• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Really need help.....

A

Angelus71

Newbie
Messages
1
Hi all

I really need a lot of help from this forum!

Where to begin?.......

My sister’s carer (her partner of 15 years) decided to leave her without warning a couple of days ago. This has left us totally shocked, and now we have to work out how to help her.

I live in the US, so my other sister and brother are doing what they can for now. I’ve been calling her 3 or 4 times a day as she’s been very depressed and suicidal (which is understandable).

She has Type 2 diabetes and takes a lot of pills each day. She also has Peripheral Neuropathy and Diabetic Retinopathy...I hope these are correct as I’m totally new to terms and medications.

I’ve been doing some research on what her medications are…..

(I know these are the correct spellings of them)

Metformin
Methyldopa

(these, I’m not sure of the spellings as she told me the names on the phone, she’s legally blind and cannot read the bottles, so I’ll have to wait until my other sister writes the names down)

Bendra (for water retention)
Hermethacyde (for water retention)
Atemeroyl

She also takes Insulin injections, not sure if it’s once or twice a day, I’ll ask her later. She monitors her BG levels and it seems ok. She needs oxygen throughout the day too, although, she can take her mask off for a few hours each day.

My other sister is going to call my diabetic sisters social worker tomorrow and see what needs to be done.

We’re totally shocked at what has happened as her partner is the last person in the world we would have thought would do something like this. We said it would have been easier if he had died as it would have been easier to accept. Sorry for rambling, but I really need all the help I can get.

Thanks

Larry
 
I don't know anything about your sisters medication, but it seems like you have been making a good start between you with what you are planning.

There may be others coming along who can advise you better than I can..
 
Advice really depends on where Angelus's sister lives - I'm guessing in UK, but services vary between areas. Contacting diabetes specialist nurse would be a good start - I've never heard of diabetes social workers, although there are psychiatric social workers, and it sounds like mental health is a big issue here, plus bing on oxygen might mean there's a respiratory specialist nurse and consultant as well. Local council may be able to arrange an occupational therapy assessment, eventually, and perhaps supply some aids and adaptions (depends on landlord if property is rented), and possibly some adult social care, although spending cuts have meant cut backs in this area; if sister is over 65, might be easier as she counts as elderly, and if over 70 or 75 might be easier to qualify for help. In addition, worth asking Citizens Advice Bureau or local welfare rights advice centre to check that she is getting all benefits - as she now lives alone, she might be entitled to council tax rebate etc.
 
Back
Top