tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post7068328165693706252..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: crossing the riverSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-8312636253807223862013-12-27T15:50:20.877+00:002013-12-27T15:50:20.877+00:00Hi Anon - A desperately sad story. So even though ...Hi Anon - A desperately sad story. So even though she was suffering from dementia, there was no legal way of transferring control of the family finances to her sons? I don't think I'll ever understand the law of these things! <br /><br />I keep talking about making a Living Will to pre-empt some of these difficulties, but so far I haven't got round to it. (Not sure what the legal status of those things are anyway - but I should at least do some research...). <br /><br />Thanks very much for the comment, Anon. Best wishes for the New Year.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-40887605990938733252013-12-27T13:33:10.566+00:002013-12-27T13:33:10.566+00:00Similar thing happened in an extension of our fami...Similar thing happened in an extension of our family just before Christmas last year. The husband dropped dead with an aneurysm - leaving his desperately demented wife and two grown-up sons. He'd cared for her wonderfully - but what he hadn't done was arrange for this eventuality. There was no power of attorney so she was "in charge" of all the funds. She needed 24 hour nursing care - not according to social services despite being unable to move at all alone - but although money would have been no problem they couldn't use it to pay privately and she wasn't competent. Mercifully she deteriorated within weeks to needing hospital admission (which otherwise wouldn't have been necessary) and died soon after. <br /><br />No Spence - nothing fair at all and it is the longest lasting bereavement. The spiritual person has died - but is physically still there. I don't care how I die - as long as it is quick. For me and mine...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-37532402620923608202013-12-12T19:11:47.350+00:002013-12-12T19:11:47.350+00:00Hey Anon
So sorry to hear about your father. I re...Hey Anon<br /><br />So sorry to hear about your father. I really think dementia and all those progressive diseases that effect the brain are particularly awful. 'A slow mental amputation' is exactly what it is, and must make it so hard to cope. I hope you & your family are getting all the help you need at home. <br /><br />This job was especially cruel. Vera was actually pretty healthy, hardly on any meds, the active carer of her husband - who in himself was in good nick, despite the Alzheimer's. Fairness never did come into it, I suppose, but still...<br /><br />Best wishes, Anon - and thanks very much for the comment. Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-17410963436614093762013-12-12T14:51:23.733+00:002013-12-12T14:51:23.733+00:00The first patient who arrested in my care after re...The first patient who arrested in my care after registering as a paramedic had a PE. It shocked me to feel so helpless and it brought home the fact that advanced skills really are icing. Sometimes basics and diesel are it.<br /><br />Dementia complicates everything. I used to work in Elderly Care in a hospital setting and Consultants who described patients as 'pleasantly demented' infuriated me. The patient may have lost awareness of their state but it's a slow mental amputation of the person that you love for their families. It's anything but pleasant.<br /><br /> My father has just been diagnosed with dementia and would be lost without my mum. So basically, you just made cry... But that's okay, because I'd rather empathise than not. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-46028059006369513862013-12-12T11:39:14.002+00:002013-12-12T11:39:14.002+00:00Hi Jack
It's dreadful to think of the impact ...Hi Jack<br /><br />It's dreadful to think of the impact this'll have on his life - not least because he won't be in a position to grasp it rationally. Dementia often puts such a cruel twist on these things. <br /><br />And of course, Vera's death will also mean he'll have to be cared for in some other place. But the good news is, I have no doubt he <i>will</i> be cared for, of course, so that's a positive.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-43703187055025361212013-12-12T08:04:45.017+00:002013-12-12T08:04:45.017+00:00Hey Tracey - Thanks so much for your comment. It&#...Hey Tracey - Thanks so much for your comment. It's really kind of you to take the time. It definitely helps with that feeling of unease I have sometimes (all the time, actually) writing about some of these very personal things. Very much appreciated.<br /><br />Hi Lynda - I didn't know you used to be an EMT! I don't like the sound of that injury you took, though. (I think I almost joined you on that one, lifting that enormous patient the other day when we really should've called for back-up). <br /><br />So sorry to hear about your sister. PEs are such dreadful & scary things. We felt pretty helpless in the face of this particular patient. Other than the basics - and then CPR - there wasn't much we could do to help. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment, Lynda - and your long-term support. I hope everything's good with you today. <br /><br />:) <br /><br /> Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-28389916997608610532013-12-12T07:57:42.794+00:002013-12-12T07:57:42.794+00:00A sad tale Spence.
My Father-in-Law's next do...A sad tale Spence.<br /><br />My Father-in-Law's next door neighbour is suffering with dementia.When his wife died,he forgot it,then remembered it and so on.<br /><br />Very sad for Jack.jacksofbuxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420847156401984373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-91223155084448217832013-12-12T03:43:34.669+00:002013-12-12T03:43:34.669+00:00Your writing makes me so glad that I read you. Tha...Your writing makes me so glad that I read you. Thank you for sharing these stories, they do make one stop and think. I lost my younger sister five years ago, she was 49, to a PE that killed her in less than fifteen minutes. We were shattered by that sudden death. My EMT career didn't last long due to injury but the desire to read about of it and learn as much as I can remains and your blog helps. Thank you.Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08938791116446859160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-18087367626454845812013-12-12T00:13:50.974+00:002013-12-12T00:13:50.974+00:00Long time reader, first time commenter i think. yo...Long time reader, first time commenter i think. your posts make for powerful reading, but this, like the last poster, it just stopped me in my tracks. <br /><br />I think you capture the characters of people brilliantly. When i read your posts i can imagine these people and their lives as if I know them like a next-door neighbour or pub regular. Its that sense of the lives of these people that makes your posts like this so heartstopping. Its not just the events you write about that make me keep reading, its the fact that you do capture the essence of a person, of their life before and you make us feel for them not just read about them. Its not just another name, another body, another story to you or to us. <br /><br />i worry about jack, do hope hes being looked out for now. Poor man, poor vera.<br /><br />thank you Spence for writing your blog.<br /><br />Tracey Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-17923895842384486272013-12-11T23:24:41.730+00:002013-12-11T23:24:41.730+00:00Hi Martine
Sometimes I worry these pieces might b...Hi Martine<br /><br />Sometimes I worry these pieces might be too voyeuristic. But then I suppose that's an occupational hazard when you're writing about real & traumatic events in peoples' lives. The other thing I worry about (<i>I worry a lot</i>) is that there's too much focus on that one event. I take it out of context, and the sense of the lives that went before it gets lost. Again - an occupational hazard. I'm not sure what my point is, here! <br /><br />Anyway - to cut a long story short, thanks for reading, Martine. Very much appreciated.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-87828508956282074262013-12-11T21:34:45.991+00:002013-12-11T21:34:45.991+00:00You bought my day to a halt and reminded me I shou...You bought my day to a halt and reminded me I should get off the internet.martinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260048849955077472noreply@blogger.com