care home niggles
- Thread starter pixie2
- Start date
I was in a nursing home today and observed a dementia resident being escorted back to his room because he came out and walked up corridor to main lounge with just a shirt on!!!
They did not cover him up on his walk back to his room!!
I did complain and say ‘surely he deserves better dignity than that!’
They said oh he always does this .!!
They did not cover him up on his walk back to his room!!
I did complain and say ‘surely he deserves better dignity than that!’
They said oh he always does this .!!
When my mother first moved to her care home I folded all her clothes neatly in the drawers. Ever since, everything is jumbled and not folded... it offends my sense of neatness, but does it matter? My mother isn't bothered and I'd rather the carers spent their time doing other things than folding clothes. At least she is always wearing her own and they haven't lost anything.
I'm not sure my mother cleans her teeth very often. She can't do it on her own now so the carers have to help her, and I suspect she doesn't co-operate - the toothpaste lasts a very long time. Whereas the showergel disappears at such a rate there must be a lot of washing going on. Nowhere will be perfect, but they take very good care of her.
I'm not sure my mother cleans her teeth very often. She can't do it on her own now so the carers have to help her, and I suspect she doesn't co-operate - the toothpaste lasts a very long time. Whereas the showergel disappears at such a rate there must be a lot of washing going on. Nowhere will be perfect, but they take very good care of her.
My mother, who used to have immaculate drawers, is a packer, she packs and unpacks every couple of days, so some days all is tidy, other days a tip. One of my grouches with the care home is other people’s underwear in amongst Mum’s. Most of hers is labelled with embroided tape, no mistaking it. I just pop the unfamiliar undies in the nearest bathroom and mention it to the carers
Despite a note that I would deal with OHs laundry his first lot of 'dirty' clothes went off to the laundry. All were returned beautifully ironed and pressed. Next respite I will let them do the laundry. However, I am not sure everything needs to be washed everyday. Regarding the gentleman not getting dressed before leaving his room, it would be better if they could intercept him before he leaves - a discrete alarm? I would not be surprised if this happened to my OH. At home I make sure he is fully dressed before we go downstairs.
Sirena - it would be even better if the care worker tidied the drawers/wardrobe while having a chat with your mother.
Some care workers have a natural good sense but we are not privy to the pressures put on the care workers from management.
Sirena - it would be even better if the care worker tidied the drawers/wardrobe while having a chat with your mother.
Some care workers have a natural good sense but we are not privy to the pressures put on the care workers from management.
Nowhere is perfect and laundry niggles are common. There is also a sort of "Alice in Wonderland" quality to the place which took me by surprise, but I learned to accept some bizarre happenings as being quite normal. Care homes cant "fix" people with dementia - their behaviour is just the same, but the carers are usually not fazed by it and know some techniques to mitigate it. Mums drawers and cupboards used to be a mess, but I had cleared out her bungalow and knew how bad that had got, so I used to go through her things, send clothes that wernt hers and dirty stuff that had been put back in the drawers to the laundry, gave items that had made their way into mums room 
to the carers to return to their original owners, turfed out all the tissues and folded up all her things.
What was important to me was that the staff were caring and genuinely fond of her and that mum was kept safe, fed, thrived and was happy there
to the carers to return to their original owners, turfed out all the tissues and folded up all her things.What was important to me was that the staff were caring and genuinely fond of her and that mum was kept safe, fed, thrived and was happy there
I agree with your comment. At M's CH underwear and socks seem to move around. Either M doesn't notice or she doesn't mention it. Also they don't lock the rooms during the day and some residents wander into other rooms removing items. Its very hard for the carers to monitor and i think its just one of those things I have to live with. I have M's expensive items with me . But against that the carers are always bright and cheerful and very helpful and caring. Mum is always clean as is the CH.M did manage to lose things in her own home.Nowhere is perfect and laundry niggles are common. There is also a sort of "Alice in Wonderland" quality to the place which took me by surprise, but I learned to accept some bizarre happenings as being quite normal. Care homes cant "fix" people with dementia - their behaviour is just the same, but the carers are usually not fazed by it and know some techniques to mitigate it. Mums drawers and cupboards used to be a mess, but I had cleared out her bungalow and knew how bad that had got, so I used to go through her things, send clothes that wernt hers and dirty stuff that had been put back in the drawers to the laundry, gave items that had made their way into mums room
What was important to me was that the staff were caring and genuinely fond of her and that mum was kept safe, fed, thrived and was happy there
My mother spends very little time in her room, as soon as she's awake she goes down the the lounge, so I doubt they would have the chance! It's also possible of course that my mother forages in there and messes them up anyway. I never find anyonelse's belongings in her room, the bedrooms are locked when the resident isn't in there so there is no 'swapping and stealing' going on which is a major plus.
