What if…there’s an emergency?

My mum, who has also always been my best friend, came to live with me in 2019, when her vascular dementia was clearly interfering with her ability to continue living safely in her own home. Despite my having to work in a very demanding job, and having no additional support, we managed.

However, in May 2021, I became very ill and was told I had to go to A & E, where I was diagnosed with septicaemia and told I would have to be admitted. After pleading with the duty doctor, I was allowed to return home to put my mum to bed and settle her and to explain to her that I would have to go to hospital for a little while.

After a scan, I was told that I had a liver abscess and kidney abscess which had caused the septicaemia and that I would have to be admitted.

I was struggling to stay conscious at this point but had to find some care for my mum.

I was told that she wouldn’t be eligible for social care. All they could do would be to admit her to hospital too, so that at least she was safe.

I will always remember how awful it was to be feeling so very ill and so very, very worried about my mum. Elaine, dementia carer