Chapter 625 - Matters of Concern

On her behalf I attended a non-urgent request to see the GP after the  recent annual check-up for her; there was little point stressing her. As it was I had to take her for a second visit to pathology because one vial of blood had been "lost". Two issues were remarkable; her B12 level was high but she had recently had her routine 4 monthly B12 injection and her albumin/creatinine ratio was high at 6.1 when the spec is <3.5, so another urine test was collected, for which I was given a small adhesive attachable collection bag but instead I used a length of card to which I attached the specimen container. No further results yet. This brings memories of 2004 when part of her right kidney was removed.

Last Thursday she saw a geriatrician after three deferred appointment times. The purpose of the appointment was for her to be assessed for a cognitive decline supplement to her Level 4 Home Care Package; not for obtaining more funds but for assistance finding someone able to give her appropriate mental stimulation. The geriatrician asked questions of me, after asking her whether that was OK by her. She must have nodded agreement. I expected him to give her the appropriate mental tests; you know, count backwards by seven, I will say 3 words ...., what is the date etc etc. He didn't, just asked me about her condition and health. So I handed him a summary of her condition, something that I spent a day writing her history and current status in list form. He quickly read it. I showed him the application form AC014 a Care Provider  needs to complete to make an application.; he pulled up what may have been the PAS-CIS questionnaire on his screen, wrote a score of 8 in a box on the form and the date, said to me I would need to fill in the declaration over the page and he would write a report to the GP. He also said he had never filled such a form in before. He obviously hadn't, because it is to be completed by the Care Provider, neither by him nor me. He was kind enough to push her wheel chair back to reception. I will wait to see his report to the GP. I had expected some advice; the closest to that was a question whether Residential Care had been considered.

The geriatrician was interested whether her hallucinations were fearful or not. I mentioned little girls with flowers, her sisters, people out on the street. Nothing threatening. Nothing frightening. She was still in bed this morning at 0740 when thought I heard a voice calling out. I went to her bedroom. As I entered she yelled "Mum!" and when I queried what she said, she became hesitant, looking puzzled, not saying anything. I got her up for the day. At 0930  not long before a carer came to shower her she said something about a "station"; I asked her to repeat it several times. I then realised she was saying "Everything is devastation". When I asked to clarify, she said "Everything out there, the street, the yards, all devastation". I presume she has seen too much TV footage about the ongoing flood situation along the east coast and the bombing scenes from Ukraine. I found Andre Rieu clips on You Tube and these have been playing ever since. I'm unsure how much notice she is taking of the performances.

Yesterday while on 3 hour respite I bought her a couple of more comfortable bras and a night dress at Target. While there I wandered over to the toy section where I found a peg board version of Chinese checkers and  set of wooden jig saw puzzles, the most complicated having 20 pieces. We tried the checkers this morning and I just gave her the 20 piece jig saw. I restarted the respite of 3 hours on Friday afternoons just yesterday, but how much good it is for her is anybody's guess. I think she spent part of the time 

asleep, the carer folded some washing for me and there was something dramatic (not to her taste) playing on the TV when I returned home.

A little while ago she agreed to being pushed around our village street for an "outing" but I now hear rain on the roof.

All too cruel and forgotten about.