Shouting

annierich

Registered User
Nov 11, 2015
63
0
My FIL has recently been moved from a Care Home which had a secure dementia floor to a specialised dementia care home. He has no short term memory now and a few non related health problems.
He shouts a lot - usually 'Help!' during the day and night.
He has been in his new care home for about 3 weeks, so it's still very early days, and the staff are trying to find out why he's shouting. MIL (who doesn't really understand dementia) is getting very anxious about his shouting and thinks they will say they can't cope with him.
He is currently having some blood tests done because he says he's in pain.
Does anyone have any experience of shouting and if so what was the reason? -pain / dementia?
 

Shedrech

Registered User
Dec 15, 2012
12,649
0
UK
hi annierich
it sounds promising that the care home have been proactive and are having tests done - so they are listening to your dad and to you
I doubt that shouting will be any great problem to the staff, it's not at all unusual - in my dad's home there are a few residents who have bouts of calling out for help, or shouting other things - often it seems to be a way to get some attention to acknowledge that they are not alone, rather than actually needing help with something or being in pain or distressed - and I know with my dad that his sense of time is skewed so he thinks everything takes ages eg I go to get him something from across the room and he can start to moan about how long I'm taking, as for him if it's not done immediately it's taking far too long, and if I'm out of his sight line, I have disappeared - he must feel very vulnerable and therefore anxious even frightened - the staff in his home do a mixture of soothing, quick answers and sitting for a chat; always checking and monitoring just in case there really is something that needs attending to
best wishes
 

Amy in the US

Registered User
Feb 28, 2015
4,616
0
USA
Does he shout when someone is with him, or only when alone? If only when alone, then I would guess it's the dementia, and that it's likely about seeking reassurance, wanting company, et cetera. Is he otherwise verbal?

There are several people with advanced dementia at a care home where I go for a support group. The shouts of "help" and "hello" are common with these residents. The staff try to keep them in a common area or the staff office area, where the residents will always have company. It's harder with the bedbound residents.

I'd think a dementia specialist home would have experienced this before. I think it is still a good idea to check for pain or physical problems. I hope you're able to get some help. Best wishes.
 

annierich

Registered User
Nov 11, 2015
63
0
Does he shout when someone is with him, or only when alone? If only when alone, then I would guess it's the dementia, and that it's likely about seeking reassurance, wanting company, et cetera. Is he otherwise verbal?

There are several people with advanced dementia at a care home where I go for a support group. The shouts of "help" and "hello" are common with these residents. The staff try to keep them in a common area or the staff office area, where the residents will always have company. It's harder with the bedbound residents.

I'd think a dementia specialist home would have experienced this before. I think it is still a good idea to check for pain or physical problems. I hope you're able to get some help. Best wishes.

Thanks for both of your very helpful replies. He only seems to shout when he is alone. He is verbal - he can talk happily about things pre about 1950 but the only way he initiates conversations now are by asking How old am I / When can I go home/ Why am I in prison? I'm sure this specialist dementia care home has encountered shouting before. It's his immediate family who are getting stressed by his stress and I need to reassure them that this is all 'normal'. This disease certainly is an upward learning curve!
 

Amy in the US

Registered User
Feb 28, 2015
4,616
0
USA
It's a horrible learning curve and I'm so sorry. If he is not bed bound, then perhaps spending more time with staff, other residents, and in activities would help?

I can well understand that this is distressing and wish I had better advice.
 

annierich

Registered User
Nov 11, 2015
63
0
It's a horrible learning curve and I'm so sorry. If he is not bed bound, then perhaps spending more time with staff, other residents, and in activities would help?

I can well understand that this is distressing and wish I had better advice.

That's exactly what we have tried to do. MIL prefers to visit him in his room and when we did manage to persuade him (in his previous home) to sit in the lounge, he quickly wanted to go back to his room saying'They (the other residents) are all barmy'.
We can't win.
 

Boz Rihan

Registered User
Dec 9, 2016
35
0
My mother aged 92 with late stage dementia CONSTANTLY shouts hello. It is impossible to leave her alone. We meficate her at night (sometimes successfully!) just to get some sleep. Grateful for even a couple of hours. She has to be with someone or be able to see someone all the time. It is absolutely draining not to mention annoying. I am now thinking about a CH for her and am concerned re the shouting but the CH has dedicated dementia staff so they will hopefully be able to deal with her. On the rare occasion when she has fallen (when we have all been nearby) she has cslled for help or called whatever name she can remember.
 

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