My lovely Dad was diagnosed about 2 years ago with Vascular Parkinsonism. He is nearly 88.
He was put on Levodopa but warned it probably wouldn't help and to stop taking it after a month if there was no change. He did persist just in case but after 3 months there was no positive change, quite the opposite, so he stopped. He has not been offered any other medication at all.
The neurologist at the local hospital said she would see him for a review on an annual basis. I couldn't believe this but she said there was not really any point in more regular visits. He is next due to see her in June.
I tried to apply for a Parkinson's Nurse but we were told he does not qualify for one because his condition is vascular.
My Mum has Vascular Dementia and her condition has worsened since August last year when she had a stroke. She's had several TIAs since and is now unable to be fully independent. She is reliant on my ad to prompt and guide her to do things. Luckily he is still pretty sharp (although I've noticed a few memory issues lately) so she is the brawn and he is the brains - for now. I visit daily and make their meals in advance, put them in foil trays and load up the freezer so they can maintain a level of independence - for now.
My Dad took my Mum's attacks very badly and ended up in hospital just after she came out. He was constipated for a week before this but despite me taking him to his GP, contacting the Out Of Hours Emergency Doc on 111 and then demanding his GP visit him at home nothing was done to relieve his discomfort and he fell trying to get out of bed and couldn't get up. His treatment in the local A&E was beyond disgusting, they just didn't care. If he'd had even a tiny bit of mobility left I'd have taken him home again, honestly I'd rather have left him in a Syrian prison! It became apparent that getting him mobile again would be down to me, the nursing staff weren't making any effort, so I spent most of my time in the hospital getting him to use the walking frame and also taking him home cooked meals and helping him eat as he couldn't manage himself. Eventually we got him home but now he can barely get round the bungalow and has huge difficulties getting up from his chair, which is raised up.
He was also denied physiotherapy but I kicked and screamed and eventually got him in. The first session the physio pressed down on his kneecap trying to straighten his leg and he has been in pain with it ever since. I have complained but whatever happens he is now worse than before because of it and I feel dreadful because I was the one who persuaded him to go.
The other day my Mum was crying because she realised she'd forgotten who I was earlier that morning and my Dad was struggling to get out of his chair and saying 'I hate myself'. It was beyond awful and I suddenly felt like I was drowning.. I feel as a family we have been abandoned by the NHS and there doesn't seem to be any other help available apart from getting carers in which would upset my Mum and besides we are not quite there yet. When my Dad loses his mobility altogether of course it will be a different story. However they don't want to 'squander' our inheritance on such things and are determined to stick it out. I am not sure how realistic this is but don't want to cause upset. I know if they both have to go into a home they will be separated because of their very different needs and the consequences of that are unthinkable.
I know there's probably nothing further that I can do apart from continue to try and support them, I've Googled until my head was about to explode and phoned up pretty much every organisation going and have hit the wall now. It's so frustrating and I feel totally useless because I can't help them. I guess I just need somewhere to rant where people will understand! AAAARRGGHH!!!!