index

Friday 20th July

Helping Client fill out DLA for child when called out of voluntary work by neighbour found dad wandering about confused. Neighbour had broken glass panel out of back door to help dad back into house as no door key. Luckily, a colleague was able to take over from me at work

            Back door already rotten so breaking panel out, neighbour also
            splintered framework so not practical to simply replace glass.

            Boarded up breakage best I could given rotten woodwork and
           called out GP who, prescribed course anti-biotics and said they
            would ask Social Services for emergency input plus arrange for
            CPN to do assessment re: mental health care.

Monday 23rd July

Rang maintainence agent to report back door broken and insecure in need replacement. They agree to send joiner out to inspect.

Tuesday 24th July

Brother of neighbour came to house said he broke panel out of back door and was concerned about dad’s health situation. Said would keep eye on dad while I worked. Not happy at this stranger taking an interest as do not know them and concerned dad drawing attention to his dementia and becoming security risk.

           Without evidence anything untoward, how could I appear so ungreatful as to
           decline offer of help considering all XXXX had done was to involve himself in
          dad’s wellbeing?

           1.30pm. XXXX called me on mobile to say dad was out of house and wandering
           again. XXXX had taken him back home and broke boarding out of back door to
           get dad in house as again dad had no key. XXXX re-boarded back door..

           1.45pm Rang Social Services as dad wandering again and no news of
           emergency support. Social Services said they knew nothing of any such
           request. Said would research and call me back in half hour.

            3pm Rang Social Services as they had not returned my call and they still had
            nothing to tell me. Said they would speak to team leader and call me back
            before 4pm

            3.45pm Social Services called me on work's number to say they would discuss
            case following morning when case loads reviewd and newcomers assigned
            Social Worker

Wed 25th July (morning)

Social Worker rang me at home to say she assigned dad’s case and arranged home visit to assess situation

             Thurdsay morning SW came to assess dad’s situation towards drawing care
             plan. Discussed home care using Family Based Care Service plus possibility of
             day care plus linking in with CPN (still no news input from CPN). SW made no
             mention my right to help as carer, drew up care plan entirely in dad’s name
             apportioning all support and charges to him. Left form for financial assessment
             for me to fill in on dad’s behalf. Seemed to ignore me when I said I may need
             some care support in my own right to free me to pursue my own interests
             should dad not settle back down to his former self .

Thursday 26th July

Joiner came to look at door. Agreed it rotten beyond repair. Said he would make a report for landlord to review re: aurthorising replacement.

Friday 27th July

Came home from voluntary work to find message on answerphone from local hospital saying consultant wanted to arrange home visit to assess dad’s mental state. 5pm approx. Rang back but no answer.

Monday 30th July

Tried ringing consultant again and got through to ward secretary who, knew about case and said consultant in Northwich area later in week and would like to visit and assess dad same time.

           Was happy to arrange for consultant to come and to make it easy informed
           secretary I worked Tuesday and Friday afternoons between 1pm and 4pm but
           free all other days and times. Secretary said she would coordinate with
           consultant and see what they said.

Monday afternoon

Hospital ward secretary called to say consultant would accomodate for my voluntary work and call as late as they could the following Tuesday afternoon. Estimated it would be between 3.30 and 4pm.

          Had important appointment re: work requiring action but felt there a good chance
          could get through and leave for home half hour early so agreed to consultant's
          visit Tuesday 3.30 pm to 4pm

Tuesday 7th August (2.30pm)

Consultant called me on mobile to complain they were at house and dad would not let him in, could I come home and open door. Said arrangement to call between 3.30 and 4pm insignificant. they were at house now and dad would not let them in to do assessment. If assessment was to be done today would have to help them access house.

           Again a colleague covered for me at work so could go home.

                   Once allowed consultant into house found him to be inconsiderate in
                   attitude. Did little but complain house not clean enough, papers
                   everywhere and puddle on floor just inside back door.

                  Spent about hour and half asking dad series of questions such as who is
                  Prime Minister, what day and date is it, did dad know where he was (location
                  in house), gave dad written commands to look at and follow.

                  Dad found this all very difficult and so tried to conceal his inability to
                  comprehend by ignoring consultant and finally, antagonised, became
                  sarcastic. Consultant then complained dad was still suffering from his chest
                  infection and off colour making it impossible for them to do proper
                  assessment. Wanted dad admitted to hospital. consultant complained GP
                  not taking enough interest in dad’s progress, complained I was exacerbating
                  situation not requiring GP to visit and continue dad’s anti-biotic treatment.
                  (No consideration for dad and his part / feelings at all. Dad can get very
                  stubborn and refuses to take medicines once feeling over worst of illness.
                  No consideration whatsoever that if dad didn't understand or agree medicine
                  is needed he distrusts taking it.   Feels "we" are trying to get hin out of the
                  house, very insecure.

                            (In my opinion dad’s insecurity is not helped by experience of his
                            youngest brother having a motorcycle accident (before it became
                            compulsary to wear crash helmets) and damaging his brain for which
                            surgery was required. Brother was in hospital for a long time
                            recovering and on hearing he had brain damage his wife left and
                            divorced him saying she didn’t want to be married to a loony.   She had
                            only just given birth to brother's daughter and so brother went into a
                            big black depression from which he never really recovered.

                            Brother also had regular bouts of vexation for which he had to be
                            forceably removed out of the house to hospital where he was given
                            electric shock treatment to calm him down and control him.

                             And this information I have shared with GP approx summer 1999).

                 Consultant left us saying they would write to GP with observations and we
                 should wait and take further action at that time. Meantime consultant
                 suggested dad needed hospitalization though he wouldn’t hospitalise himself
                 but instructed me to telephone GP and ask GP to hospitalise dad the
                 moment consultant out of the house. Said if GP refused to hospitalise I
                 should take dad to outpatients at local Infirmary and insist they hospitalise
                 him. Said in hospital they could treat dad’s chest infection and allow mental
                 health assessment to be carried out properly.