Marilyn’s story – bringing David home

As David’s dementia progressed, Marilyn supported David through these challenges in their home life. “You make the best of what you have,” Marilyn said. “When David lost his ability to swallow, I was there to reassure him whenever he got distressed. When he lost his ability to drive, I supported him by driving him to medical appointments.”

A stay in hospital

After David contracted sepsis in December 2020, he was semi-conscious and getting more agitated. An ambulance was called immediately to their home at the doctor’s request.

Support from Admiral Nurse Kerry

After that phone call, Kerry was down on the hospital wards to find out where David was and how he was coping. Every morning, she would set up a FaceTime call for Marilyn to check in on David, even making sure that he was shaved and cleaned in advance of the calls.

The close bond which Kerry developed with David during this hospital admission meant that she could anticipate problems with David’s health whilst he was on the ward. “There was one period where Kerry told me that David’s health looked like it was deteriorating. Kerry’s intervention meant that he was taken down for an endoscopy, which revealed advanced sepsis. The next 24 hours would be critical according to the doctors. It was a worrying time of course, but with Kerry I had clarity at what was going on.”

David’s health soon stabilised through close monitoring of his fluid intake and by giving him antibiotics. However Marilyn and Kerry’s fear was that the longer he stayed in hospital, the more his condition would deteriorate without the love and support of Marilyn. “I needed to get David back, as I knew that I could care for him in our home after the sepsis treatment,” Marilyn said. “With Kerry’s knowledge of what home life was like from previous visits, I knew she would fight for our need to be home together again.”

“Without Kerry, I think David would have been readmitted to hospital unnecessarily, or he simply wouldn’t be here.”

For Kerry, it is a privilege to support families like Marilyn’s in this way: “Admission to hospital, alongside a dementia diagnosis, can bring a unique set of challenges for families; a situation made more complex by Covid-19.

“The support I provide as a hospital-based Admiral Nurse ranges from helping hospital staff to understand dementia, particularly what the patient is able to do with the right support, to acting as a vital communication link to families, and coordinating care plans for a return to home.”

Now that David is home, both he and Marilyn can look forward to visits from their grandchildren, with Marilyn putting the wheelchair by the front door so that they can talk to their grandfather from there. They’ve also received several visits at home from Kerry since discharge, to help them avoid readmission to hospital.

“Kerry knew how much home meant to us and we are so grateful to her for bringing David back.”

Increasing the number of Admiral Nurses within hospitals is one of the key parts of our 2020-2025 strategy. Help us be there for more families who are going through similar situations like Marilyn and David.