My dad was released from Ninewells hospital at the end of September after a fall and a hemiarthroplasty. The discharge team deemed him suitable to be released. My siblings were not called to say he was being taken home in an ambulance - and a neighbour who had a key, had to let him in. He is in his 90s and lives alone! My neighbour had to call me to say he was home.
On release the care package was only for a morning and tea time support. He was left with a zimmer and no support to get him into a bed and sat in a chair for 2 days until the assisting aid to support his leg into bed was delivered. He had no support to use the toilet for at least a few days - and was eventually provided with a frame around the toilet. He was and is still unable to wash himself and dress himself and has lost all confidence in the home. At this time he was forgetting to take his medication and became incontinent.
His care package was changed to 4 times a day - thankfully - but I work full time and still find myself having to wash and change my dad in between carers visiting. No physiotherapist has arrived at yet to to go through his exercises and he is struggling badly. And he was not shown how to get in and out of bed until OT arrived. Lesley has been a life saver.
He feels very anxious that the carers are pushing him to do too much and he has only been out of the hospital not even 2 weeks. He is confused as to what they are expecting as we were told he would receive care for 6 weeks to support him with recovery and gain confidence. I appreciate the service is stretched but I am not impressed with what seems a catalogue of disasters, and why do they have to push my dad and make him feel stressed about his abilities. Before this fall my dad was extremely independent and we would all like him to be back to his old self - but please can't they just offer care and support without a heavy hand.
"Can't they just offer care and support without a heavy hand"
About: Community Services / Home Assessment Recovery Team (HART) Community Services Home Assessment Recovery Team (HART) Perth City Occupational Therapy / Community Rehabilitation (Perth City) Perth City Occupational Therapy Community Rehabilitation (Perth City) Trauma & Orthopaedics / Trauma Admissions Unit (Ward 18) Trauma & Orthopaedics Trauma Admissions Unit (Ward 18) DD1 9SY
Posted by kangus (as ),
Responses
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