Elderly parents or relatives to care for and/or worry about? This is the place for you.
4 lurkers |
140 watchers
1 Jan
7:38pm, 1 Jan 2024
7,620 posts
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1step2far
I'm a long time lurker here and just want to say your advice has been so useful so far. I'm probably about to come crashing in to this thread. Mum has young onset parkinsons and has been unwell for 35 years, dad has been her main carer and dotes on her. They had been a really solid unit for years, mum does the thinking, dad does what he's told. Mum has been on slow decline for years, is still walking and feeding herself but is loosing weight, her memory isn't as good as it was and her muscle tone is dropping fast. I'm amazed she is still alive and that is testament to dad's care of her. Dad until recently has been well, no underlying health conditions (I suspect autism but nothing physical) apart from the fact he now has several skin cancers- he has infact had one of them several years and refused to acknowledge its existence. I have to admit, I never really understood how bad skin cancer can be. One of his is very aggressive... he's becoming quite unwell as he awaits date for major surgery. (I won't go in to details, it's pretty gory and multiple skin grafts and reconstruction) He's pretty much in denial- saying he'll cook mums dinner when he gets home from hospital. I'm desperately trying to sort carers out on a buy one get one free, as he is going down hill fast. They want to pay privately as they want to choose who they get and not have waifs and strays coming in. I'm trying to work out how to do it all. Mum can't really be left too long but care home out of the question for now (this may change when reality hits) This possibly should have been a blog. Sorry. Anyone know how to employ a private carer? Mcmillan said speak to GP, GP said speak to social services. (Apparently, I wasn't there for those conversations and no idea what they actually said). |
1 Jan
7:42pm, 1 Jan 2024
65,865 posts
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LindsD
That's hard. I only have experience of NHS carers in palliative care but I think a lot of people here have experience of private carers.
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1 Jan
7:45pm, 1 Jan 2024
7,621 posts
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1step2far
Oh and waifs and strays their term not mine. 😬 Thanks Linds |
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1 Jan
7:56pm, 1 Jan 2024
65,866 posts
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LindsD
I understood that
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1 Jan
7:56pm, 1 Jan 2024
1,028 posts
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MH
When we organised carers and then live-in carers we used a consultant to help figure out what the best solution would be. The likelihood is that you will find carers through an agency, and then it's a case of going through CVs and trying to find a good fit - and you really don't know if they will work out until you try them. I can dig out the details if it might be helpful?
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1 Jan
7:57pm, 1 Jan 2024
53,516 posts
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McGoohan
We use a company called Home Instead, 1s2f. I suspect it's run on a franchise basis as there are many 'branches' that I have seen. They have been very good so far.
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1 Jan
8:01pm, 1 Jan 2024
2,518 posts
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CK2
We looked into private care for dad (not needed in the end as the palliative service covered it.) We found a local company but also looked at Age Concerm for recommendations. Dad also suffered from several skin cancers so we had a lot of experience there. His most serious operation took quite some time, and a lot of hospital appointments, to recover from. Thinking of you 1step - sounds very difficult. |
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1 Jan
8:04pm, 1 Jan 2024
1,029 posts
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MH
claritycareconsulting.co.uk These were the consultants we use - all I can say it that it worked for us, and as with everything, it costs money. |
1 Jan
8:33pm, 1 Jan 2024
11,935 posts
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leaguefreak
We also used Home Instead but as McGoohan said I suspect it's a franchise so what you get locally depends on your local branch. We set the care plan up clearly and made sure we had an out if we weren't happy. As it was everything was fine but we only used them for a couple of hours per day as mum passed away just as she started to need a bit more than that. The good thing about the private arrangement (I'm sure any company can do this) is we contracted that they involved mum and only did the bits she couldn't do. Eg mum chose the meal she wanted and helped peel the veg etc rather than having a 15 min visit with a ready meal plonked at her as her hot meal. |
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1 Jan
8:57pm, 1 Jan 2024
7,622 posts
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1step2far
Thanks MH that's a useful starter for 10! LF I shall look and see what's nearby. It's an absolute mine field. That sounds exactly what they need, more tailored. They have very set routines and this is going to throw them right out. |
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