Dad was sectioned and admitted to mental health ward for older persons with demenita to be observed and assessed a week ago. The care home he was in was fabulous but didnt have a seperate dementia section. Dad was getting more aggitated and was sectioned last week. I am distraught at the lack of persnal care and how patients are left to walk up and down a small corrider or herded into a tv room. he has been in care 4 motnhs and after coming from a very care, person centred care home, the hospital ward is so different. Appreciating lack of staff is an NHS challenge however the personnel support dad is recieving is far from approapriate. Meeting with consultant to discuss dad this weeka nd wondered if anyone has been through this process and can offer any guidance or advice
dad in hosipal after being sectioned as care home couldnt manage his behavoirs
- Thread starter nessie50
- Start date
Hello @nessie50, you are welcome here and I hope you find the forum to be a friendly, informative and supportive place.
I don't have experience of this myself but know that some members have had somewhat similar experiences so you may find someone will be along to give the benefit of their experience in the morning.
In the meantime I hope you have time to look around the site as it is a goldmine for information in the old threads etc.
Now that you have found us I hope you will keep posting as the membership has vast collective knowledge and experience.
I don't have experience of this myself but know that some members have had somewhat similar experiences so you may find someone will be along to give the benefit of their experience in the morning.
In the meantime I hope you have time to look around the site as it is a goldmine for information in the old threads etc.
Now that you have found us I hope you will keep posting as the membership has vast collective knowledge and experience.
My husband with Alzheimer’s is in hospital at the moment and the medical and nursing care is excellent. However they are not a care home or daycentre and are not set up to distract and amuse him. Fortunately he is too unwell to need that but if he were more active I could see that being a problem.
I’m sorry I don’t really have much advice but do understand some of what you are going through. My dad went in to an older persons mental health ward in a psychiatric hospital twice although we managed to get him in voluntarily without being sectioned and then he had a DOLs as we knew within a short period of time he would not want to stay.
His behaviour at home was unmanageable as he was erratic and could be aggressive towards my mum, and often very agitated, but other times he was lovely.
The first time he was admitted he had a lovely consultant who helped him out by changing his medication. As he had come from home and we wanted him back my mum and I visited daily timing our visits opposite each other to give him company and a distraction. Dad always behaved for me so they let us take him out in the grounds every afternoon, but not my mum on her own.
Although the staff were nice enough, some of them were a bit clueless about dementia and it was an awful place to be. The tv room was narrow and grim with either the news or ‘ films for men’ channel. My dad had poor awareness and got upset at the news so I used to walk him up and down the corridor and try to exercise him. I tried all sorts of games, kicking a ball around the corridor and runing up and down and throwing a beanbag, which he couldn’t see to catch but could feel it easily. Sometimes some of the other patients got involved as there was a severe lack of interaction with the staff and despite a timetable on the wall there was no activities or occupational therapy. I also used to put music on and dance with dad, which he enjoyed. I took sandpaper in and we sanded down bits of wood and the garden benches. Staff often commented on seeing the things we did but never did them with dad or any of the other patients though.
After 8 weeks we got dad home and mum managed with my support for a year but when it all got too much we couldn’t get dad to accept going in to a home and he ended up on the same psychiatric ward. It had changed for the better but was still pretty grim. Some of the nurses were wonderful but they did have a challenging time with some of the residents but the activities and interactions with patients had improved.
The manager of the ward held meetings with the relatives asking what they could do to improve things and i came up with suggestions, but when I wasn’t there asked the staff to put on dad’s iPod so he could sit and listen to music rather than not watch the tv.
I think some of the problem was that half the patents had dementia with challenging behaviour and the other half had other mental health issues such as depression and all needed different treatment and not to be confined together.
Dad’s ward had 8 patients and 6 staff, so I don’t feel they were badly staffed but sometimes they really did have their hands full with different behaviour.
The ward manager was amazing, but so busy and I think if you want to make any changes that is where you start. I found the consultant on dad’s second visit to be arrogant and only interested in treating dad heavy handed with medication and then shipping him out to a nursing home as soon as possible. He really seemed to have no time or interest in what the relatives had to say.
