Hi all, I’ve just signed up because my dad is in hospital. He has had Parkinsons since 2017 and he is 78 years old. He was taken into hospital with sepsis in bladder & kidney and had “community acquired pneumonia”. He was given antibiotics and was doing ok. But he is now he is in a very quiet ward with no stimulation and is going downhill. He can barely speak above a whisper, isn’t interacting at all and even the physios can’t get him mobile - they have also increased his Parkinsons medication.
Clearly, the sepsis & pneumonia have made the Parkinsons worse - but is there any hope that things can improve from here? We just don’t know what is ahead, and if there’s any hope that he can regain some mobility and the ability to communicate.
The hospital say if he wants to go home, they can’t stop him but my mum cannot cope with looking after him.
Anyone help or advice would be very welcome!
Nicky
Hi Nicky, thank you for reaching out to the forum. We’re so incredibly sorry to hear that your dad is in hospital. It sounds like a really difficult time for you and your family. Please know that we’re here if you need us, and so are the lovely members of our community.
We would recommend reaching out to our helpline, which is free and confidential. Our trained advisers can put you in touch with a Parkinson’s nurse who can talk to you about your dad’s symptoms and also about options for support to your mum for looking after him. We’re just a phone call away on 0808 800 0303.
You may also find the information about caring for someone with Parkinson’s on our website useful: Supporting someone with Parkinson's | Parkinson's UK
Please know that you’re not alone. We’re sure our forum members will also be able to share their experiences and advice with you.
Sending all our love,
The Parkinson’s UK Moderation Team
I’m really sorry to read about what your dad and family are going through, it’s not unusual for people with Parkinson’s to decline suddenly after infections like sepsis and pneumonia, especially when they’re in a quiet hospital ward with little stimulation, and this can affect mobility, speech, and alertness. Sometimes recovery is possible once the infection clears and with physiotherapy or speech therapy, though progress can be slow and varies a lot between individuals. It may help to ask the hospital team if a rehabilitation ward or step-down unit is an option, as these often provide more focused therapy. It’s also important to let the staff know clearly what your mum can and cannot manage at home so the right care and support can be arranged before discharge, whether that’s carers coming in or other services through the hospital discharge team.
Thank you for your kind message. I will certainly give the helpline a call. I think it would be very useful to talk to a Parkinson’s nurse about the situation.
Hi, thank you for your message. Yes I can’t help thinking that the lack of stimulation isn’t helping the situation and leading to cognitive decline. We do also need to be very clear that my mum can’t cope at home on her own with him as he is at the moment. We think that a rehabilitation ward in a community hospital would be the best next step but the hospital staff say they have to have his consent for that to happen. I don’t know how aware he is of the level of care he would need - and that my mum couldn’t give him that. Thank you again for your message.
So difficult - often people with Parkinson’s don’t thrive in hospitals for a number of reasons. I think you just need to keep stressing that your mum cannot cope with caring for him at home so an alternative must be found. It might be that a temporary nursing home place could be an option? There should be a hospital social worker who will be responsible for trying to find a solution - particuarly so the hospital bed can be freed up. It’s really hard but it’s great that your mum has your support and advocacy.