SI have to take my hat off to Focus Adult Social Care.  While I’ve been making the most of my new sleeping quarters they have been pulling out all the stops to provide Carer Sits that are needed to keep us both in good health.

Duty Social Workers have confirmed they have arranged care at the weekend.  The great news is that we will have Dianne every other weekend following such good work last week.  They have also had positive discussions with our Agency so I will be able visit family in Coventry on Monday 22 nd of August.

It’s fortunate that some folk are on duty on Friday afternoons while others take a siesta.  In fact I slept so well in my new Den that I almost missed confirming  the proposed arrangements met our needs.

I sincerely hope that the weather stays sunny over the weekend so hard working professional staff can have an enjoyable break.  

Focus certainly put their money where their mouth is: ‘supporting carers’.

This morning our lounge has been converted to double up as a bedroom.  We will be sleeping in the same room once again: Maureen on the sofa; me in a single bed.  This should mean that I get more sleep as I will be able to settle Maureen as soon as she stirs by reassuring her I’m by her side. Progress has also been made on most of the items on my To Do List but it looks unlikely that Chloe will be able to entice Maureen into having one of her Pamper Days.

Maureen has been in good form this mornin -g it’s clear that she has much greater capacity to do things when she has energy.  She coped relatively well with putting washing on the line and has kept herself busy until she took to the sofa for a doze a short while ago.

I’m taking a break now: off on walkabouts to enjoy Costa del Cleethorpes at its best

I have just sent the following E Mail to the Head of Casework at Focus Adult Services:

Yesterday was not good news on the dementia front as all I heard about and saw was evidence of further decline in my two favourite ladies.  During a telephone conversation with my sister in the morning I heard that mum is deteriorating as her dementia takes its toll in all sorts of ways. It is the same story here as the progression of Maureen’s dementia shows no sign of letting up.

All of our Carers are commenting on Maureen’s increased level of confusion and lack of energy. When they arrive in the morning she chats to them for a while and then returns to dozing on the sofa.

I was glad that I had my glasses on in the afternoon as I watched her struggle to put washing on the line.  The transition lenses would have hid my tears as I watched her put pegs on the line and leave washing in the basket.   Maureen hasn’t forgotten how to dance though and we managed a smooch around the kitchen to Barbara Streisand as she returned from her efforts in the garden:

I’m taking no chances now and keeping Maureen firmly in hold when we dance: at 70 years of age it’s about time I learned to lead.

It is possible that yesterday was one of those days and Maureen will be able to hang out the washing if the rain stops today.  I certainly hope so because it is one of her favourite jobs, as she loves to be outside in the fresh air.  She did help with drying the pots and pans as we tidied up the kitchen together in the evening but she can no longer remember where to put things away.  As the Home Treatment Team reminded me earlier in the day she is now at a stage where helping her to find some purpose and minimising distress are the priorities.

I will be posting again in a couple of hours in preparation for my Carers Assesment meeting at 11.30 am this morning.

My infection appears to be on the way out.  I have had a reasonable night’s rest on the mattress in the lounge and in the spare bedroom.  The baby alarm kept me in touch with Maureen’s movements when I went upstairs shortly after midnight.

I knew that if Maureen awoke she couldn’t complain about being locked in as she has keys to both doors stashed away somewhere.  I would guess that she will turn out her pockets this morning and give me the keys back, so I can return them to their usual resting place. She seems cold for most of the time at the moment so the chances of her popping outside before dawn on these chilly August mornings are minimal.

Maureen is still sleeping for long periods of the day and that gave me the opportunity of chatting things over with Chloe yesterday.  She is our longest serving, and most experienced carer.  Chloe she has seen many faces of dementia in her career: she is as concerned as I am with Maureen’s increased level of confusion and general decline.

Gary our social worker, during Sue’s absence, has assured me that he will progress Best Interest matters.  He has warmed to my suggestions about using Royal Court Care Home for Day Care and Respite.  I have suggested that ‘Opportunity Knocks’ in a couple of weeks when one of our carers is on holiday.  I am meeting with Gary tomorrow morning to progress my Carers Assessment.  One thing I am keen to do is timetable regular visits to see my own family and periods of significant respite at the Buddhist Centre..

I think our G P is on holiday this week.  On his return I need to have another discussion with him about Maureen’s reluctance to take her prescribed medication.  My concern is that her body will be in a permanent state of confusion as she is failing to take her tablets consistently.

I am very grateful to Gary at Diamond Media for sorting out my Lap Top yesterday.  I was very sad to hear that one of the staff, who is particularly interested in Maureen’s welfare, is in hospital with serious health problems of her own. One of the advantages of living in a small place like Cleethorpes is that when I am out I generally bump into someone who wants to know how things are going.