Click here for a useful link about Pentland Hill Care Home. Towards the bottom of that page, there's another button to click on to get to the latest Care Commission Report on the place.
If anyone would like to write to her (she'd love that) here's the address:
B Wedderburn, Carnethy, Pentland Hill Nursing Home, 23/27 Gylemuir Road, Edinburgh EH12 7UB. The phone number is 0131 334 2383 and you can call anytime apart from 12-1pm and 5-6pm (meal times)
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3 comments:
*****
Hi to all, Monique speaking.
Thank you Pete for this report on Pentland Hill and your mastery of technology which allows us to see pictures taken from what is originally a... telephone! (I can't/don't want to - do it - yet)
I wish to share my impressions about my visit to Scotland, 8-10 Dec. (I hope that there is free space available... Virtual space is infinite, isn't it ?)
I was overwhelmed by emotion, going back to the family I lived with for a whole year in 1974-75. Also, I had forgotten how nice and "chaleureux" the Scots are, and how much I feel I'm in the right place there (I don't in France).
Emotion to see Zander, thank you Z for everything, including cooking for me during these 3 days, real porridge, great soups, and a soufflé (yes ! an apple soufflé !).
Emotion to see B. She exclaimed "Monique!" when she saw me, and we fell into each other's arms. I had a wonderful time with her on my 3 visits, we talked about a lot of things ; the 1st day she forgot that my mum passed away seven years ago (asking me twice "and how's your mum") but she did remembered it when we parted, and said "say hello to your dad". She gave me news of her sisters, told me about Gavin's suicide. At some point she said a little joke at Z and winked at me.
Her room is indeed a nice one. I wouldn't, like Peter, say that it is "much bigger" than on the pic, but, yes, of a reasonable size. And being on the first floor is great, there's a patio outside when blackbirds spend some time and... rabbits, which is lovely. When B mentioned the rabbits I thought she made it up, but then I saw them ! (we must NEVER assume that people with Alz. don't know what they're saying). Also, I may not be as enthusiastic as Pete about the "activities" offered. We saw, with Z, the "games" activity, seemed of a limited scope.
For me, one of the pbms, which alas cannot be avoided, is that in the main living-room, B is amid people in a more advanced state of the disease, and/or left to themselves, with no or few visits, which makes them feel abandoned, or afraid, and some speak aloud, or shriek, while others keep dozing with their head bent on their chest, and that is a sad and depressive surrounding. So, definitely, visiting her in her room is the best.
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I found that B was remarkably conscious, including of her illness, which is both "good" (she has her consciousness) and "bad" (she says "I ought to remember this" and feels frustrated when a word does not come to her lips and, I felt, humiliated that we see her like that, which is heartbreaking).
I realize, here back in Paris, that on every visit I could have brought her a newspaper - why wouldn't she have access to written news ? She was interested (and shocked ;-) ) to hear about the assault on Charles and Camilla's Roll royce.
She casually mentioned now and then "when I go back home I'll...", "when I get out we'll...", which I think was a clever way of letting us know she wants to get out without being irritative, because she understands somehow she is not supposed to go out. She did ask me "Why am I here?" (Me : "because the state of your health requires it". She : "But my health is perfectly all right"). I write this because it is true and I think it's good to know what B feels, and not in the least for anyone to feel guilty, and of course I wouldn't think of interfering in your family decisions. It is clear to me it is not possible any more for Z to look after her on his own - to my eyes he's probably done too much already. So I think Portland Hills is indeed the best of available solutions.
Finally, going back to B, I admired her class, her dignity, her keen interest in others, in a word, I met the B I've always known (brings tears in my eyes to write this).
I am deeply happy I made that visit, however short it was. I am so, so, sorry to live so far away and I hope I'll be able to come again in the next months.
Much love to all of you, those I know and those I don't know,
Monique
*****
Thanks Monique! Very much appreciate your messages and report/impressions about your visit to Z+B; often feel very frustrated about living so far away from them, and wish to do much much more; wanted to move back to Scotland to help, but it is not so straightforward for many reasons. Your news is very helpful, with elements of both joy and sorrow... Would be great to renew contact if you could send me an e-mail? (chriswedd@yahoo.co.uk) best wishes + love, Chris
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