PRIVATE INFORMATION  FOR  FAMILY & FRIENDS OF DENIS BREEN

(Pages by Sister-in-Law June Spawforth & Partner Melvin Ashton)

Previous Comments & Information   2005 - 2006

Thursday 23rd November, 2006

As usual, June & I visited Denis today.  If there is any change it is that Denis is improving !   Quite remarkable considering how poor he was doing less than 12 months ago !

Thursday 7th September, 2006

June & I visit  Denis regularly.  He is now MUCH BETTER and we take him for a drink most weeks.  He now accepts that a couple of shandy's is sufficient and he manages very well.  He also has the occasional Guiness at home.

Some time ago, I suggested that Denis should concentrate on picking up & placing his feet carefully when walking.  He now does this and has not fallen for a long time (touch wood ??).

June cleans right through the house (for payment) most weeks and washes bedding etc. when required.  We do his shopping when he is unable, though he manages on the Access bus most weeks and can get to the local shop with his 'trike' (3 wheel frame with brakes, basket, etc).

Thursday 27th April, 2004
June & I visited.  Denis seems MUCH BETTER and we took him for a drink - he now accepts that a couple of shandy's is ok and he managed very well.
He asked June to clean right through the house (for payment) each week (or as required) and for us to do his shopping when he is unable.

Wednesday 26th April, 2006
Denis now home; assessment team watched him make a sandwich and a cup of tea.
Apparently he managed ok.
June & I to visit him tomorrow.

Tuesday, 25th April, 2006
Ward Sister telephoned (twice).  Denis is to return home tomorrow morning and an Interim Care Team (ICT) will visit him in the afternoon.

Monday, 24th April, 2006
Denis now in Ward 14
June & I visited today.
Endoscopies considered too dangerous at present - possibly in about a months time, though Denis feels that he does not want one (or more).
Denis thinks he may be home tomorrow but June & I are very concerned that he cannot cope and will fall again.
Again we suggested to ward staff that a care team should be involved.

Thursday 20th April, 2006
June & I (Mel) visited Denis.  No change - still VERY unsteady on his feet.
He will be assessed to determine what home care he may require.
Endoscopie(s) are still required to try and determine the cause of bleeding (which has now stopped).

Tuesday 18th April, 2006
Denis now in Ward 18 - June & I (Mel) visited this evening.
Now off the blood drip but still passing some blood so further tests will probably be required.  Denis is quite cheerful, though obviously bored !

Monday 17th April, 2006
As a result of TWO more falls, slight chest pains and diarrhea (with bleeding), Denis was admitted to LGI Ward 17 again on Sunday, 16th April,2006.
Currently having some blood replacement and may have endoscopy later this week.

Thursday 13th April, 2006
Denis returned home mid-day today by ambulance (no support team).
I (Melvin) called in to see him and June and I will call later today.

Wednesday 12th April, 2006
Telephone call from hospital - Denis states that, all being well, he may be home tomorrow.  No further info on his requirements or care team !

Monday 10th April, 2006
June & I (Melvin) visited Denis - he seemed fine and is expecting to return home when the appropriate care plan is in place.
Denis gave us our 'shopping instructions' - including tins of dog food for our Yorkshire Terrier '
Holly' (who looks forward to visiting Denis each week for her treat !).
It seems that an Angiogram is now not required.

Sunday 9th April, 2006
Noreen & Terry visited Denis
We telephoned and were informed that Denis had had a small heart attack and was awaiting an Angiogram - otherwise he was ok and not in any pain.
Denis telephoned at 7:00pm - now in Ward 19 !!

Saturday 8th April, 2006
Denis telephoned at 9.00 am  He had suffered severe chest pains in night and was transferred to LGI Jubilee Wing / Ward 17 / Bed 9 (Coronary Care Unit)
Denis said it COULD have been a massive heart attack !

Thursday 6th April, 2006
Visited Denis in Wharfedale Hospital (Otley).
He was managing well and expecting to be home Monday / Tuesday (if not Friday !).
Claire (Occupational Therapist) telephoned later to discuss requirements - Denis could be provided with an intermediate care team - 6 weeks max but probably for about a week - to determine his requirements.  We are to be informed when he is to return home in order that we can be there with basic shopping needs.

Monday 3rd April, 2006
Denis transferred to Wharfedale hospital (Otley) for further assessment.
Ward 2  Tel: (01943)  465 522

Saturday 25th March, 2006
June & I visited Denis in LGI - he was fine but couldn't remember whether he fell or passed out.  He could not pull himself off the floor.  It was dark and he crawled around on the floor, trying to reach somewhere to pull himself up.  He banged on the radiator / walls to try to attract attention.  Though this was heard at 3:30am in the morning, Denis was not found until the warden called at 8:00am.  He was on the floor and had had to pass water in his trousers (he could not get up or reach the bathroom).

LGI are currently assessing his needs:
They have reduced his tablets from 14 / day to 7 / day !
He will also be assessed to determine what home care he may require.

Friday 24th March, 2006
Telephone call to June & Mel from LGI Ward 28 at 6:16pm - Carol Gibson
Denis admitted to LGI this morning - about 8:45am
To Ward 28 at 2:00pm
Denis was found on bedroom floor by relief Warden at about 8:00am
He had been trying to draw attention by banging on the wall ??
Mel & June to visit Denis tomorrow with clothes, toiletries etc.


Previous Comments & Information - 2005

Friday 25/11/05
Denis fell again - outside the flats - on his way to market.
Brought in by neighbors.   Cut finger etc.
Told Denis (again) that he MUST get help with shopping etc.
(June & I have offered LOTS of times to do shopping on our weekly visits -  particularly for heavy items - but Denis is VERY determined to do his own shopping.

Friday 18th November, 2005
Results of scan showed nothing, physical examination of legs revealed nothing.  Three further blood samples taken.
June and I (Mel) persuaded Denis to allow us to obtain a three wheel 'walking frame' for him.
The frame has brakes and also has a bag for shopping, etc.
He is using this only occasionally but we must convince him to use it most of the time - particularly when out.

Denis is VERY unsteady on his feet and had another fall, on or around 17th October, cutting and grazing his forehead. Denis claimed that the fall was in the hallway of his flat but, viewing the cuts and grazing, June and I suspect that the fall was outside !
(Denis probably wasn't using the new walker that we obtained for him !)

Denis has a hospital appointment (Leeds LGI) on Monday 14 November.
HOPEFULLY for the results of a scan several months ago.

On our visit on Tuesday 25th October, 2005, Denis remarked that he had a lump in his groin.  This was painful on occasions but not all the time.  He suspects that it could be a hernia caused by his last fall.

June & I stressed that he MUST call out his doctor to have it checked out.

Denis's Niece's Phyllis & Maureen have kindly offered to come over from Ireland in order to try and cheer Denis up.
Denis feels that he could not cope with visiting relatives at present.

June and I (Melvin) have offered to take Denis to Ireland for a holiday, possibly book into a pub or hotel and take Denis to visit relatives.
Again Denis says that he could not cope in his present state of health.

Walk-in shower to fitted shortly - 28/11/05 - at last !!


Click Here for some of June's Pictures
(including Mel & June + Lily & Denis)
the above pictures are from:
Mel's Outwood Website - Outwood Section - Pictures - Denis's Pictures

Mel's Website:
www.melashton.co.uk

If you wish to contact Mel or June:
mel@melashton.co.uk
Tel: (01924)  834 464  home    07740  282 567  mobile

Information regarding his long hospitalization in May, 2004

Information regarding his short hospitalization in October, 2004

Medication

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