Hi, 3 weeks ago my Dad was diagnosed with skin cancer that metastasized in the brain. He is currently at home for palliative care. He is still able to wash and dress himself but cant be left on his own as he is confused.
I have 1 sister and 1 brother. My dad lives with my stepmum. Shes been around for over 20 years.
Yesterday tempers were flaring. My sister is a nurse and believes my stepmum is selfish and lazy and cant be bothered to look after Dad. My stepmum is doing her best but struggling, she isnt really very well herself and is waiting for an operation.
The biggest problem is dad wont go to bed at night. He has been up all night drinking. I dont think my sister believes how bad he is at night. My stepmum isnt getting much sleep. She phoned me at 5am for help. I've got 2 kids so my brother went round but dad is also getting aggressive. My sister has gone round as well.
I dont know what to do. I cant stay over every night because of my kids and I'm still working.
Help
Dear
i am so sorry to hear of your dad’s diagnosis/ prognosis. As regards the nighttime issue, has anyone mentioned the possibility of hospice at home services, I am concerned to hear that he is drinking, as a form of self medication I presume. Your local hospice can provide you with advice on counselling for him and also support for your stepmom and the wider family. As this all began only 3 weeks ago, every one involved will still be in shock and very stressed out, but that’s why it’s so important to create a support network of hospice , hospital palliative care services, your district nurse, a community Macmillan nurse your general practitioner and your local maggies centre if you have one. Things will look different when all these things are in place and it will help bring you together as a family to help your dad.
Thank you. The district nurse is coming out tomorrow so I'll add hospice at home to the list. It's that sort of thing we dont know about. My sister just keeps saying theres that can be done but shes talking medically as shes a nurse.
Last night he spent the whole night drinking. Hes knecking whisky from the bottle. Hes always been a binge drinker. As far he is concerned, if hes not got long to live long he may as well enjoy it! Not drinking isnt going to make the cancer go away or make him live. It's just the effect it is having on the rest of us. It's like having a toddler in a grown man's body.
I think he is having the last of his steroids today, so I imagine he'll start getting worse soon.
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