Joyce Houghton

Hi all

Well it has been a very long 3 months. Mum is now settled in a new home. She has made excellent physical progress and is able to walk with someone to steady her. I visited her after work this evening and she looked quite beautiful. Her hair has grown very long and had been put up. One of the nurses at the home had painted her nails a lovely warm pink. She was dressed in a black polo necked jumper teamed with some smart slacks. Pearls draped around her neck and a rather fetching tartan shawl. As always she was delighted to see me.

She is still very confused and living in the past. She talks alot about Nic (who if anyone asks is travelling the world!), Jonathan, Uncle John, Uncle Benny, Aunty Gertie and her parents and grandparents. Sometimes she remembers they are gone and sometimes she wonders why they haven't been to visit her. She moved into Hay House Nursing Home, Broadclyst two weeks ago. At first she really didn't like it and kept asking me to take her away with me in the car so that we could call at the police station and they would help us escape. Today she seemed more settled and accepting that she could not leave with me. She has a large first floor room in this rather beautiful and grand old house. There is a resident dog called Saffie, a lovely golden retriever. Donkeys from the local Sidmouth Sanctuary also pay visits from time to time, I am hoping they might drop by soon. In the beginning I found the home very disturbing, Mum has been assessed as needing a home that cares for people with significant behavioural problems and there are some rather challenging residents. My main worry was that Mum had been misdiagnosed and that she was being put into the wrong establishment and how would she cope with these mentally ill people. It would seem though that she does not notice them which leads me to believe that she is one of them. I have struggled with this, it all happened so fast. One day we had a slightly forgetful Mother and the next we were catapulted into a completely different world. The staff are very kind and special people, I believe that she is being well cared for. I hope she starts to think of it as home and that she will find some peace. Hay House is surrounded by country, she can see sheep from her bedroom window and acres of fields. When I first tried to explain that she was being moved to Hay House she thought for a while and then said "but what if someone lights a match!"

I will update from time to time. Hope this finds you all well.

Sally x