Care Homes and Aggressive Behaviour

[Jorell]

ANY ADVICE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED REGARDING THE FOLLOWING: My mum’s Alzheimer’s has deteriorated and I’ve recently had to put her in a dementia specialist care home (she is self funding). She hasn’t been in long but has exhibited aggressive behaviour towards carers and residents - something she did when she had a spell in hospital and also when in respite care.

The care home have recommended she be placed on a dose of temazepam to see if this helps - I am more than happy with this and hope it works.

However, the care home has made it clear that if there’s no improvement, she’s out. Knowing my mum she isn’t going to settle well anywhere so what do I do if they no longer want her? I do hope I’m not doomed to forever keep shuttling her around between different care homes. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar dilemma or if there are care homes that will take a person with aggressive behaviour?

 

[Jessbow]

there are, they tend to have a higher staff ratio, and consequently cost a small fortune.

problem is, everyone has a right to be safe, and other residents need safeguarding. Lets hope the meds work. No one wants to give drugs for the sake of it, but they can help. Lets hope the home give them time to take effect before making a decision

 

[father ted]

I know continuing healthcare funding is very hard to get but perhaps you could investigate this r your Mum as they do look at behavioural and cognitive issues particularly if Mum is a danger to herself and others and if the care home is already speculating about her going back.

Someone else who knows more will come along and post soon but you could look at the Gov.uk website to see if it may be possible.

 

[Kale-and-mash]

Hello Jorell,

My mum has Alzheimer's and is in a dementia care home where the staff cope with various kinds of aggressive behaviour, both verbal and physical (residents being aggressive towards each other and towards staff). Mum gets aggressive herself from time to time. It is not a luxurious home with lavish facilities, but that doesn't matter as the staff are great. I think that at least one resident has moved to this home after previously living in another home that could not handle the resident's aggression.

I hope medication will help your mum settle. My mum has been prescribed a calming medication, which she sometimes agrees to take and sometimes not, but I think it does help. If medication doesn't work for your mum, don't despair as there are homes that can cope with very challenging behaviour.

Does your mum like listening to music? It might have a calming effect or brighten her mood. Apologies if you've already tried this or if it's not your mum's thing at all!

Best of luck,
Kale-and-mash

 

[Jorell]

there are, they tend to have a higher staff ratio, and consequently cost a small fortune.

problem is, everyone has a right to be safe, and other residents need safeguarding. Lets hope the meds work. No one wants to give drugs for the sake of it, but they can help. Lets hope the home give them time to take effect before making a decision

 

[Jorell]

Thanks Jessbow, I’m hoping that unlike The Verve’s song, in my Mum’s case the the drugs will work.

 

[Jorell]

I know continuing healthcare funding is very hard to get but perhaps you could investigate this r your Mum as they do look at behavioural and cognitive issues particularly if Mum is a danger to herself and others and if the care home is already speculating about her going back.

Someone else who knows more will come along and post soon but you could look at the Gov.uk website to see if it may be possible.

Thanks Father Ted. I’m trying to gather all my options together at the moment should I need to find an alternative home for her.

 

[Jorell]

Hello Jorell,

My mum has Alzheimer's and is in a dementia care home where the staff cope with various kinds of aggressive behaviour, both verbal and physical (residents being aggressive towards each other and towards staff). Mum gets aggressive herself from time to time. It is not a luxurious home with lavish facilities, but that doesn't matter as the staff are great. I think that at least one resident has moved to this home after previously living in another home that could not handle the resident's aggression.

I hope medication will help your mum settle. My mum has been prescribed a calming medication, which she sometimes agrees to take and sometimes not, but I think it does help. If medication doesn't work for your mum, don't despair as there are homes that can cope with very challenging behaviour.

Does your mum like listening to music? It might have a calming effect or brighten her mood. Apologies if you've already tried this or if it's not your mum's thing at all!

