My mum has always lived at home with my dad but recently she has become aggressive on occasions when she can’t leave the house. She came to stay with me for 10 days as she refused to go home and went into a dementia home for 2 week emergency stay and assessment of her needs. The home said they was unable to cope with her behaviour as she became violent due to not being allowed out of her room because of isolation period (covid) mental health day she needs to be treated in a mental hospital under section 2 . I have asked why she can’t go to a more suitable dementia nursing home where they have mental health training and qualified staff and they don’t seem to give me an answer why they feel a mental hospital is the best option. I don’t feel they have my mums best interest and I feel it’s an easy option to pass her on to another department (such as from community to hospital) Someone has visited my mum from mental health once and changed her medication and all other communication has been over the phone with the lodge
Does my mum have to be treated in a mental hospital under section 2
- Thread starter Tramim
- Start date
It sounds to me like there has not been an assessment of her by a doctor. You took your mum to this home for her needs to be assessed and they have assessed them but you disagree with the result. However you don't mention the involvement of any medical experts in this assessment. You could ask her GP to refer her to a specialist. Or if she goes to a hospital there will be specialists there who can give an expert opinion, maybe leading to a transfer to the sort of home you are talking about.
Hello @Tramim welcome to the forum, you'll find lots of advice and support here. It's not clear who placed your mum in the home for emergency respite/assessment - was it social services? If so, contact them to explain the situation as they will be able to consider moving her to a different home if they feel that it is appropriate. It sounds from what you have posted that your mum has only recently gone into the home and is subject to 2 weeks quarantine, and based on her previous behaviour you think that being kept in her room is causing her to be violent? The staff have a right to be protected from violence so the care home manager has to consider everyone's best interest. It could be that your mum would benefit from being prescribed something to keep her calm during the quarantine period, if that is the only thing that is causing her to be violent, but she should really be properly assessed by the GP/mental health team. If the mental health team have recently assessed your mum and concluded that she needs to be sectioned then they should be involved in arranging this. It may be that being in hospital for a short time where she can be properly monitored /assessed and have her medication reviewed would be the best thing for your mum at the moment. Once the assessment is complete then a decision can be made about the best type of home for her. Keep posting as there will be people here who have been through similar experiences.
My mum went in on Friday and Saturday the home said they was unable to cope - an out of hours doctor visited to rule out any medical reason for her sudden behaviour change and on Monday a mental health prescriber changed her medication - I was told by mental health they had referred mum back to social services to find a more suitable place for mum and that she was a high risk staying where she is - social services referred her straight back to mental health for a more indeapth assessment and it is the decision of mental health who say she needs hospital intervention although no one has actually visited my mum and all information has been given over the phone from the staff at the home - I am unable to visit mum due to this covid
It was decided by mental health on Monday after social services referred her back to them that she should have hospital treatment and that they are waiting for a bed to come available. I have asked another mental health nurse who says she could be treated in a more home environment instead of a hospital. I feel she will deteriorate more being transferred to hospital and then a suitable home
Hello @Tramim
A warm welcome to DTP
You must be so worried about your mum and only want what is best for her
Unfortunately, the covid restrictions are making more tricky communication and specific arrangements for an individial
From what you have written, the correct procedures seem to be being followed... if the home staff know they cannot cope, they must act and it is better that they do for your mum's safety... then the mental health team are the ones to take charge... from the speed action was taken, it was clearly necessary
your mum will be monitored and assessed and arrangements made for her ongoing care... from the posts of members here, this does seem to be done in hospital or an assessment unit... I haven't read of any 'care home' of the kind you describe, it would be highly specialised
Maybe contact Admiral Nurses who are there to support carers and may have local knowledge to help or be able to mediate for you
www.dementiauk.org
Cross posted with post above
A warm welcome to DTP
You must be so worried about your mum and only want what is best for her
Unfortunately, the covid restrictions are making more tricky communication and specific arrangements for an individial
From what you have written, the correct procedures seem to be being followed... if the home staff know they cannot cope, they must act and it is better that they do for your mum's safety... then the mental health team are the ones to take charge... from the speed action was taken, it was clearly necessary
your mum will be monitored and assessed and arrangements made for her ongoing care... from the posts of members here, this does seem to be done in hospital or an assessment unit... I haven't read of any 'care home' of the kind you describe, it would be highly specialised
Maybe contact Admiral Nurses who are there to support carers and may have local knowledge to help or be able to mediate for you
Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline
Call or email our Dementia Helpline/Alzheimer's Helpline for reassuring and practical advice from our specialist team of Admiral Nurses.
Cross posted with post above
