26/08/2014

The Renault 5 passed its Contrôle Technique (road-worthiness examination), much to our surprise! It was important that we had another roadworthy vehicle, because LSS starts her English classes again in a week or so, working 6 days a week. And if I need to get some DIY materials, it may not be practical to take the ST1100!

The doctor paid a visit to the aged FIL, and with careful planning LSS had managed to arrange that the head of the local Social Services was visiting him at the same time. They spent quite a while with him discussing the situation. We now have a prescription for a contraption called a “verticalisateur” (which is basically a thing like an engine hoist for humans) and a special sort of wheelchair. The doctor advised that the aged FIL should stop spending his entire day in bed, and sit in the special chair during the day instead. (Hahahahaha! Not going to happen.) He also recommended that we start applying for retirement home admission, as he considers the aged FIL’s house is no longer really suitable for somebody who also happens to have breathing difficulties (it’s an old, damp farmhouse, so of course there is mould and dust).

The aged FIL’s response to this (after the doctor and head of Social Services had gone) was that he was being kept in the dark, people were discussing him behind his back, and nobody was telling him what was happening. “Even the hospital didn’t give me any medicine,” he complained. We think he simply wants a “magic pill” which will suddenly make him completely fit again. LSS explained once again what the doctor had said (despite the doctor having spent nearly an hour talking to him. My view is that if the aged FIL does not like what he hears, he ignores it.)

Basically if the aged FIL wants to stay in his own home, he needs to start doing something about it himself; for example building up his strength so that he can get himself out of bed and at least walk short distances, or put himself into the wheelchair. But we can’t see that happening. The doctor has also prescribed a course of physiotherapy; but the problem there lies in finding somebody who a) does house calls and b) is not fully booked.

Oh by the way – the aged FIL’s Presence Vert bracelet and Carte Vitale turned up. The latter had been shoved into the bag of dirty laundry, so LSS found it in the washing machine.

We’ve also found out why he was suddenly sent home. It appears they simply asked him. How clever of them to delegate the responsibility back to the patient/family/carers!
“So, aged FIL. You need to make a choice. Would you like to:
a) spend a lot more time here in the hospital, where people will make you do things you don’t want to do;
b) Go to a convalescent home where people will make you do things you don’t want to do; or
c) Go home, where you will be nice and peaceful?”

Of course his answer was c).