I have just been to see my godmother, aged 101, who now lives in a very good care home. She is bedridden, has a memory span of about 10 seconds and although a newspaper is delivered to her each day, she has not meaningfully read it for at least three years. She is also totally uninterested in watching the television. She has always worn glasses and still has the pair that she was using perfectly happily when she did read the paper and when she entered the home about nine months ago – by which time she had lost all interest in either the paper or the TV.
This evening I noticed a new glasses case sitting on the side table and asked who it belonged to. ‘Oh, those are your godmother’s new glasses’ I was told.
‘What do you mean, new glasses? What is wrong with the ones that she has got?’
‘Well, nothing, but the optician came round as usual and gave all the residents an eye test and ordered them all new glasses.’
‘What on earth for? Given that she is totally uninterested in reading anything, what on earth is the point of either giving her either an eye test or new glasses?’
‘Well, I am afraid, that is what they do….’
To be fair, the staff in the home thought it was a ridiculous as I did – but – that is what is set out in the regulations. Far be it from me to suggest that if someone in a home needs new glasses to be able to read the paper or see the TV properly, they should not have them – they absolutely should. But should it not be on a basis on need rather than a wholesale issue of new, and in my godmother’s case, since her old glasses were trifocals, rather expensive glasses, whether they are needed or not?
Further discussion also revealed that ‘regulations state’ that each patient/resident’s prescription is unique to themselves so that, even if they are only being prescribed a generic drug such as Aspirin, their tablets cannot be used for anyone else who is also prescribed Aspirin. Even if they have not used their allotted amount, which often they do not, their Aspirin tablets have to be thrown out rather than being reallocated to another patient who also needs Aspirin. Could there not be a central store of the drugs needed by the residents from which each individual’s drugs were taken as needed? Would that not be less wasteful?
It is, of course, easy to criticise and far harder to come up with a scheme which safeguards patients’ wellbeing but does not create too much waste. But in both these cases I feel that a better fist could have been made of the job.
Definitely ridiculous waste. My father in law is given food on a tray which he rarely eats unless one of us is there. He does not go hungry and could live on biscuits if allowed to do so. Very very sad. I’m sure malnutrition and starvation is the cause of a lot of ill elderly people, especially in hospital where it’s far worse. Survival of the fittest? Seems wrong though that we stand by and watch this happen. So back to waste, not only does he go hungry, but his uneaten food is thrown away! Just the tip of the waste iceberg I fear.
Sounds not dissimilar to recent newspaper reports of the MOD being charged £22.00 for light bulbs available in the high street for 65p…
Have a painfully similar situation here with my Mum.
Shes 89, cant stand up, dementia, has had several strokes…and breast cancer.
Shes too frail than to contemplate surgery…so we are left with a choice of monthly injections, (a two man ambulance, an appointment system akin to making a visit to the Queen..ie just about impossible)…or a tablet daily.
Mum has a long standing fear of pills…she is allergic to many anti-biotics…(and has been for years…after a very close encounter with some anti-biotics in the 1960’s). In her fragile mind (and often she is sharper than you and me put together)…pills = antibiotics and therefore have to be avoided.
So the Nursing home (an elderly mental unit) offers the pills daily…Mum refuses more often than not…so the pill is dispensed…and then thrown away…not re-offered later… The nursing home have suggested either my sister or myself visit daily to try and oversee the pills….which is a 50 mile round trip for either of us.
Injections can’t be given at the home…although I did offer to pay for the training for a nurse to be trained up to do the injection…McMillan nurses arent welcome at the home either…
Can the pills be put in food?….according to the home (depends on who you speak to…) this sometimes happens….sometimes not…. And if it is happening, then surely it should be formally recorded? Is the drug available as a syrup…? Then it could be stirred into yogurt or custard with dessert at lunch?
Given in a Thorntons chocolate? Have never known Mum refuse a chocolate…or into a Martini and lemonade…
So at present…Mum is without any treatment. It bothers me to think she is in pain.
Anyone any bright ideas of how to get around this problem?
Mum was the most wonderful cook…always immaculately clean and tidy, nails manicured, hair smartly done and stylish…and not the empty shell she is now…
All suggestions welcome.