My elderly parent suffers from Alzheimer's and in their mind, they are around 6 years old and living with their family overseas. Over the last year my parent has had a few visits to Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) Emergency Department (ED) with fluid on their lungs.
From the Ambulance staff and to ED I cannot fault the service, very caring and professional. I always feel my parent is in very safe hands. When they are sent to the wards is where my family and I have no confidence in my parent's personal care (not medical). It starts by us explaining my parent has Alzheimer's and the nurse then proceeds to tell my parent how to use the call button! I arrived to find their lunch sitting on a tray which was pushed away from the bed. My parent cannot walk so there is no way they could reach it or understand that it was their lunch.
I had to leave and asked the nurse to please check on my parent. My sibling arrived around 2 hours later and my parent's bed was covered in food and they were soaking wet as was their bedding. My sibling had to find help and then had to help clean and redress my parent. I feel there is a lack of understanding of what Alzheimer's is and what sort of care sufferers need. Which concerns me because we are talking about a hospital.
"Caring for my parent with Alzheimer's"
About: Royal Perth Hospital / Older Adult Acute Care (Geriatric) & Ward 9A/9B Royal Perth Hospital Older Adult Acute Care (Geriatric) & Ward 9A/9B Perth 6000
Posted by warmhp77 (as ),
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