Old age dementia
Discussion
I have an OAP type neighbour, whose dog I occassionally exercise...even moreso in this weather. Since the snow was quite thick on the ground today, took the dog out for his fix. I'm well aware that snow/ice frightens old folk so they don't exercise their pooches.
When I returned the dog to it's owner's house earlier today, there was a very strong smell of gas...seems the owner had forgotten he'd left the gas on without lighting it. When I mention the strong smell of gas, I'm thanked and he turns the gas hob dial off, and thanks me for bringing his attention to it. He also says in his Dementia class that he attends he's told this is a common problem. I make sure the open door and 'cross draught' through the window release the built up gas before I leave.
I'm not really too sure where to go from here. He's about 80 years old, has no family - there is a main ( as opposed to me) voluntary dog walker type that helps out. She has told me that he's been diagnosed with Dementia - and she's trying to get him some extra help.
If I hadn't noticed the gas smell, the chances are he'd have blown himself up ( and neighbouring houses too)...so anty advice please?
When I returned the dog to it's owner's house earlier today, there was a very strong smell of gas...seems the owner had forgotten he'd left the gas on without lighting it. When I mention the strong smell of gas, I'm thanked and he turns the gas hob dial off, and thanks me for bringing his attention to it. He also says in his Dementia class that he attends he's told this is a common problem. I make sure the open door and 'cross draught' through the window release the built up gas before I leave.
I'm not really too sure where to go from here. He's about 80 years old, has no family - there is a main ( as opposed to me) voluntary dog walker type that helps out. She has told me that he's been diagnosed with Dementia - and she's trying to get him some extra help.
If I hadn't noticed the gas smell, the chances are he'd have blown himself up ( and neighbouring houses too)...so anty advice please?
If he's going to dementia classes then presumably he's got a diagnosis & it's still in relatively early stages?
If he's known to be suffering from dementia then he should ideally have a community psychiatric nurse assigned. He may also be on medication to improve memory (Aricept for example), if he is then that would tend to indicate he's had a formal diagnosis (and should therefore be known to 'the system')
If he's got a CPN then if he's functioning relatively well, they probably only call every 2-4 weeks or even less if he's fairly stable but these are the people you need to talk to. They have a myriad of tips, tricks & can point the way to other services as appropriate.
They may for example suggest remote monitoring of gas alarms & bath water levels. They may be able to arrange a gas isolation switch. They may be able to arrange carers to come in every so often.
it all depends on the needs of this individual though (& the area he's in I guess).
Also worth looking up the Alzheimers Society & info like this
There's a lot that can be done to help Alzheimers sufferers to continue life at home, the problem is just knowing what's available.
If you know his GP, then ask if there's any involvement from the Community Mental Health Team. Otherwise, it may be worth a call to the local CMHT (try asking to be put through to the older peoples' section, they may or may not split it like that but it might be a shortcut to the right department) & see if he's known to them.
I'm not in any way medically qualified (other than an out of date First Aid Cert so take my advice with a pinch of salt) but my wife - a dedicated & rather cute CPN - is forever blathering on about just this sort of situation.
If he's known to be suffering from dementia then he should ideally have a community psychiatric nurse assigned. He may also be on medication to improve memory (Aricept for example), if he is then that would tend to indicate he's had a formal diagnosis (and should therefore be known to 'the system')
If he's got a CPN then if he's functioning relatively well, they probably only call every 2-4 weeks or even less if he's fairly stable but these are the people you need to talk to. They have a myriad of tips, tricks & can point the way to other services as appropriate.
They may for example suggest remote monitoring of gas alarms & bath water levels. They may be able to arrange a gas isolation switch. They may be able to arrange carers to come in every so often.
it all depends on the needs of this individual though (& the area he's in I guess).
Also worth looking up the Alzheimers Society & info like this
There's a lot that can be done to help Alzheimers sufferers to continue life at home, the problem is just knowing what's available.