As for the personal care, I did feel that somewhat lacking and often ended up doing that myself when I was there, although they did shower dad every morning, which is more than he got when he went to a care home, but then no one bothered to remind him to go to The toilet when we weren’t there so he would always be incontinent when we visited.
Sorry, I seem to have hijacked your post and gone on and on - funny how 2 years after all this I still remember it all so well .
I would recommend you talk to the ward manager and any staff that will listen and give them your feedback ( in the nicest way possible, of course) . Sorry again, and best wishes to you and your dad x
His behaviour at home was unmanageable as he was erratic and could be aggressive towards my mum, and often very agitated, but other times he was lovely.
The first time he was admitted he had a lovely consultant who helped him out by changing his medication. As he had come from home and we wanted him back my mum and I visited daily timing our visits opposite each other to give him company and a distraction. Dad always behaved for me so they let us take him out in the grounds every afternoon, but not my mum on her own.
Although the staff were nice enough, some of them were a bit clueless about dementia and it was an awful place to be. The tv room was narrow and grim with either the news or ‘ films for men’ channel. My dad had poor awareness and got upset at the news so I used to walk him up and down the corridor and try to exercise him. I tried all sorts of games, kicking a ball around the corridor and runing up and down and throwing a beanbag, which he couldn’t see to catch but could feel it easily. Sometimes some of the other patients got involved as there was a severe lack of interaction with the staff and despite a timetable on the wall there was no activities or occupational therapy. I also used to put music on and dance with dad, which he enjoyed. I took sandpaper in and we sanded down bits of wood and the garden benches. Staff often commented on seeing the things we did but never did them with dad or any of the other patients though.
After 8 weeks we got dad home and mum managed with my support for a year but when it all got too much we couldn’t get dad to accept going in to a home and he ended up on the same psychiatric ward. It had changed for the better but was still pretty grim. Some of the nurses were wonderful but they did have a challenging time with some of the residents but the activities and interactions with patients had improved.
The manager of the ward held meetings with the relatives asking what they could do to improve things and i came up with suggestions, but when I wasn’t there asked the staff to put on dad’s iPod so he could sit and listen to music rather than not watch the tv.
I think some of the problem was that half the patents had dementia with challenging behaviour and the other half had other mental health issues such as depression and all needed different treatment and not to be confined together.
Dad’s ward had 8 patients and 6 staff, so I don’t feel they were badly staffed but sometimes they really did have their hands full with different behaviour.
The ward manager was amazing, but so busy and I think if you want to make any changes that is where you start. I found the consultant on dad’s second visit to be arrogant and only interested in treating dad heavy handed with medication and then shipping him out to a nursing home as soon as possible. He really seemed to have no time or interest in what the relatives had to say.
As for the personal care, I did feel that somewhat lacking and often ended up doing that myself when I was there, although they did shower dad every morning, which is more than he got when he went to a care home, but then no one bothered to remind him to go to The toilet when we weren’t there so he would always be incontinent when we visited.
Sorry, I seem to have hijacked your post and gone on and on - funny how 2 years after all this I still remember it all so well .
I would recommend you talk to the ward manager and any staff that will listen and give them your feedback ( in the nicest way possible, of course) . Sorry again, and best wishes to you and your dad x
Thanks , it is the lack of privacy , respect and dignity and genuine care that is lacking, it is so disturbing to see my dad in this environment
Hi thanks . It is so uosetting to see a loved one in an environment that is alien to both home and care home which was fantastic .mum has taken home 2 sets of pyjamas that are soaking - even the collet was dripping wet . I asked the nurse for an explanation and she didn’t know as no notes taken although he is being observed .for pyjamas to be totally drenched either means he has managed to urinate over every part of his pyjama during the night which is then neglectful orvi would hate to think he has been showered with them on . I am distraught as her was told patients sleep in any bed and asked about infection control and was ignored - this is the worst experience to date
Does your dad have his own room at the hospital or is it an open ward?
Maybe you need to discuss your dad’s care with the ward manager. I experienced similar with my dad when I left him at one evening at 9pm, (which was the latest visitors were allowed to stay) and found him the next morning in the same clothes absolutely sodden, even though he had a pad on. When I enquired they discovered he had not gone to bed and slept on a chair in the lounge all night from the notes as it had not been passed on from the night staff. My dad only became incontinent because of the medication they gave him sedated him and nobody bothered to remind dad to use to toilet.
