_2

Hello, hope someone can offer me some advice please.

My mother is 91 and in a care home. She has dementia which is quite advanced now. She doesn't know anyone or anything anymore. My problem is that she has been very sore between her legs and on her bottom for almost three months now. To start with it was a bit of irritation and not a lot was said about it to be honest.

However, it has become a real problem that i have only just been made aware of. Her bottom looks purple almost more like burns than a rash. I have queried treatment offered to her by the GP and have been horrified to note that he appears to just be trying this cream and that cream. Firstly it was canaston for fungal infections and then onto steroid creams of different sorts. The problem is clearly getting worse by the day but staff say that GP has said if its not better in a week or two he will refer her to hospital.

I think that in a week or two she won't be with us anymore. She looks totally down and does nothing but walk up and down. Or she is laying on her bed. I think it is because she can't sit down because of the pain.

What would you do?

Artytarty

Yvonne, I am so sorry to hear about your Mum. How upsetting for you. I am not an expert of any sort but I suppose if I were you I would be making a scene about it at the care home. Say how worried you are,ask if another doctor can see her perhaps? Just dont let it rest until some action is taken . i guess i am saying - make a nuisance of yourself ( nicely)) that way people will be more to sort the problem out so you shut up!
Maybe one of those moving mattresses with pockets of air, electrically controlled to inflate and deflate thus varying the pressure points could be provided for your Mum?
My gran had one in hospital and said it was great.
Hope you get some help for her soon.
Arty.

yvonneem_2

Hello there,

Thanks for your reply. I have been making a noise there today. They all talk the talk but nothing appears to get done. I did speak with a male carer and i got the impression he wasn't happy with her treatment either.

Its not a particularly nice place to be honest.

foreign_correspondent

My advice is to ring her GP yourself, and talk to him about your concerns. Whilst this is being treated there should be ways to make her comfortable - in this day and age no elderly person should be in unnecessary pain.

so, I would be asking:

a)about treatment - what does he think the cause is?
Has he made a diagnosis or is it hard to identify?
Have any tests been done yet?
Is it responding to treatment?
If not - Can she be referred to a specialist ASAP?

and

b) about comfort and palliative care - can she be given pankillers, either topical, like an anaesthetic cream, or orally?
Would changing the sort of underwear she wears help?
Could it be an allergy, eg. to do with the laundry products used to wash her underwear?
Should she have any aids such as a rubber ring to sit on, a vibrating mattress or special pad for her chair?
Can an occupational therapist be consulted to advise on any aids and adaptations if these would be helpful?

I would also let the nursing home know you are doing this, and that you will liase with them to get this sorted.

Obviously as your mum is not able to advocate for herself any more, someone else needs to speak up on her behalf.

Good luck

x

yvonneem_2

Hello Foreign,

I have asked all of these questions and will keep asking. I have noted down all mediation she is on and have noticed that one tablet has side effects that can cause a bad skin reaction although it is rare.

I have asled the manager of the home to insist on a referral to a specialist because the GP has not taken a swab to send off to see what he is treating.

There is little or no palliative care in this home.

Kaz2904

The nursing home can take swabs. What I would ask is if the district nursing team is involved. Often they will know more about treatment than the GP.
Is she incontinent? It could be a nappy type rash. If she is then is she being changed often enough? With all the will in the world creams will do nothing if they have to contend with stale urine against the skin.
How do you feel about the hygeine of the home? Are they washing your mum properly? Are they washing her often enough?
Is she mobile? She needs to keep changing her position so that the blood can get to all areas of her skin. We do this ourselves but when you can't move you can't change your position often enough which is where the pressure relieving mattresses and cushions come in.
Rubber rings aren't used anymore because they transfer the pressure from one place (the bottom) to another (a halo around) so you just get pressure sores in a different position.
Hope this helps, Kaz.

Heidi301272

Hi, how distressing for her, also frustrating for you. I am truly sorry in my heart that you think your mum does not have long now. I experienced the same kind of feelings recently with my Dad who suffered with Parkinsons disease.

What i would do is get her in a car and whisk her off to your hospitals casualty department yourself. Maybe staff there will be a little more sympathetic to your plight.

If the staff at the nursing home question your actions just tell them FIRMLY AND WITH CONVICTION that you are doing what you think is best for your mum.

Im sorry to say that if you dont take some kind of action soon it sadly will be to late for your mum and these feelings of regret and frustration will be with you for a very long time.

I will be thinking of you both and good luck to you x

mary-op

So sorry to hear about your mum.
I can only agree with whats been said already. If you've not happy with the GP's opinion, ask for a second one.
When my mum had her stroke and was immobile she suffered various sores through constant sitting and incontinence but luckily the staff were very caring, moving her around when possible and made her as comfortable as they could.
I wish you the best of luck. Your mum is lucky to have you fighting her corner. x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Try social services. They could encourage a complete change in attitude towards her care...

foreign_correspondent

yvonneem wrote: »

Hello Foreign,

I have asked all of these questions and will keep asking. I have noted down all mediation she is on and have noticed that one tablet has side effects that can cause a bad skin reaction although it is rare.

I have asled the manager of the home to insist on a referral to a specialist because the GP has not taken a swab to send off to see what he is treating.

There is little or no palliative care in this home.

In that case, I think I would ring the GP and ask him directly, not the care home.

If you are not happy with the level of care in the home, and basic things like pain control, personal care and keeping comfortable should always be attended to, then there will be a body who inspects and regulates them who you can talk to for advice - I think it is CSCI for care homes...

yes it is -
here - http://www.whichcarehome.co.uk/page4.html

katieclampet

Could you get in touch with the District Nurses? Most GPs surgery have them, they would be able to visit your mum, assess her and also arrange basic tests, start treatment and organise equipment. They can usually do this pretty quickly. Hope you and your mum are ok.

katiex