My mother has Vascular Dementia and Alzheimers and had to go into hospital with a serious chest infection with the added complication of heart failure. I was with her every day.

On top of the White Board behind their beds is a smallish form, (left of photo) with their name, what they want to be called and who their Nurse and Dr is.    

Having been there a couple of days I noticed that the staff were working really hard were not aware that my mum had Dementia. So when she went on the commode, they always left her with the Buzzer and said call us when you have finished. You ask my Mum a question or tell her something she will say fine, ok or yes. As this is where she is with her Dementia. Therefore she was left on the commode, or she came off the commode and didn't clean her self. 

The Tea trolley would come around and they would ask mum what she wanted, she wanted coffee and sugar. Well, she never drinks coffee, only Tea and her regular GP has said NO sugar. 

The staff were great, really lovely, don't get me wrong. Doing what they could. I was happy to help mum, get the commode, get her water, take her to the toilet. I know the nurses and staff are really busy, and was very happy to help out in this way. 

I noticed that the large White Board behind Mums bed (and everyone else's) wasn't being used. Therefore I asked the nurse behind the desk could I please write on this board. And she said yes. 

I wrote a lovely note regarding my mum. Explaining she had dementia, she loves hugs, etc and she does not know how to use the buzzer etc. Just short and sweet little story about her. Which i know she wouldn't mind and which gave the staff a quick insight to how my mother was. Some of the staff walked past and loved it, one guy said wow, you really love your mother. 

Remember I had asked permission to use this board from the Nurse behind the desk. 

Well, the Ward Manager came and made me wrong for what I had done, didn't want to hear that I had asked permission, was incredibly rude and thought he knew what was happening on the ward when he was stuck in the office. Absolutely Incredible.  He hadn't even had the courtesy to read what I had written. He wasn't even aware that my mum had Dementia.  In the end we compromised' that I could write a page that was put in mums file. 

Sincerely, with the nurses so busy, how many people will read that? 

My petition is for the People that don't have a voice in Hospital. Those that might have Dementia, Alzheimers, Disabilities, Children perhaps.

Yes my mother is a Patient but she is also a Person. She cannot express herself. The nurses could read really quickly a few things about mum and understood within seconds how she was. 

People met mum on the ward and didn't understand her. People who took her blood and when they did she wanted a hug, she has no discrimination, age, shape, size, religion as this is who she is now. So to be able to write that on the board, means the the people aren't shocked when she says can I have a hug. They realise within seconds how she is and can treat her accordingly. 

Please sign this petition.

We need to change the rules in Hospitals, so that for people like my mum we can let the wonderful hospital staff know within seconds when they read the board that this person can't talk for herself but her family can. 

Here's a photo of what I wrote. Whats wrong with this?

Please lets get the Hospital Trusts over England change their rules on using the White Boards for 'those without a voice" 

 As the picture doesn't show it all I have written it down.

My name is Marianne. I have Vascular Dementia and Alzheimers. Moderate - S.  I will not use call button because I don't know how.  She loves hugs. She's very passive and will say she's fine when she isn't. She will say Yes to everything! I love her dearly please look after her when I am not here. Thank you. Daughter.

 

14 Nov: Headline in News. "DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN ENGLAND AND WALES". 

Maybe just maybe we could make a difference to that headline with the Petition.... who knows. But it we don't try.........