So heartbreaking (From York Press)

So heartbreaking

11:50am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Letters

“SO good, so bad” was the headline concerning the care of dementia patients at York Hospital (Letters, May 10).

Sadly my father suffered with this terrible illness and on two occasions had to be released from his care home to the hospital as he contracted pneumonia. All aspects of his care were sadly lacking.

On my visits I was asked to shave him and even administer his medication. In another instance I discovered him sitting on a chair next to an open window absolutely frozen. I was informed by the staff nurse that he had a bad night and they were trying to keep him awake in order that he settled the following night. He was tired out but was not allowed on his bed.

On his discharge and return to his care home he had to be pumped with fluids as he was so dehydrated his skin was flaking.

This condition is heartbreaking and I know to my cost how demanding it is to care for these people. Is it not possible for a ward to be set apart dedicated to them, with carers who have been trained in this area of nursing?

Just before last Christmas, I lost my dad, aged 85, a year after these incidents took place.

So frightened, so confused, he would not have wanted to live as he did, half the man he once was.

So please let us have the basic care and compassion for these people; their world must be a lonely place.

Mrs J Dale, Horsman Avenue, Cemetery Road, York.