The elderly and community assistance...

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

I have an elderly mother in law whom I am convinced is developing Alzheimers. It is so difficult being thousands of miles away. My husband and I are wondering what services are available to assist with her staying at home eg

  1. a meals delivery service. She actually cooks for herself when my SIL is able to be there (SIL lives between Europe and US), but we are unsure whether she does when she is on her own
  2. a service to ensure she takes her medication? EG it could be prepacked, or in a dosette
  3. visits from community nurses say once a week? She won't visit her doctor even though he is about five houses away
  4. house cleaning

The problem is her behaviour is changing, and she has become extremely nasty and apparently a little paranoid, according to my SIL, who is beside herself with worry. And she refuses to use a vital call system. And she rarely uses the telephone, and forgets phone numbers.

Are these services means tested? My MIL is not well off, but owns her own home.

My SIL is seriously considering a nursing home, but really wants to make this a last option, as MIL has always been so independent...

I'd really appreciate your help

Jay

I'd really

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Very hard when living far away.

Can be means tested, my FIL had a stroke and when discharged home MIL was going to be charged well over £100 a week (can't remember exact figure) for carers to come out to help. She is now doing it herself and can't claim any assistance because she has a small private pension :(

May be best discussing with your SIL and see if someone can talk to the GP but will need MIL permission for GP to talk to anyone else family wise due to confidentiality.

Health the Aged may be able to help or may have some info that helps with your decisions Health The Aged

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

My granddad was very much like this and we had a huge amount of support from the community services.

He had meals on wheels deliver a hot meal every day.

He had carers come in to get him up and dressed and give him breakfast and a drink. Then came back at lunch time to get the meals on wheels and make sure he remembered to eat it and finally came back at 7pm to bath him and put him ready for bed.

They reminded him to take his tablets and if they were prepackaged get them out and give them to him but would not if they weren't in the prepackaging. This can be done via a pharmacy and the GP.

You need to get in touch with social services for an assessment, they will tell you what you need and what you are entitled to. We did have to pay but it wasnt a massive amount of money each month. It gave us great peace of mind to know that if for any reason we couldnt get there someone would go and check he was OK

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

I think the Social Service help depends also on which part of the country your MIL is in as well.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Thankyou to all of you. I will check out your Social Services site.

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