Ulog #7 - Covid19 and old age woes

I had to took my Mom to the doctor today.

Because of Covid19 the front entrance to the hospital was not open and I had to drive to the back of the hospital. Normally we would leave her wheelchair at home because there are wheelchairs at the hospital. Luckily we did brought hers as there was no wheelchairs at the back.

My Mom with us on her 80th Birthday 21 March.

She is in a wheelchair for some time now. She has dementia and it is heartbreaking to see how she is deteriorating. Lately she struggles to eat. She get nauseas when she starts to eat. She lost a lot of weight and that is why we took her to the doctor.

The doctor decided to admit her and that is when Covid19 made it a bad experience. They won't allow any people into the hospital so the hospital erected this temporary rooms and tents outside in the hospital parking lot from where they see casualty patients and admit patients.

They did not made provision for a wheelchair ramp into any of this temporary rooms. My Mom had to sit there in one of the tents, it's almost in the open. They took her vitals there, tested her sugar and a doctor listened to her heart. It was late afternoon and she was getting cold. In the end they brought her a hospital blanket.

Then they wanted to draw blood. The sister could not find veins and she said she will go try once she is in hospital. Thank God for that!

This is now outside a modern and private hospital that such things is going on. My dad pays R9000 per month for his medical fund and this is the best they can do? I felt very upset. 😡🥺

She also had a Covid19 swab where they push this swab so deep into your nose till who knows where and she hated it. 😡 They said she would be taken to a temporary room till they have the results and then she will be transfered to another ward and room.

So at last her file was ready and she could go to this temporary room. I don't feel at peace as I could not go to the ward with her and see the people that will be caring for her. Nobody that I personally could talked to, to make sure they know she cannot do anything for herself, can't eat or drink by herself. She can't even turn on the bed by herself....

My heart is aching and I can just hope and pray that they will look well after her. 😥

Thank you for reading.

hope777