"Support received from Wyre Forest Community Mental health Team"

My mother who suffers with dementia was referred to Wyre Forest Older Adult community mental health team as there were difficulties encountered at the care home. My mum gets distressed, angry and exhibit challenging behaviour towards the carers, which is mainly due to communication problems as Mum's mother tongue is not English. Though she could speak English before, with her Dementia, she reverted to her mother tongue, especially as she forgets she is living in England.

I was very impressed that I heard from them very quickly, I thought I will be on the waiting list for a long time. But very shortly after referral I had a telephone call from Jane who agreed an appointment to come and see mum, she also brought an interpreter and Jess the support worker. After her assessment the plan was to support with communication difficulties using cards and pictures with words in her mother tongue.

Jess, the support worker kept in touch with me with emails and sent me the cards, Unfortunately when I showed mum the cards, she could not understand them. But Jess was brilliant she came up with the idea of voice memo on Mum's ipad, where I record my voice in mum's mother tongue and next to my recording is what I am saying. like for example 'persuading mum to get up in the morning'.  Jess sat with me, showed  me how to do it, When I went on holiday she kept in touch with the care home to check on mum's progress. She could see that I am struggling and referred me to Admiral nurses for support.

Both Jane and Jess were wonderful, they came to see mum before discharging us to see what things make mum happy and communicated them to the staff in the care home. I was so impressed with the service I received. They were caring, efficient, and very helpful. Keep the good work.