Elderly parents or relatives to care for and/or worry about? This is the place for you.

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Jun 2017
8:57am, 13 Jun 2017
17,595 posts
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LindsD
I thought I'd start a thread, as lots of us have elderly folks that we worry about/care for.
Jun 2017
8:59am, 13 Jun 2017
17,596 posts
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LindsD
I'll start:

Dad - 86, cancer relapse, palliative care only.
Mum - 74, physically quite fit for her age, memory problems.

I used to joke that I was lucky that they had each other as one without the other would be a great cause for concern. Now I'm looking at that scenario. Luckily they are only an hour away.
Jun 2017
9:11am, 13 Jun 2017
27,516 posts
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oldbiddynandi
Dad- 89, Dementia, physically frail, angina, collapsed lumbar spine
Mum-87, Frail, Type 1 diabetic, memory issues

They struggle on, with friends and us to help where necessary. They live 35 minutes away
Jun 2017
9:12am, 13 Jun 2017
4,923 posts
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Mandymoo
Mum 87 on her own.

Good health for her age, no financial issues but def a half glass empty person and quite hard work.

Live 5 mins away from all of us kids
Jun 2017
9:13am, 13 Jun 2017
1,870 posts
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Fragile Do Not Bend
*checks in*

Dad - 75, seemed so fit and well until a couple of years ago when he started having kidney problems, more recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma (which was probably the cause of the kidney problems) and is suffering very badly with his back as the cancer is causing compression fractures. He's also incredibly tired due to the chemo and anemia.

Mum - 73, currently heathy apart from usual age niggles (*touches wood*) and I suspect quite depressed about Dad

MIL - 80s, hemiplegic and aphasic after a stroke, SIL looked after her for years to her own health detriment but now MIL is in a nursing home and thankfully NHS funded, but that causes annual stress when the funding is reviewed. God knows what happens if the NHS funding goes, as the home costs more than social service will pay and she doesn't have that much money to her name.

Gosh that turned into quite an essay, it was good to write it down though.
Jun 2017
9:17am, 13 Jun 2017
23,541 posts
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Diogenes
Mum, 86 in September, on her own since Dad died last year. Able to look after herself at home, but vulnerable. Vascular dementia recently diagnosed, MeniƩres Disease, angina. Lives just over an hour away. Has been hospitalized twice in last 8 months.
Jun 2017
9:18am, 13 Jun 2017
1,871 posts
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Fragile Do Not Bend
(actually should have written hemiparesis not hemiplegia in case anyone medical is watching!)
Jun 2017
9:34am, 13 Jun 2017
562 posts
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Vixx
Mom - 70, rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosed last year), osteoarthritis (since age 18), sleep apnoea, type 1/2 diabetes (to be determined whether it will be 1), has had a couple of heart attacks. Just got back home after a month in hospital having tests. Consultant has said she is unlikely to walk again.

I live with her 2 nights a week for work, but am beginning to find that although she has carers, she is starting to take up my time when I should be working. Does anyone have any advice on boundary-setting?
Jun 2017
10:26am, 13 Jun 2017
11,979 posts
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Carpathius
Mother in law, 77. Widowed very unexpectedly last year. Early dementia, heart problems, anxiety. Physically frail. Lives on whisky and cigarettes.

Aunt in law, 77. Don't even know where to start. Five minutes in her company usually has me thinking murderous thoughts. I am not a nice person.
Jun 2017
10:39am, 13 Jun 2017
3,974 posts
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minardi
Mum - 75, just this morning been diagnosed with severe degenerative arthritis of the spine
Dad - 77, borderline diabetes, bad shakes but refuses to get checked for parkinsons
Both live in an annex we had built last year by converting our office which used to be our garage!
Husband - also getting on a bit but I wouldn't live to tell the tale if I revealed his age. He has just got a hearing aid, undergoing diagnosis for a dodgy ticker and has just been referred to see a surgeon for his spine (again, just this morning!!)

Not really have a great day!

About This Thread

Maintained by LindsD
I thought I'd start a thread, as lots of us have elderly folks that we worry about/care for.

Useful info for after someone dies here (with thanks to grast_girl)
moneysavingexpert.com

Other useful links

myageingparent.com

moneysavingexpert.com

Who pays for residential care? Information here:

ageuk.org.uk

Advice on care homes and payment/funding

theguardian.com

Also: After someone dies, if their home insurance was only in their name, sadly the cover becomes void. But if the policy was in joint names, it will still cover the surviving policyholder (though the names on the policy will need to be updated).

A useful book of exercises for memory loss and dementia
amazon.co.uk

Pension Credit. The rules are a bit complex but if your elderly relative has some sort of disability (in this case dementia/Alzheimer's) and go into a home, they may be able to claim pension credit. So if carers allowance stops, it seems pension credit can start. It can also be backdated.

Fall alarm company, etc.

careium.co.uk

Useful Links

FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.

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