Best of luck,
Kale-and-mash

Thank you Kale-and-Mash, your music suggestion is a good one as she does like listening to music. I’m very much hoping the medication will make a difference. I am however in the process of trying to investigate which homes local to me will be able to cope with her (should she need to be moved) and that won’t cost a fortune.

 

[Shedrech]

hello Jorell
my dad had some very challenging moments shortly after he moved into his care home
the manager brought in the Community Psychiatric Team to support dad and the staff - his meds were tweaked and his behaviour monitored carefully - he too was prescribed a prn (as and when needed) medication, lorazepam, so that the staff could give this to him as soon as they saw that his agitation was starting to bubble (too late once he was very anxious as he would refuse anything and the only thing then was to let him be and let him slowly wear himself out = horrible to watch)
the staff became very good as spotting the signals of dad's anxiety starting to get out of hand and would take him to his room, to be in a quiet and calm atmosphere, without talking to him (not being nasty, at this point any interactions turned negative) - then they put on some soothing music I had suggested to them, maybe sprayed the room with lavender (I leave a spray from Boots in his drawer) set the lights low, and check on him once in a while (ie they did not just leave him to stew) taking in a coffee and chocolate biscuits (his favourite; he rarely refuses them - they are a comfort and he can't be nasty whilst crunching his way through them) - he generally settled himself - his agitation was largely due to over stimulation; he at times simply cannot cope with having others around him moving about and talking, not doing what he wants them to do

so there are homes and staff who can and do cope sympathetically, kindly and firmly

having said that - if the staff in your mum's home cannot provide the level of care she needs, it is best for her that you know - maybe it would be worth visiting other EMI/dementia care homes and having a chat with the managers, bluntly explaining your mum's situation - then, you are prepared should a move be needed - maybe even put her name down on a waiting list - it's not ideal to make a move, but if it's better for your mum it may be worth the initial disruption it may cause

 

[AnneVM]

ANY ADVICE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED REGARDING THE FOLLOWING: My mum’s Alzheimer’s has deteriorated and I’ve recently had to put her in a dementia specialist care home (she is self funding). She hasn’t been in long but has exhibited aggressive behaviour towards carers and residents - something she did when she had a spell in hospital and also when in respite care.

The care home have recommended she be placed on a dose of temazepam to see if this helps - I am more than happy with this and hope it works.

However, the care home has made it clear that if there’s no improvement, she’s out. Knowing my mum she isn’t going to settle well anywhere so what do I do if they no longer want her? I do hope I’m not doomed to forever keep shuttling her around between different care homes. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar dilemma or if there are care homes that will take a person with aggressive behaviour?

 

[Hazara8]

A Dementia specialist care home should be very familiar with aggressive behaviour in Dementia.

 

[AnneVM]

A Dementia specialist care home should be very familiar with aggressive behaviour in Dementia.

 

[AnneVM]

I am in the same boat as previous letters. I am self funding and because my husband at the age of 88 is starting to be aggressive towards staff of Care home I am given ultimatum of paying for 1 to 1 carers. This will bring my payments to over three thousand five hundred pnds a week plus extras. Am I really expected to cope with this and a house to run at my age of 86. Our savings are rapidly depleting. Is there any hope of help. I think he would be appalled if he knew how we both slogged at work for 40years to see our money going into bottomless pit. Who knows I may be next at the age of 86' There must be many people in the same boat. Sorry I am just having a desparate moan Anne

 

[sdmhred]

Hi @AnneVM

This must be such a worry for you. Has the home done anything else to manage this?

In your position I would be wanting to look at the following:

1) that he has been referred to the mental health team to see if any medication changes might help?

2) Dementia specialist homes if he is not in one already. Where my mum is there are a lot of aggressive residents and they only resort to 121 sparingly and manage a lot without.

3) If one to one is definitely the only option to look at whether he may be eligible for CHC funding…although this is notoriously hard and stressful in itself.

Perhaps give the support line or admiral nurses a ring to see if they can help you more.