My dad

Hello all new to this

I am struggling with my dad and have been really for past 6 months .

He has has parkinsons for over 20 yrs now...hes 74 yrs old now.

He is currently in hospital with a urine infection which has gone into his kidneys , although they say hes kidneys are ok which is great .

I also have a blind mother, they both live together with just carers coming in for 4 hrs a day , i am their only daughter , well i have a sister with celebral palsy but bless her she is unable to help.

I have had to resign from my job to look after them , and although i am a strong person am finding it hard at the moment . I have no partner just 1 daughter aged 19

I would be grateful to chat to someone who poss can help and understands end stage parkinsons .

Many thanks and sorry to bleet on

Joanne

Dear Joanne,

My husband has had Parkinsons for over twenty years, also. He is 68 years old and has been home on hospice care for a number of months now. He is unable to do anything for himself anymore and is in bed full-time. He had recurrent urinary tract infections until his hospice doctor prescribed a medicine called nitrofurantoin. He has not had a uti since. Hospice has been a wonderful help to us. I resisted calling hospice for over a year, until a close friend saw my exhaustion and suggested I just get an evaluation, which I did. Not all hospices are the same. If you are open to hospice care, I would recommend finding the non-profit hospice in your community and contacting them. All of my husband's hospice care is paid by his Medicare insurance; that includes his hospital bed (which we have set up at a window so he can see the world), all of his medications, his weekly nurse visits, his bi-monthly doctor visits, his thrice-weekly aide, respite care for me, and a host of other services. I can say that despite our worries and dread about this time, we are happy and contented. I am so sorry you have to deal with so much alone. It sounds like you are really a caregiver for three. Hope this helps.