Yes my Mum doesn't spend any time in the day in her room so I might ask if it can be locked.
The knicker Hunt is over, as suspected, all packed ready for our trip north today! Pity it’s snowing “somewhere” up north so trip postponed a few days.
Other excuse........need to book seats, need to bring big suitcases, cold, rain etc etc.
Latest problem is swollen feet, home have “mislaid “ shoes that make it worse, so a trip to local outlet centre tomorrow to find adjustable slippers and/or shoes.
Problem is mum never wears slippers, sandals in house and summer, boots in winter so I see carers having fun getting her to wear them!
Other excuse........need to book seats, need to bring big suitcases, cold, rain etc etc.
Latest problem is swollen feet, home have “mislaid “ shoes that make it worse, so a trip to local outlet centre tomorrow to find adjustable slippers and/or shoes.
Problem is mum never wears slippers, sandals in house and summer, boots in winter so I see carers having fun getting her to wear them!
Hi
I loved the Alison in Wonderland quote. Dad has been a permanent resident for 5 weeks now and that perfectly describes it there.
Dad was wearing a nice pair of trousers yesterday.
Not his and as the only other man on his wing is half Dads size I have no idea where they have come from. I'm not going to mention it.The Laundry is done beautifully and no doubt they were clean when he put them on.
All the residents look well cared for and the staff seem kind and that's what I want for Dad.
I loved the Alison in Wonderland quote. Dad has been a permanent resident for 5 weeks now and that perfectly describes it there.
Dad was wearing a nice pair of trousers yesterday.
Not his and as the only other man on his wing is half Dads size I have no idea where they have come from. I'm not going to mention it.The Laundry is done beautifully and no doubt they were clean when he put them on.
All the residents look well cared for and the staff seem kind and that's what I want for Dad.
My Dad never closes his room door he doesn't like it shut and residents do wander in but they usually just come in for a sit down on thier travels up and down I don't mind this and dad seems ok with it his clothes are always clean but never ironed think they get dried and folded up so his shirts look a bit crumpled sometimes. I was really annoyed recently I again asked had dad had his flu jab been asking for weeks then told on Saturday that he hadn't had it because I hadn't done the consent form why didn't they tell me this in the first place so I could have done it weeks ago he still hasn't had it.
On teeth cleaning..my daughter once worked in a care home and said the carers always loved it when residents has electric tooth brushes. I might try one. I usually get mum to clean her teeth when I visit, we spend a bit of time in her room and I do sorting out as well. The carers are trying to get 20-30 people, mostly incontinent, up and dressed in time to get them to the dining room for 9am. It's a two hour window and I guess you can't always expect the same attention to detail that you will get with one to one care, at least not in average homes.
My mum had her flu jab last week - I wasn't asked to sign anything, they just did it. Which was fine, because she always has one.
I happened to be in her room this morning, replacing toiletries, when some clothes were returned from laundry (as you say Pepple, they aren't ironed, just tumble dried - I have no problem with this because it's what I do myself!) They are put away by the cleaners, not beautifully folded but fairly neatly, so I think it's mum rummaging which unsorts them.
I happened to be in her room this morning, replacing toiletries, when some clothes were returned from laundry (as you say Pepple, they aren't ironed, just tumble dried - I have no problem with this because it's what I do myself!) They are put away by the cleaners, not beautifully folded but fairly neatly, so I think it's mum rummaging which unsorts them.
