lisa Flower
5/5
My Mother spent 1 month at the GEM unit in Albury 2 years ago
I saw the reviews were mixed so sorry for how late this review is but I hope someone finds it helpful. I thought I was losing my Mama. She was 84 and her familial tremor was progressing. A new neurologist put her on some meds which seemed to make her worse and within a couple weeks, she went from bad (difficulty getting a spoon to her mouth, most fine motor skills were troublesome but her ability to communicate as the tremor reached her voice box was terribly depressing) the new meds caused her to progress from only a tremor in her voice, but now she stuttered continuously, rarely being able to get a word, much less a sentence, out. She started being unable to walk, her legs either running away or shuffling so slowly, she barely moved.
I rung the GEM unit and the kindest Dr said bring her in. They admitted her the next day, a neurologist revised her meds and took her off the new ones. After about 10 days, the nurses began understanding her and her communication improved some and they began to care for me also. Encouraging me to not stay all day and to take every second day off. The staff to patient ratio in this ward is unheard of! The nurses not only care for the medical reason the old dear has been admitted, but they cared for her, as a whole person, and further, for the entire family.
Sorry about the length of this review but I cannot stress enough how caring we found the Drs and nurses. They gave me back my Mama and made sure I was rested before she returned home. They also sent OTs out to check the house was safe for Mama and made some suggestions like paving and more handrails
I would not hesitate to recommend the GEM unit for your Old Dear if they need assessment and either they or you need to learn some new management skills.
