"One in three over-65s develop dementia"

SandraScarlett

teajug wrote: »

Or end up on the Liverpool Pathway and will starve to death, if they got no one to look out for them. :mad:

How true. My DH has Stage 6 Alzheimers - there are 7 stages. He recently had a heart attack, and I dread to think what would have happened to him in hospital if I hadn't been there constantly.:(

I lost count of the number of times I used the phrases "with the greatest possible respect", or "I know you are very busy", because, in spite of me stressing to every member of staff that I met that DH had Alzheimers, he was still criticised when he pulled off his heart monitor - as in "I've told him over and over again, but he still pulls it off"!!

It took all the tact and diplomacy I could muster to smile sweetly and say "yes it is a bind, I know, but you, as a health professional know that sadly, as far as he's concerned, he hasn't done it before".

He was transferred to another hospital, and I can't say I was really surprised to find that in this one, he was in the furthest bay from the Nurses' Station, opposite a flight of stairs and a lift. And yes, the words "Alzheimers patient" were clearly on his chart.:(

I could weep for the people who have nobody to fight their corner, because this is such a cruel disease, and the same goes for any poor souls who are suffering from any disease, who are on their own. Sadly, there are so many people in this sad plight.

xx

missile

SandraScarlett wrote: »

... I could weep for the people who have nobody to fight their corner, because this is such a cruel disease, and the same goes for any poor souls who are suffering from any disease, who are on their own. Sadly, there are so many people in this sad plight.

A very sad tale. Having been in hospital a few times, I would suggest it is not "only" the Alzheimer patients who need someone to fight their corner. Patients who can't or won't speak up, often get ignored. .......... in my experience.

margaretclare

missile wrote: »

A very sad tale. Having been in hospital a few times, I would suggest it is not "only" the Alzheimer patients who need someone to fight their corner. Patients who can't or won't speak up, often get ignored. .......... in my experience.

Yes, I agree. I've seen it. Been in hospital for e.g. revision of hip replacement one year, gynae surgery another year, and also, have a long career in health care, so maybe I look at it differently. Since DH and I first got together 16 years ago there has not been one year when one or both of us hadn't been a hospital in-patient. We're both intelligent people, both used to being in responsible positions. It has long been our opinion - based on these experiences - that to be a hospital patient you need to be articulate, aware, intelligent - and vocal! This state, however, is the very reverse of what most people will be on admission to hospital.

I could give so many examples but one will suffice: I was in A&E, lying on a stretcher, in pain, but because of my past history it was assumed that it was a medical problem i.e. cardiac. Nothing happened for hours and hours, and eventually DH took a hand. He demanded to know 'who was in charge'. Even this simple request was difficult to answer but he was not about to be fobbed off. If he hadn't been there I might have remained on that stretcher, in pain, and the real cause of the pain might not have been tracked down, or if it had been, not for a long time. It was a surgical problem, not medical at all. Gall-bladder, not heart, but giving rise to pain in the same area of the body.

pineapple

margaretclare wrote: »

I would need to know a lot more about how this figure was arrived at. Bear in mind that there are different types of dementia, not all of them are Alzheimer's.

I used to work for the Alzheimer's Society. The name is misleading - they cover all forms of dementia. Actually without looking at any research I can well believe the stats. Apart from known cases there is the 'hidden' incidence. I came across many who knew something was wrong but who had been fobbed off by their GP. There can be a time lag of years even until diagnosis. Terry Pratchett has spoken out about passing the standard tests at a time when he knew all was not well. Add to that those in denial, who are terrified of the label or who are simply unaware. Also although they are the majority, it's not just older people that get dementia. I've encountered people in their 40s and 50s who had to give up work.

anamenottaken

pineapple wrote: »

I used to work for the Alzheimer's Society. The name is misleading - they cover all forms of dementia. Actually without looking at any research I can well believe the stats. Apart from known cases there is the 'hidden' incidence. I came across many who knew something was wrong but who had been fobbed off by their GP. There can be a time lag of years even until diagnosis. Terry Pratchett has spoken out about passing the standard tests at a time when he knew all was not well. Add to that those in denial, who are terrified of the label or who are simply unaware. Also although they are the majority, it's not just older people that get dementia. I've encountered people in their 40s and 50s who had to give up work.

