Another busy week draws to a close. I had a good visit with Mum on Thursday and showed her the new slippers and nighties my kid sister and I had bought for her after visiting her on Tuesday. She was most pleased. I showed her nurse what we’d bought her too, so that if she gets confused, at least the nurse knows the new stuff does belong to Mum. She was a bit put out that I put her new things in her locker and she was adamant that she’s going home soon. I told her she isn’t well enough yet, and her nurse backed me up. She hadn’t eaten much on Thursday and I did tell her she needs to eat to get well, and strong. She was in good spirits though was in bed as she was tired, and she lay there holding my hand whilst we recollected stories from when we were kids. It was a good visit.

Friday, my kid sister visited her, and Mum was very confused. She kept calling my kid sister by my name and was insistent there were 2 snakes under her bed. She was not on good form and my sister left, feeling quite upset. Late that afternoon, I had a phone call from a social worker asking to meet with the family to discuss our Mum’s discharge from hospital. Say what now? It seems Mum has stated she’s ready to go home and a social worker is now trying to arrange this. I asked if she’d spoken to Mum’s doctor; she hadn’t. I asked if she knew that Mum was admitted with septicaemia and is having recurring infections; she didn’t. I then asked if she knew Mum had dementia; nope. Honestly, you couldn’t make it up.

I advised her of some of the things Mum says that she sees, the fact that she does have the odd good day but that mostly she talks nonsense and told her some of the things Mum has been doing. The social worker was totally oblivious to all this. As far as we’re concerned, she isn’t medically fit to be discharged, no matter what she says. It doesn’t help that my middle sister can’t seem to get her head around the fact that Mum has been diagnosed with dementia and takes everything Mum says at face value. I don’t think she visits Mum much at all, so isn’t seeing her on bad days which are frequent. The status Quo continues.

After a three-and-a-half week wait I finally saw my GP today. He’s given me the all-clear to have more meds for my eye, and he asked if I have enough for each month. I was cheeky, mentioned I plan to move to England soon where I’ll have to pay for prescriptions (in Wales we don’t pay – it comes from the Welsh NHS budget) and would he be able to give me extra as I don’t have much disposable income. Well, he’s doubled up my meds so I’ll have some leeway for when I move, though he did say once I register with a new GP in England that they may drop me back down to single prescriptions. It helps, even if only for a brief time. Once I have to pay, I’ll buy a pre-paid ‘certificate’ which will save me money in the long term. When I turn 60 I think they’re free in England.

Saturday, I plan to do some grocery shopping, and Sunday my kid sister and her partner are coming over for lunch. I’m making a baked ham. Whilst here, they’re going to help me sort out some furniture, and they’ll hopefully take away a filing cabinet that I don’t want. It’s too heavy for me to move, so having a man here will be a big help.

Have a good weekend.