day with him. He had "overflow diarrhoea" and Mum was just beside herself. We put up with it till the Friday and I took them to hospital and we watched him sleep. They put him on a drip and told us to go home. By Sunday he was in so much pain - by then he was constipated. I unfortunately had to see my family in town and I told Mum to ring the hospital. Well, when we got back to Mum's home at 11.00 the Ambulance was there and I followed it to Belmont Hospital. We watched him sleep again from 11.30 till 7.00 in the Emergency dept. and they gave him several saline bags to rehyrdrate him. The doctors decided to admit him.

On Monday we went into see him and he was disoriented, and had lashed out at the medical staff. So he has been moved to the North Block which is for "Confused Patients". Mum and I both got sick Tuesday and Wednesday but we still saw the social worker on Wednesday. Mum has finally given in and asked that he not come home. She is devastated, but cannot look after him anymore. Especially as she herself has only just had her right knee replaced 6 weeks ago. I don't know how she has managed him. Mum's been telling me how bad he's been at night, wandering, and bashing walls and knocking everything off his dressing table and side tables. It's such a dreadful disease.

My sister and I have both told her not to feel guilty, but she says she still does. They have been married 58 years and have never been apart except for a short time in the mid 1950's. I think even though they have fought over the years, Mum is still going to find it lonely. I mean to say we are all still here for her, but it's the night-time that is the worst!!

Anyway, last night after work I went into see him. As I was walking into the hospital my son was walking out with tears in his eyes. I told him I just wanted to see him for a little while and Ben said he just didn't know what to expect when he saw him and was so shocked to see him in the state he was in. He only celebrated his 78th birthday on the 23rd July and had all the family around him and was mobile etc. We had a chat with the nurses and unfortunately they had to strap him to the bed overnight as he was wandering. Well, I can imagine how confused and frustrated he would be as he doesn't know where he is and he gets very agitated when people try to touch him.

Ben tried to feed him his pill with some Yoghurt but he bought it back up. I was holding the paper towel under his mouth and just talking to him letting him know I was there, but I don't think he even knew I was. They have him heavily sedated at the moment until they can work out what will work with him.

Mum and I are going back to the hospital today at 2.00 to see the social worker and work out what the next steps are. I know they will be putting him into another ward for Dementia patients which is on the second floor. We then have the unenviable task of looking around at Nursing homes. There is one literally about a 200metre walk from Mum's place so we'll check that one out first. You see Mum doesn't drive and I don't want it to be too far away for her. Oh! the things that are going through my mind are just mind boggling at the moment.

I haven't even felt like sewing and what with being sick it's just been an horrendous week.

Thanks for letting me vent my feelings, it's nice to know that there are many others on here who have been through similar situations.

I just wanted to ask all the Prayer Warriors on here for God's will in whatever will happen with my Dad. He is only 20 years older than me! It's a worry - this might be me in 20 years time.

Love and blessings to you all Chris