As a result of Mums fall the hospital wanted to send out Occupational Health
to see if there was anything they could provide me with to assist with Mums
care, I had already informed them that we have had many O.H teams in and all found Mum impossible to work with. They said they wanted to give it a try..... Now as a nurse this is the last thing Mum would want and stand for
(no pun intended)!
Mum was told that a nice lady called Ruth was coming at 2pm as part of the
hospitals new policy on elderly falls in the home, Ruth would be coming to
report back to the hospital that Mum was recovered and managing well at home.
The morning started with Mum in a bad mood so when she asked to have a bath I decided
this would be a good relaxing, time consuming thing to do. All the time Mum
complained about being constipated and uncomfortable which is a daily occurrence.
I had been giving her senna tablets for the problem but she had become fixated
on the matter. I got Mum dressed after her bath and she even came down stairs
afterwards however, I soon realised it was to go through the cupboards to find
anything for constipation, even though I kept telling her I was giving her
senna in the evenings she insisted on locating Andrews Liver Salts (her cure
all medication!) We had removed all over the counter medicines from the
cupboards as Mum keeps forgetting that she has taken something and continues to
take more, however she refuses to take anything that her doctor prescribes for
her as 'she knows better than he does as she was a nurse'.
I prepared a little salad for lunch and was surprised when Mum said she
would have some, I followed it with a tiny serving of stewed prunes to help
with her problem. My son and his wife popped in for a quick visit before
their appointment at the pre-natal clinic (third baby on the way),
unfortunately Mum has no idea who they are and only manages pleasantries with
them on their visits. Ruth O.T. arrived shortly after they did so
they took their leave.
Now bearing in mind even around the house Mum needs assistance walking from
one room to the next, often unable to get up off the sofa or chair without a
helping hand, walking up the stairs is a very painfully slow process to watch
often her knees buckle under her, walking round the garden unaided is a thing
of the past....... so tell me who this spritely woman was who when
introductions were done and she was asked to do various 'tasks' Mum leapt into
action. Stood up very quickly from sitting on the sofa, asked to go up the
stairs only used one banister and did it in record time, in and out of the bath
unaided. I think if she was asked to do a hand stand she would have done
one.............. Who replaced my mother with this imposter??
We returned to the sitting room where Ruth addressed some questions to me,
when I opened my mouth to reply Mum viciously told me to be quiet, it was not
my business, Ruth had come to visit HER! Mum was back. Ruth asked
to go back upstairs to take measurements for installing another drop down hand
rail on the other side of the toilet (as this was where Mum fell to the
floor). I escorted her upstairs and explained that this was not a
representation of Mums mobility, I showed her videos I had taken without Mums
knowledge of her getting round the house and she was so surprised it was the
same person, unfortunately she informed me that she could only go but what she
had seen on the day! She asked if Mum was always so vicious in addressing me, I
replied that there were times when she could be nice but also time when she
could be so much worse than today.
On returning to the lounge Mum was upset that we had left the room and was
obviously agitated as her breathing had become laboured and she was
fidgety. I explained that for Dads safety another hand rail was being
fitted beside the toilet - Mums reply was that she wouldn't use it, however,
she uses the second banister rail, the bath rail and the vertical rail by the
toilet (all fitted under the guise of being for Dad)! Mum throughout the
time Ruth was there kept asking Ruth to feel her stomach as it was so bloated
due to her being constipated, I kept telling Mum that Ruth was not a doctor and
I would call hers and get him to check her out. The Andrews debate then
started with gusto to which Ruth took my lead saying that it would be best to
be seen by the doctor instead of taking any more Andrews.
I saw Ruth to the door and she asked if I had any outside help, the answer
is always Mum turns everyone away, SHE DOESN'T NEED HELP!! She said to
call her if things change as she would come out again to re-assess and someone
would be in contact to fit the other rail within the week.
I returned to the sitting room where Mum continued to insist on having some
Andrews.......
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