I need a perfect watch for a nurse.

Need advice on how to help my nana? URGENT help needed any advice welcome please i am begging...?

• After years of health issues being ignored by the crappy UK NHS, my nana has recently been diagnosed with Dementia following an MRI scan, all though we have seen her deteriorate for years, she has also been declared blind (she can see a bit but blurred), she is incontinent, has a bad prolapse down below and had numerous heart/blood problems, ALL which could of been treated or prevented if she had recieved the correct care. Because of neglection, over the past 3 months, we have seen her mental awareness rapidly drop, sometimes she seems ok, but a lot of the time she is confused, you cant have a conversation with her, and she cant understand us or remember our names (she does recognize us though)... For nearly three weeks now, she has spent morning til night, day in day out, every single day in the bath, refusing to get out for anybody except for bed, and even then she gets up as early as possible before her husband is awake (he is her registered carer) and gets back in. We have tried everything to get her out, we have tried turning the water heat off but she knows how to turn it back on, if we try to take out the plug she sits on it, and not only that but she cries and gets so upset and we don't have the heart to force her out. We are a large close family and we hate seeing her this upset, she is depressed and hates being in the bath but she claims it burns her legs with her incontinence and hates wetting her self even though she has tena lady pads to stop any leaking. After her mental health nurse and GP doctor ignored us asking for help for 2 weeks, he finally diagnosed her with UTI (urinary tract infection). They have told us that this amount of time spent in the bath is bad for her bladder and her health, mentally and physically but we dont know what to do to get her out, she isn't stupid and she gets very upset/ agressive when we try to reason with her. 2 nights ago i stayed over to give my grandad a good nights sleep as she gets up through the night, and when i woke up, i set my alarm for 6am and found her already in the bath but she was unconcious, she wouldnt wake up and the water was just below her mouth so she could of drowned, we rang an ambulance, and at hospital, still unconcious, she was taken for loads of tests and scans to see what happened, they couldnt find anything obvious after the CT scan and tests, and at 3pm she woke up, and the next day (today) they discharged her, after we begged them to keep her in and help, they claimed that because she wasnt urgently ill and she had perked up again, they couldnt keep her in. So we took her home. Straight away, she tricked my grandad in saying she was going to the toilet, and she got straight in the bath, she is still in there now. I know it isnt seriously harming her, but we cant watch her all night, what if she falls unconcious and we arent there and she drowns? Please help me, I am only 21, I havent had a social life since last year, i am working 7 days a week morning and night to pay bills and for her healthcare, and a solicitor i have hired to take action. but cant afford to go privately, and i cant afford a decent care home for her, and dont trust them after all the horror stories i have read about the staff! Please any advice welcome?? For now i just need to get my nana out the bath :(

• Answer:

  For whatever reason Nana must see the bath as a safe place or a place of comfort. I would guess that her bedroom would be her first choice but that is her husbands bedroom also. Therefore she tucks away in the bath instead. Fear of not being relevant or useful anymore to your friends or loved ones is a very big contributor to depression amongst people with Alzheimer's or dementia. Depression is very common among people with dementia. Caregivers should know the signs of depression can include poor sleep, poor appetite, becoming a loner, lack of energy and feelings of guilt. Depression may also be a side-effect of medication. Things you can try Some suggestions for dealing with depression include: Try to keep a daily routine for the person with dementia. Limit the amount of noise and activity in the environment if this causes a problem. This will help avoid over stimulation. Large group situations can make some people feel worse, while others may benefit from the stimulation of a busy, active gathering. It is important to know what the person has enjoyed in the past, as it is likely that similar activities will still appeal now. Have a realistic expectation of what the person can do. Expecting too much can make both the person with dementia and the caregiver feel frustrated and upset. Be aware of when the person is least fatigued and do any important tasks at that time. Be positive. Frequent praise will help both the person with dementia and the caregiver feel better.