The Dementia clinic

The dementia clinic is called the Memory Clinic because nobody likes the word dementia. Perhaps Alzheimer's would be better? My mother has Alzheimer's and yesterday I had to take her to the clinic to see a nurse, to be assessed, and a report will be written about her and sent to her G.P. I appreciate this. The G.P. has not got time to bother with this kind of care, and so it is done by specialists. If a better medicine is found for Alzheimer's I am sure my mother will get it.

The nurse talked to my mother about her life and her habits, and suggested that she go to the Day Centre in order to have more company. My mother had tried the day centre a couple of times and hated it. She said people just sit and look at each other, but the food was good. She was in no hurry to try again but all the health professionals she meets press upon her that this venue is good for her and will give her social stimulation. But although my mother liked talking to the nurse (who was quite grand, really, tall and superior and professionally sympathetic), she doesn't like trying to continue relationships.

She kept telling the nurse that her back hurt; that she had a very bad back. She was distracted by it; couldn't think about the questions. But then she forgot about the bad back and said it was the walking that had helped it (although we hadn't walked far - from the car). Later we had lunch and my mum's back hurt again. I gave her Paracetamol (which I know is hopeless for backs but I didn't have anything else on me). Later I called her to tell her to take her pills (one for blood, one for dementia) and asked her how her back was. She was surprised. She had forgotten about the back and was feeling fine!

After the chat, the nurse had to give my mother a test to see how capable she was of remembering things like the date and the the name of the place she lives, also testing her ability to write and to copy a simple diagram. My mum was quite good! She thought it might be 2007 which is not far out. I was pleased. But apparently she was one point down on last time. so the dementia continues, slowly.

I have continually to worry about my mother's medication and care. She told the nurse that the carer had not made sure she had taken her medicine that morning, but left it on the side, to take whenever, and also said that the carer had not asked her if she wanted sugar in her tea, and had stayed only 10 minutes - she's supposed to be with my mother for half and hour. So I phoned the company to complain. They got in touch with the carer who denied all the above. Of course.

I have been trying to call my mother's doctor about her back - surgery phone busy all the time. ALL THE TIME.

And as for the pharmacist - oh God. It is the most hopeless pharmacy in the world.