Afternoon,
My Mum has Vascular Dementia was sectioned (under section 2) about 3 weeks ago after violent incidents at her care home (bless her she has only been there 2 weeks) and was admitted to a MH unit for assessment. They prescribed Respridone & Diazepam. Mum has continued to not cooperate and has been physically violent with staff on several occasions.
I had a phone call yet from the care team and Mum has now been placed on a section 3. They have also increased her meds to 1.5mg respridone / 7mg diazepam each day. She also has a night time sedative.
From my point of view, this seems just too much sedation. Whenever I speak to Mum she is incoherent and slurs her words. Before entering into the care home & MH unit, she lived independently and was able to have a conversation, but would struggle to find the odd word, but able to chat.
I raised my concerns with the doctor and they said to give it time, as at the moment Mum is refusing 'scheduled' meds, so they were having to restrain her and give her inter muscular injections. hence why she sounds so drugged up. The doctor was hopeful that if they can get Mum to take her meds when she should, then the side effects should subside. I am doubtful.
It sounds completely harrowing for Mum and I can only imagine how scared she is right now. I am unable to see my Mum as it is an isolation ward, due to COVID. I don't know what to do or how to escalate my concerns with someone who will listen to how Mum was about a month ago. They don't seem very interested. I don't feel that they have looked into what is causing this behaviour as it only started in her second week at the home. This is not something that happened when she lived at home & had carers coming in to make her meals, give medication etc.
Can anyone offer any advice on what I can do?
Your advice as always is appreciated.
My Mum has Vascular Dementia was sectioned (under section 2) about 3 weeks ago after violent incidents at her care home (bless her she has only been there 2 weeks) and was admitted to a MH unit for assessment. They prescribed Respridone & Diazepam. Mum has continued to not cooperate and has been physically violent with staff on several occasions.
I had a phone call yet from the care team and Mum has now been placed on a section 3. They have also increased her meds to 1.5mg respridone / 7mg diazepam each day. She also has a night time sedative.
From my point of view, this seems just too much sedation. Whenever I speak to Mum she is incoherent and slurs her words. Before entering into the care home & MH unit, she lived independently and was able to have a conversation, but would struggle to find the odd word, but able to chat.
I raised my concerns with the doctor and they said to give it time, as at the moment Mum is refusing 'scheduled' meds, so they were having to restrain her and give her inter muscular injections. hence why she sounds so drugged up. The doctor was hopeful that if they can get Mum to take her meds when she should, then the side effects should subside. I am doubtful.
It sounds completely harrowing for Mum and I can only imagine how scared she is right now. I am unable to see my Mum as it is an isolation ward, due to COVID. I don't know what to do or how to escalate my concerns with someone who will listen to how Mum was about a month ago. They don't seem very interested. I don't feel that they have looked into what is causing this behaviour as it only started in her second week at the home. This is not something that happened when she lived at home & had carers coming in to make her meals, give medication etc.
Can anyone offer any advice on what I can do?
Your advice as always is appreciated.