Social Care is on the verge of collapse as Roy Lilley outlines today:

Maureen and I made a vow at Coventry Registry Office: we aim to keep it!

This infection is now becoming worrying.

I have an afternoon appointment at G P Out of Hours.

It is a possible that I have a chest infection.

‘Girl Saturday’ will tend to Maureen.

I’m told she is an  experienced carer.

When our carer didn’t show this morning I phoned up the Agency to see why she was late. Then I put on my reading glasses and saw the red asterisk on the schedule.  Had I been a little more vigilant I would have taken action earlier and Girl Tuesday would have been here.  However, this is not a mistake I have paid for – quite the opposite as we have had a lovely morning together: singing to Youtube followed by a long siesta.

One of the facets of Maureen’s condition is fluctuation in her presentation.  Last night we slept well together with Nurse Maureen wanting to tend to her poorly husband.  This morning I have struggled to keep up with her dialogue: never quite sure if she was talking about the past, present, or future.   One minute she is talking to me as her husband the next he is the subject of her discussion:  I’m pleased to hear that she generally speaks well of him.

We are both still reeling from this flu-like infection.  Although I’m not pleased about feeling rough I’m reassured that it is likely to be behind Maureen’s time travelling and increased level of  confusion.

When I explained my thinking on Residential Care for Maureen, to the nurse from Rapid Response   yesterday he said: ‘there was now light at the end of the tunnel’ .  That is not necessarily how I see it but once you accept that Residential Care is needed a spring returns to your step.  The irony is that I’m having to carry on with the type of infection that would have laid me up in my working days.  In fact, we would have both been off work with this persistent virus.

It is fortunate that Lynne, today’s carer, will be here at noon to help us cope today.  I have explained to Maureen that today’s ‘Shopper Lady’ will buy what we need and make sure we are fed and watered.

Maureen’s infection continues to impact upon her presentation: she is very frightened and emotional.  If I am out of site she seeks me out as she cannot face being alone for very long.  It’s a pity she won’t take ‘propolis’, a homoeopathic remedy that always seems to bolster my immune system.  However, it doesn’t seem to be doing much yet so I’m using  paracetamol to keep me on my feet for.

One consolation Craig’s temporary fix on our central heating boiler is holding up. It needs replacing along with several radiators that are long past their sell-by date.  I’m giving the heating system daily TLC as I’m not sure what we’ll do if it gives up the ghost!