Every day mum or I would shave dad and clean his teeth, otherwise I don’t think it would have got done, ( although that is the same at his care home now, but mum or I just do it as we are in every day anyway and have the time).
I don’t think all places are set up for dementia, even though they say they are, but there is a standard of care they should be maintaining for your dad.
I have been to that horrible place you are at can totally sympathise. I found it hard to complain becase I got to know the staff and I didn’t want to look like an awkward relative, especially when I could see how hard it was for them sometimes to look after such troubled patients, but at other times some of them they were just plain lazy.So also there were times when I had to inform the staff that another patient might need some attention as it was obvious they were looking for the toilet or were too late to get there and the staff were happpy to ignore them.
Maybe you need to discuss your dad’s care with the ward manager. I experienced similar with my dad when I left him at one evening at 9pm, (which was the latest visitors were allowed to stay) and found him the next morning in the same clothes absolutely sodden, even though he had a pad on. When I enquired they discovered he had not gone to bed and slept on a chair in the lounge all night from the notes as it had not been passed on from the night staff. My dad only became incontinent because of the medication they gave him sedated him and nobody bothered to remind dad to use to toilet.
Every day mum or I would shave dad and clean his teeth, otherwise I don’t think it would have got done, ( although that is the same at his care home now, but mum or I just do it as we are in every day anyway and have the time).
I don’t think all places are set up for dementia, even though they say they are, but there is a standard of care they should be maintaining for your dad.
I have been to that horrible place you are at can totally sympathise. I found it hard to complain becase I got to know the staff and I didn’t want to look like an awkward relative, especially when I could see how hard it was for them sometimes to look after such troubled patients, but at other times some of them they were just plain lazy.So also there were times when I had to inform the staff that another patient might need some attention as it was obvious they were looking for the toilet or were too late to get there and the staff were happpy to ignore them.
Sorry, I posted. Before I finished but as grim as it is it might help to keep a log of everything that happens or concerns you about your dad’s care. I had to as I was so frazzled at the end of each day I couldn’t tell what happened when and when I did talk to anyone I looked like an emotional mess. Wishing you even more strength than you already have and a virtual hug, for what it’s worth x
Hi
I have had a meeting with senior nurse and consultant who did not have an answer to my issues. They really didnt know anything about dad from previous care notes from the care home which were detailed. The worst news was he will be in for up to six motnhs as they dont think 4 weeks is long enough to observe and assess Dad. I was advised to make a formal complaint which i have. I just want dad to have respect. dignity . privacy and be treated under duty of care by NHS especially as this is such a vulnerable group .
Your dad has every right to those things and he’s lucky that you are fighting his corner, even though you shouldn’t have to. The second time dad was admitted was for 3 months prior to finding him a nursing home that would take him. His consultant kept asking why he was still here after he had dosed him up on antipsychotic meds, but I couldn’t find a home that would take him with his history of aggression. The nursing staff did come on side though and supported us.
I hope you get a good outcome from your meeting, but if they are looking at keeping him 6 months then the positive is that they are not trying a ‘quick fix’ with medication.
It is so draining trying to fight what should be a given for your loved one. I have to say that on speaking to the ward manager I found things did improve so I wish you luck.
I hope you get a good outcome from your meeting, but if they are looking at keeping him 6 months then the positive is that they are not trying a ‘quick fix’ with medication.
It is so draining trying to fight what should be a given for your loved one. I have to say that on speaking to the ward manager I found things did improve so I wish you luck.
Perhaps consider looking around for a specialist dementia care home and see if they feel that they are able to meet his needs and take care of him. My husband has advanced dementia and has challenging behaviour with aggression and is settled in a specialist dementia care home. There are other residents with all kinds of challenging behaviour at the same home. The staff are generally very good at managing the challenging behaviours with a person centred approach. I worried in the past that he might get sectioned and thought he probably would if he had been in a care home without the specialist dementia training.
Looks like residential care is no longer an option and that your dad needs to go to a home with an EMI ward, but I would think that a consultant will tell you that. I'm guessing that you have had to get yet another needs assessment done, what fun....
Do you get CHC yet?
Do you get CHC yet?
