Care home cannot cope and social services refusing to help

[EIIen]

Hi. I would really appreciate any advice. My Grandad has Alzheimer's and moved to a care home a few months ago, where he seemed to be OK. The last few weeks he has become aggressive- hitting workers, trying to steal, swearing, refusing to cooperate and bullying residents. It is completely out of his character to act like this and despite claiming to be dementia specialists, the care home say that can't cope.

Social services have also been no help, as he lives on the border of two councils, after three months of waiting, they are still fighting over which local authority should intervene. I have filed a formal complaint today.

Has anyone been in this situation or have any advice please?
Thank you.

 

[nae sporran]

Hi. I would really appreciate any advice. My Grandad has Alzheimer's and moved to a care home a few months ago, where he seemed to be OK. The last few weeks he has become aggressive- hitting workers, trying to steal, swearing, refusing to cooperate and bullying residents. It is completely out of his character to act like this and despite claiming to be dementia specialists, the care home say that can't cope.

Social services have also been no help, as he lives on the border of two councils, after three months of waiting, they are still fighting over which local authority should intervene. I have filed a formal complaint today.

Has anyone been in this situation or have any advice please?
Thank you.

Sorry to hear that Ellen. Not sure if I can help, but the care visitors we get for my partner are supposedly dementia specialists too and most of the staff are clueless. So, all I can do is sympathise and wish you well with your formal complaint, hope it gets you some proper help.

 

[nitram]

"Social services have also been no help, as he lives on the border of two councils, after three months of waiting, they are still fighting over which local authority should intervene. I have filed a formal complaint today."

If both councils are in the same parliamentary constituency you could go to the MP's surgery or email him/her outlining the problem and asking that he/she 'bangs the councils heads together' - maybe find a different way of putting it!!

 

[Cat27]

Welcome to TP

Has the GP or consultant been to visit? Does his medication need tweaking?

 

[fizzie]

I agree that a visit to the GP or a visit from the GP would be my first step. Has he been checked for a urinary tract infection? Just a thought because it causes havoc!!

 

[Mannie]

Hi. I would really appreciate any advice. My Grandad has Alzheimer's and moved to a care home a few months ago, where he seemed to be OK. The last few weeks he has become aggressive- hitting workers, trying to steal, swearing, refusing to cooperate and bullying residents. It is completely out of his character to act like this and despite claiming to be dementia specialists, the care home say that can't cope.

Social services have also been no help, as he lives on the border of two councils, after three months of waiting, they are still fighting over which local authority should intervene. I have filed a formal complaint today.

Has anyone been in this situation or have any advice please?
Thank you.

Good for you filing a complaint ! I agree start with GP and they should engage your grandads psychiatric nurse to review the situation and create a revised care plan it might involve a change in meds. But also this is a signal he is unhappy so try and figure out why. It could be the change of scenery , it could be he has UTI or constipation, or he might not be getting enough physical activity and mental stimulation which is a strong candidate. Hopefully as a team you can figure it out, it may take some time.

 

[LadyA]

Good for you filing a complaint ! I agree start with GP and they should engage your grandads psychiatric nurse to review the situation and create a revised care plan it might involve a change in meds. But also this is a signal he is unhappy so try and figure out why. It could be the change of scenery , it could be he has UTI or constipation, or he might not be getting enough physical activity and mental stimulation which is a strong candidate. Hopefully as a team you can figure it out, it may take some time.

Would make you wonder why the care home hasn't, apparently, even started investigating any of these routes! If a person with dementia starts behaving out of sorts, especially suddenly, and with such a marked change in behaviour, I would have expected the Home to have initiated tests for UTI, chest infection, and /or had his medication reviewed. I guess the system is different here.

 

[EIIen]

Thank you for all of your replies. My Dad and I have both complained to the councils, so there is a five day wait period on that. Hopefully they will be of some help. I'll definitely try the MP surgery if that doesn't help, thanks for the advice.

The care home have requested a that psychiatrist visits, but it's a week's wait. Everything seems to take twice as long as it should, maybe due to the issue between the councils.

My Grandad mentioned his knee being achey, so I wonder whether that could be playing a part. I saw a thread on here about paracetamol helping. Would a GP be able to authorise trying that on a regular basis?

Thanks so much.