My dad, who is in his mid 70s and had diabetes since mid 40s (type 2) has now been diagnosed with frontal lobe damage due to diabetes. It was thought it was a kind of dementia but apparently not. The consultant has said it will get worse, but nothing can be done. What can be done to help and support both him and mum as the changes have been quite noticeable and profound?
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Advice on dad
- Thread starter kutie
- Start date
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AlisonM
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
It's difficult to say what can be done without knowing more about how the damage is affecting him. Is it simply memory problems, or are there behavioural changes too? How well is he able to function on his own?
Do your parents live independently? If they do, then local social services may be able to help with daily tasks that your parents may struggle with and there may be day centres and respite care if your mum needs a break for a few hours, or a few days. One option that you may need to consider is a care home for your father. All of this can be discussed with their GP who will know what's available in their area.
I'm no expert at this, but there are a number of carers on the forum who may have a better idea of what is involved. I hope they will be able to help.
Do your parents live independently? If they do, then local social services may be able to help with daily tasks that your parents may struggle with and there may be day centres and respite care if your mum needs a break for a few hours, or a few days. One option that you may need to consider is a care home for your father. All of this can be discussed with their GP who will know what's available in their area.
I'm no expert at this, but there are a number of carers on the forum who may have a better idea of what is involved. I hope they will be able to help.
itsallgood
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Sorry to hear about this kutie, I don't know if it's helpful to you but there's information about the condition here;
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/frontal-lobe-dementia.html
I wasn't aware of the connection with diabetes until now
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/frontal-lobe-dementia.html
I wasn't aware of the connection with diabetes until now
Hanmillmum
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Could you try your local social services or council website to see if there are any carer support services in the area for mum?
Social services can offer an assessment if your dad's functioning does deteriorate, you can contact teams directly to request same.
If your dads behaviour became problematic, you could ask his GP to rule out any acute physical cause for the change such as UTI, constipation, chest infection etc in the first instance, and if needed ask GP for referral to community mental health team for older people for further assessment and any ongoing monitoring/treatment.
I would have suggested visiting the alzheimers society website as they have lots of information on different dementias, how to cope, what to do, who to contact but you have said it wasn't a dementia. Really the diagnosing consultant should have given you some local contacts IMO.
Social services can offer an assessment if your dad's functioning does deteriorate, you can contact teams directly to request same.
If your dads behaviour became problematic, you could ask his GP to rule out any acute physical cause for the change such as UTI, constipation, chest infection etc in the first instance, and if needed ask GP for referral to community mental health team for older people for further assessment and any ongoing monitoring/treatment.
I would have suggested visiting the alzheimers society website as they have lots of information on different dementias, how to cope, what to do, who to contact but you have said it wasn't a dementia. Really the diagnosing consultant should have given you some local contacts IMO.
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