My apologies to everyone at the NewBlueBook and the ex-BBC Forum for my slackness lately – it has been a long while since my last update about Bill, but here’s one and although it’s a bit lengthy it’s a good’un!
We have just received a telephone call from the Social Worker leading Bill’s ‘case’ for his discharge from the NeuroRehabilitation Unit at Amersham Hospital. She was a very kind and helpful lady and was happy to answer Jim’s questions about a suitable Care Package for Bill, etc. Any, this is to bring you up to date.
We had certainly known for quite a while that the Rehab Unit wanted (needed) to discharge him, and we had seen that work was being done (behind the scenes, to us) to achieve this, but of course we were not being told anything as we’re not relatives, so we very much appreciate getting this call.
We also knew of the plans that William and Lidia were making to move into Bill’s house – Tanit. They have already been doing a lot of work on the property, as it had got into quite a state. They’ve replaced the kitchen, mended the roof, re-built the conservatory, etc, and are now decorating and relaying new carpets. However, it took them a long time to de-clutter, so they are still doing the decorating and that’s why the house won’t actually be ready for Bill for another couple of months at least. But William, Lidia and kids will move in at the end of October and that will make it easier for them to get on with the necessary work.
Bill does know about these plans (we were worried that maybe he didn’t and would find it all very distressing) and now he seems keen to go ahead with it all. During our visit on Friday Bill himself showed us a sheet of paper about the Care Home he will be going to, so over the weekend we’ve researched it and the Home looks pretty good, thank goodness. I’ll give some links at the end of this, and attach the info I compiled into a PDF and printed for Bill to look through, to this email
(if it’s not possible to include the attachment, email me on karen4bill@btinternet.com and I’ll send you the PDF).
Bill is actually looking forward to this move, he agreed he is looking forward to getting outside and having some fresh air which he hasn’t had or been able to do since April. The gardens at the Care Home do look lovely. Fingers crossed that the Care Home is as good as it looks online. Bill did, however, admit that he’s a bit nervous about it which is surely only natural – he has been in hospital since April after all and will now have a new routine to get used to and new people to meet.
Bill IS to be discharged this coming Thursday – 26 October – and he will be going into the Care Home on a temporary basis – they are aiming at about two months. During his stay there the Speech Therapist from the Rehab Unit will visit him there to continue therapy sessions. And once they have a date for Bill to move back into Tanit there will be a meeting between Bill, William, Lidia and the Social Worker to discuss the details of the Care Package Bill will need at home.
So, this is all good news, innit!!
He really has made incredible progress, certainly physically. He is walking around really well now. He even walked us to the door so see us “off the premises” yesterday and was very pleased with himself. His right hand – and he is right-handed – is much, much better. He has a lot of movement back in it, but it is still quite weak as is his whole right arm. He has some small balls from Physio that he does hand exercises with and they seem to be doing the job. However, he has had several incidences of clumsiness with that hand – dropped cups, for instance.
He is actually beginning to now to make good progress with his speech too, he is certainly trying very hard. He has been very chuffed to show off and tell us that he can say “wine” and “cheese” and “baby” – all important words to him, obviously! Have to say, his little grandson – William 3rd – is delightful and has a great rapport with Bill (and only 18 months old). Bill now has several sheets of words that are pertinent to him, like those I’ve just mentioned, and he does like to practice them although he does still need a bit of prodding to get the sounds right.
We are still quite baffled about the fact that Bill can read and he reads quite voraciously his crime thrillers. He tore through the first two volumes of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and was excited when I took in the third one – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest – even though it’s a thick one of nearly 800 pages! He likes Lee Childs’ books too. Yes, it is continuing to baffle us that he can read and follow these quite complex plots, but is unable to find the letters he needs to make up words, which means he can’t write or type anything. He does now have nouns, but no verbs or adjectives and he can’t construct a sentence. However, he has asked us to get hold a small laptop for him so perhaps the Speech Therapist is going to encourage him to give that a go. Certainly, when Jim took his own laptop in Bill couldn’t cope at all, though that was a few weeks ago now and we do seem to be seeing obvious signs of progress every single visit now. Mind you, it’s not easy to find a small laptop with a decent spec at a reasonable price, but hey-ho it can be his Christmas present!
Well, he’ll be moving on Thursday so we’ll give him that day and Friday to settle in and we will go and visit him in his new temporary abode on Saturday. I will try and do better and report back after Saturday on how he’s doing and what the Care Home is like. He will certainly be happy to have some different foods to eat, as he’d become thoroughly bored with the repetitive menu at the Rehab Unit. Luckily we’d been supplying him with his much loved as-stinky-as-possible, soft and gooey and smelly French fromage! That and his beloved Radio Times every week!
OK, this is it for now but here are the links I promised for Hazelmere Lodge:
http://www.heritagecare.co.uk/services/counties/homes/hazlemere-lodge/#.WeosieQ1... https://www.carehome.co.uk/carehome.cfm/searchazref/20001025KATA http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-119792031 https://www.nhs.uk/Services/careproviders/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=56447 http://www.housingcare.org/housing-care/facility-info-156966-hazlemere-lodge-hig... http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/facilities/brochures/156966.pdf https://www.facebook.com/hazlemerelodge/ And my PDF is attached.
Regards to all – next update after our weekend visit.
Karen
It doesn't seem as if I can attach my PDF, or I can't see how to do it. I can send it via your email if you let know on karen4bill@btinternet.com
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