Early onset dementia is wellknown - often an inherited condition.



Having worked for the Alzheimer's Society you perhaps are particularly happy to accept their use of a single study and rounding up from 30% to 1 in 3 but this is not necessarily good use of stats.

SandraScarlett

Unfortunately, it doesn't help one jot to know what the statistics are, and whether they are accurate or not. Getting Alzheimers, or dementia is a game of Russian Roulette, and there's nothing you can do to avoid it.

During the past day, my DH has shouted at me for allowing "those drug dealers from the Midlands to eat with us", mildly asked when "the gangsters from America are coming over", and yelled at me for "buying our food from the !!!!!".

:rotfl:I have to laugh, on here, though I answer him in a normal voice, usually saying something like "sorry, I won't do it again" or "they're not here now", because to disagree would incite the problems.

If I'd have known that his chances of getting this were one in 2, or 2 out of 87, I don't know what precautions we could have taken. Similarly, you can be the safest and best driver in the world, but if you happen to encounter the worst driver, your skills and track record count for little.

xx

Trebor16

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I could weep for the people who have nobody to fight their corner, because this is such a cruel disease, and the same goes for any poor souls who are suffering from any disease, who are on their own. Sadly, there are so many people in this sad plight.

xx

It's not just those who fall foul of this awful terminal illness that suffer, but the way in which the elderly are treated by the NHS is still shocking, with care and compassion being in short supply.

This is an excerpt from a letter that is handed to patients admitted to Ipswich Hospital who are deemed as not fit to return home and have to go into some sort of care home:-

"I am sure you will understand that hospital beds are in great demand and that we need to ensure that they are available for patients who need them for urgent medical/surgical care. Please note that transfer to your home of choice is subject to the home having a place available and the necessary arrangements for your transfer agreed. Accompanied with this letter is the list of homes and vacancies for you to identify your first three choices. If the home of your choice does not have a vacancy the integrated discharge team will identify a temporary placement for you and arrange discharge within the following 2 days.

If you cannot find a suitable placement and refuse temporary placement offered to you we will refer you to our legal team.

I trust this letter makes it very clear to you and your family and friends that you will not be able to stay in hospital whilst waiting for your home of choice to have a vacancy"

The letter is jointly signed by the hospital CEO and the local authority director of adult social services.

Imagine the impact on a person who has no-one to help them, no family members nearby, and how they would feel on first being told they won't be able to return home, and secondly being given such short notice to arrange their discharge out of hospital into a care home.

mumps

Trebor16 wrote: »

It's not just those who fall foul of this awful terminal illness that suffer, but the way in which the elderly are treated by the NHS is still shocking, with care and compassion being in short supply.

This is an excerpt from a letter that is handed to patients admitted to Ipswich Hospital who are deemed as not fit to return home and have to go into some sort of care home:-

"I am sure you will understand that hospital beds are in great demand and that we need to ensure that they are available for patients who need them for urgent medical/surgical care. Please note that transfer to your home of choice is subject to the home having a place available and the necessary arrangements for your transfer agreed. Accompanied with this letter is the list of homes and vacancies for you to identify your first three choices. If the home of your choice does not have a vacancy the integrated discharge team will identify a temporary placement for you and arrange discharge within the following 2 days.

If you cannot find a suitable placement and refuse temporary placement offered to you we will refer you to our legal team.

I trust this letter makes it very clear to you and your family and friends that you will not be able to stay in hospital whilst waiting for your home of choice to have a vacancy"

The letter is jointly signed by the hospital CEO and the local authority director of adult social services.

Imagine the impact on a person who has no-one to help them, no family members nearby, and how they would feel on first being told they won't be able to return home, and secondly being given such short notice to arrange their discharge out of hospital into a care home.

That is ............... well words fail me. It is getting quite scary to be old in this country.

Errata

OK Trebor, that's a shocking letter, so what are you going to do about it?

Trebor16

Errata wrote: »

OK Trebor, that's a shocking letter, so what are you going to do about it?

I have already consulted a solicitor about it as I think the letter is shocking. My wife, who is a senior NHS manager, was appalled by it.