Isobel slept until almost 9am. Breakfast went smoothly and Isobel drank a lot of fluid during the morning. This gave rise to problems when Isobel tried to use the commode while I was downstairs on the 'phone. Although we had agreed she would call downstairs for assistance and not attempt to move, this was not followed in practice. On one occasion she fell onto the floor, on another the carpet was soaked, on two others she was half on and half off the bed and on another two she became stuck on the commode. Because her short term memory is so impaired, she will agree to one thing but within a minute have forgotten it and will take the opposite action. The lesson from this morning is that Isobel cannot be left for any significant time (i.e. more than five minutes) on her own.

I spent most of the morning on the phone. I spoke to Debbbie Manners (who we knew from last year) at Social Sevices and provided a long description of Isobel's circumstances. She advised self referral to Bexley's "Care Central" in order to save time. I spoke to Care Central and completed a long application form over the 'phone. I was promised a call back in the afternoon, but it came within a few minutes and required the supply of more information before being promised a call this afternoon again. Seywag from the crisis team came round to drop off the new sedative prescription. he said that he had been contacted earlier by Social Services, he had told them he thought the situation would require long term care. Tracey Cook from Care Central 'phoned back in the afternoon to check if we could survive the weekend - she assured me something would definitely be sorted out by Monday. On my way up to the pharmacy I was accosted by the District Nurse and updated her on developments.

During the day Isobel seemed to have a little more strength in her legs, but her balance was still very poor. She could stand on her own for a few seconds but could not be described as stable. Very often her speech became more rambling and incomprehensible, almost reminiscent of the worst periods last week, but sometimes short conversations were rational.

At 6.30 pm a wet bed had to be changed. Isobel had mixed curry, rice, onion bhajis and nan bread for dinner. Isobel dozed off soon after half ten.