We have just moved my mother, 86yr old with vascular dementia, into a care home that specialises in dementia for two weeks respite care, on the general understanding that she will stay there if she settles and we are happy with the care.
She has been at the home for just four days and the carers have told us that she is settling in well but suffering from sundowning and hitting out a bit at the carers in the early evening. The carers have told us this is normal behaviour for new residents in the first weeks. While my mum has always been a gentle soul, we half expected this as she is in a place totally unfamiliar to her and she must be confused and frightened. My sister visited her today and she looked well and seemed happy. As my sister left however, the care home manager told her that we couldn't assume that my mum would stay after the two week period "because of her aggression". We are totally shocked, as we have been told this is normal for the settling in period, and it has only been four days. Surely it is too early to make judgements like this? My assumption is that it would take a month at least to settle in.
She has been at the home for just four days and the carers have told us that she is settling in well but suffering from sundowning and hitting out a bit at the carers in the early evening. The carers have told us this is normal behaviour for new residents in the first weeks. While my mum has always been a gentle soul, we half expected this as she is in a place totally unfamiliar to her and she must be confused and frightened. My sister visited her today and she looked well and seemed happy. As my sister left however, the care home manager told her that we couldn't assume that my mum would stay after the two week period "because of her aggression". We are totally shocked, as we have been told this is normal for the settling in period, and it has only been four days. Surely it is too early to make judgements like this? My assumption is that it would take a month at least to settle in.