Elderly mother in hospital now mentally confused

Person_one

Mojisola wrote: »

One issue that cropped up with my Mum and Dad is that medics who didn't know them judged their competence by their idea of the "average 80+ year old" while people who knew Mum and Dad could see that they weren't their usual selves.

I phoned for an ambulance once for my Dad because I could see how poorly he was (confused and bewildered because of urine infection). Fortunately a paramedic who had been to the house before arrived first. When the ambulance arrived, they didn't want to take him in because they just saw a 90 year old man being a bit vague. The paramedic took one of them into the other room and I heard him saying that he had been to the house recently and Dad had been chatting and joking with him and was fully compos mentis and that something was very definitely wrong with him now. Dad ended up being in hospital for several months.

I thought paramedics had to take people to A&E, unless they refuse, they aren't able to make that decision...

Mojisola

Person_one wrote: »

I thought paramedics had to take people to A&E, unless they refuse, they aren't able to make that decision...

All I know is what happened - the ambulance guys were suggesting we waited until the following day and took Dad to the GP.

carolinabirichina

LondonDiva wrote: »

Ask that the ward manager contact the hospital's safeguarding lead as you and your dad feel that she is not currently competent and that her behaviour at the moment is not what you would recognise as having capacity given her usual behaviour.

Ask that they carry out a full formal capacity assessment and that you want this included in her notes and for the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service to be contacted as part of the process.

Thanks to everyone for your replies - I have copied this particular one and printed it out and will take it in to the hospital today so they have it on file for when her usual doctors come back on duty tomorrow. Thanks so much because we didn't know which way to turn.

Her mental state was fine when she went in - it is a combination of the chest infection and not eating/drinking that has caused her confusion. They have tested her urine and say that she hasn't got a water infection but this was a few days ago and she may have one by now as she will not wash or let the nurses wash her! I don't know if it can be described as dementia as she knows who we are, knows that she is in hospital etc.

I don't know how she has managed to keep going for so long as she was only skin and bones when she went in but she has a stubborn streak which has come to the fore now and she will not be reasoned with. We have tried everything to get her to take her tablets/food/drink - begged, pleaded, shouted, cried - nothing gets through to her. We are going in this afternoon again - wish us luck!

Errata

Person_one wrote: »

I thought paramedics had to take people to A&E, unless they refuse, they aren't able to make that decision...

No, stay and play is quite common and often a sensible course of action.

Person_one

Errata wrote: »

No, stay and play is quite common and often a sensible course of action.

Admittedly, I've only spent one day with an ambulance crew, but was definitely under the impression that if the person who called wanted to go to A&E, they had to take them, regardless of whether anything was actually wrong. I might be mistaken, I'll try to find out.

Errata

The days of scoop and run are long over.The ambulance service is constantly developing and changing and is no longer merely a transportation service.

Person_one

Errata wrote: »

The days of scoop and run are long over.The ambulance service is constantly developing and changing and is no longer merely a transportation service.

Right, yes, but this was only a few months ago, and they were bemoaning the fact that they have to take people to A&E who they know don't need to be there.

Maybe different trusts, different policies.

Armchair23

From the NHS Choices website

"Patients will always be taken to hospital when there is a medical need for this. However, ambulance staff now carry out more diagnostic tests and do basic procedures at the scene. Many crews also refer patients to social services, directly admit patients to specialist units and administer a wide range of drugs to deal with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, allergic reactions, overdoses and heart failure."

Which suggests not every 999 call will lead to an A&E trip

Person_one

Sorry to derail the thread OP.

Londondiva's advice is pretty spot on.

Seanymph

My granma, like others, lost her capacity due to a Urinary tract infection at that sort of age.

it was sudden, and irreversible- and would have been easily treatable if tested for early enough.

Ask on the ward if she has been tested for a UTI. If she is dehydrated she is at risk.