Carers Group: 18/11/24

Janet’s introduction

Janet informed the members that the Carers Support Group will end with the session in January. The decision was not taken lightly. However, there are now more dementia services available than when the group was set up, numbers at each session are declining and with the cost of zoom membership rising, it is no longer cost effective to run it.

Member updates

Care home experiences

A husband is looking forward to going on holiday. His wife is physically healthy but is in a gradual decline. The stairs continue to be a concern especially for the carer. She spends a lot of time resting and sleeping but she is content. Janet said his wife is doing well considering how long she has had dementia. She eats well but very slowly and meals merge into each other.The husband doesn’t want to think of the next stage.

A sister caring long distance said her brother has now been moved to a different hospital. She spoke to him recently and he spoke to her quite clearly. As he has lost a lot of weight he is now having physio. He also now has a social worker. The hospital seems better so far. She can speak to him more easily and things are moving forward.

She asked for suggestions for things to send him for his birthday and Christmas which are come up. The group suggested: music, photos, pictures of familiar things, picture prompts eg sports, pets, cultural things

Janet said she could do reminisce things and set up a scrap book of things from his life.

Tatiana suggested for the scapbook things he used to enjoy such as music bands and groups. With regard to her brother’s care she suggested the sister ask the hospital what are the long term plans? Also to ask to speak to the social worker about any worries.

A Mum has been in her care home 18 months now. The daughter feels her Mum is actively more with it. Her anxiety is less than it was when she was at home. Now she has less to worry about she is calmer which gives her the capacity to remember more. Everything was traumatic when she was at home and now she has a team of people looking after her. She plays cards which she has never done before. She does get confused if the daughter takes her out of the home.

Another member said her mum is ok. She has had a bit of a decline. She now walks with a walker and is incontinent. She spent a lot of time sleeping and is not very often in the present. The daughter said she doesn’t know who I am all of the time. It was a hard decision to make to arrange for her Mum to into a care home but Mum is now in a happy place. She’s not stressed and no longer has no anxiety.

Janet said for each family you have to find your own way putting the person with dementia at the the centre of it all.

Janet’s reading – the small wins

Gyda – read the meaning of happy