Hello,
I hope you don’t mind me posting this here: I have MS, but for once this is not about me - it’s about my elderly neighbour who has recently become disabled. Looking online I’ve struggled to find a similar forum to ask for help, but I thought some of you might have answers.
My neighbour was discharged home from hospital, she’s in her 80s. She basically can’t get out of her recliner chair. It took a long time for her to get any care arranged, now she has 4 short visits a day - as far as I can tell they basically change incontinence pads. She has pressures sores due to long periods without moving - each time they change the pads they rip open the sores so they don’t heal: so she’s in a lot of pain.
My neighbour is utterly depressed, having lost her ability to walk in short order. NHS/allied services - district nurses, physio/rehab people - have done next to nothing. They promise to visit but don’t turn up. A wheelchair was delivered - dumped there - my neighbour has no idea how to use it, can’t get into it.
I feel she needs proper assessment and rehab. What do you do if this doesn’t happen? Is this scenario familiar to those of you whose MS has caused significant disability?
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I’m so sorry your poor neighbour is going through this. Was she discharged with a care package in place? The hospital should have done this, and made sure she had all relevant equipment in situ before discharge home, plus they can offer rehabilitation before going home. They have facilities that will support individuals with rehabilitation before being discharged home. This wouldn’t happen if she lived in a care home. The trouble is nowadays you need someone to fight your corner to makes sure you get the help you need on leaving hospital. Has she any family that can intervene on her behalf? If she has pressure sores then she should be prescribed the appropriate cream and these should be dressed and graded by a community nurse, also if she has pressure sores has she been provided with pressure relieving equipment? Repose mattress, cushion, or a airwave mattress and cushion depending on her water low score. Her GP can prescribe the cream for pressure sores, but if they’re open and bleeding they need to be checked, graded by the community nurses.
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Thanks so much for this really helpful response.
She has now been visited by district nurses sufficiently to make some progress on the pressure sores - application of barrier creams, and what they can provide by way of cushioning.
The rehab seems to have been virtually non-existent. The attitude seems to be, she’s old, she doesn’t matter, she can just sit in a chair for the rest of her life and never leave the room again. She does have family, but for various reasons (eg distance) they are not in much of a position to help. I might see if I can get her permission to ring the rehab service one day - but I suspect they won’t talk to me!
Anyway, thanks again for your thoughts.
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You’re very welcome indeed, and I hope things start to improve for your neighbour. Unfortunately I was given the same attitude when I was in hospital back in April. The neurologist stated that’s ok as you’re going home to carers, which I intern stated no I’m not so insisted on having a stair assessment before discharge. Try customer first to see if they can offer some guidance to enable you to speak up for your neighbour. Unfortunately it’s all about who can shout the loudest to get the help they deserve. I’m not saying it’s right, far from it!
She’s lucky to have an advocate, and really hope things improve.
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