If you know his GP, then ask if there's any involvement from the Community Mental Health Team. Otherwise, it may be worth a call to the local CMHT (try asking to be put through to the older peoples' section, they may or may not split it like that but it might be a shortcut to the right department) & see if he's known to them.
I'm not in any way medically qualified (other than an out of date First Aid Cert so take my advice with a pinch of salt) but my wife - a dedicated & rather cute CPN - is forever blathering on about just this sort of situation.
Pot Bellied Fool said:
They may for example suggest remote monitoring of gas alarms & bath water levels.
Just to follow that up. Do a search on telecare & you'll find stuff like this gas alarm that's monitored remotely.Not sure how funding works for the Telecare schemes & probably varies according to location but it's the sort of thing that Social Services may well provide to somebody in his position where's he's by & large doing ok (& should continue to do so for some time) but just needs a bit of support.
...and good on yer for being a good neighbour to the old chap.
ETA: Are you in Bedford? If so, have a look at http://www.blpt.nhs.uk/UserFiles/File/CMHT.pdf
Edited by Pot Bellied Fool on Thursday 7th January 13:46
Many thanks for your help
I'll certainly be looking into the gas monitoring as a matter of urgency - he doesn't have a sense of smell so wouldn't be able to detect it himself. I'm slightly puzzled as to why the dog ( Jack Russell) didn't react to it, or perhaps he sensed the problem was being sorted. I'll try and find out if he has a gas boiler as well, as it's unlikely to have been serviced for the last few years.
His house is sandwiched between 2 others, and I'm tempted to warn them. Both of his neighbours have lived there for 20 odd years, likewise myself, but will probably do so once an action plan is in place ( no need scaring them
)
eta Yes we're a few miles North of Bedford
I'll certainly be looking into the gas monitoring as a matter of urgency - he doesn't have a sense of smell so wouldn't be able to detect it himself. I'm slightly puzzled as to why the dog ( Jack Russell) didn't react to it, or perhaps he sensed the problem was being sorted. I'll try and find out if he has a gas boiler as well, as it's unlikely to have been serviced for the last few years.
His house is sandwiched between 2 others, and I'm tempted to warn them. Both of his neighbours have lived there for 20 odd years, likewise myself, but will probably do so once an action plan is in place ( no need scaring them
)eta Yes we're a few miles North of Bedford
Edited by condor on Thursday 7th January 14:01
Thanks for that link - he goes to the Clapham hospital. He had a chiropidist appointment there yesterday, which was when I took his dog out for a couple of hours. Only thing was the chiropidist hadn't turned up so he returned home...and I guess he was in a confused and dissapointed state.
It depends how far you want to get involved. While you may feel sorry for them and want to help out, what is a friendship as a concerned neighbour/nice person could quickly turn into you being the point of contact and as such a commitment almost as a carer. Old people usually tend to go down hill very quickly. I've seen it with my nan and wifeys nan.
Social services will be able to assess if they are fit to be on their own still and take it from there. While it is not ideal, it is the best way if they are heading towards the point where they may be a danger to themselves and others.
Social services will be able to assess if they are fit to be on their own still and take it from there. While it is not ideal, it is the best way if they are heading towards the point where they may be a danger to themselves and others.
Whilst we were trying to sort out the gas-monitoring possibibility....it got a lot worse. It was fortunate there wasn't an explosion.
The outcome is that we've had all gas supplies to his house stopped, and replaced his gas cooker with an electric one. The social services are involved, but they just take too long to attend. There could have been a massive explosion that destroyed half of the street...it was one flick of a switch away from happening.
What concerns me is there is an army of old folk, who have noone to care for them, and they're just left to fend for themselves....although, in reality, there are.
It just seems to me that they feel so lost.
The outcome is that we've had all gas supplies to his house stopped, and replaced his gas cooker with an electric one. The social services are involved, but they just take too long to attend. There could have been a massive explosion that destroyed half of the street...it was one flick of a switch away from happening.
What concerns me is there is an army of old folk, who have noone to care for them, and they're just left to fend for themselves....although, in reality, there are.
It just seems to me that they feel so lost.
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