This is to give you all in similar situations some hope.
After 3.5 years in an Emi unit in a residential care home it was deemed that mum needed a nursing home on account of her challenging behaviour.
I was really dismayed at this. Mum only lived round the corner. Anyway I started to look around. There were no nursing beds in our town.
I managed to find a nice place ten miles away in another town where mum would be top of the waiting list.
Anyway she transferred a couple of weeks ago. I was away at the time and my son visited and said he liked the place a lot and I went just the other day.
The difference in mum was amazing. I went late afternoon. No longer was she slumped in a chair like she was in the ch. she was still quiet but looked more alert.
I'd taken her a handbag with some bits of jewellery and an old watch. She was over the moon. At Christmas she couldn't be bothered with her presents. She was saying...oh I like that. It had lots of zips and pockets and she was so enthusiastic.
Then the lady who was sat on the sofa with her kicked me and gave mum a slight punch on her shoulder. Mum said ' did you do that? What did you do that for?
I was so impressed.
She even said my name. She couldn't remember it last time. Her room smelled clean and fresh .
It's a big place, with all the room built in a square around a garden like a quadrangle. She can walk out if she wants to as its secure.
I spoke to the nurse and said this time I was determined mum was having a downstairs room and the nurse said all dementia patients should be downstairs so they can walk out. It helps calm their agitation.
I agree. Mum got herself upset walked out. Walked round the building....chucked her bag away.lol and came back fine.
Please don't despair if this happens to your loved one. I chose the ch nearest to me as I felt it was the best of a sad bunch ...But was never happy with the layout, the fact that it was upstairs, and the view of the lounge was obstructed by a wall. I'd hoped to visit three times a week but because of mums agitation it was more like once a month towards the end of her stay.
And where possible and if your lo is still mobile look for somewhere that has downstairs accommodation with access to the outdoors. It should be a basic right. I dread to think how long it's been since mum had fresh air on her face. My feeling is staff were too overworked in there to take residents downstairs to the garden in her previous home. She has walked outside many times now.
I feel she has been given a new lease of life and what's more...even though it's a twenty mile round trip I think I will be visiting much more frequently.
I hope this helps someone.
After 3.5 years in an Emi unit in a residential care home it was deemed that mum needed a nursing home on account of her challenging behaviour.
I was really dismayed at this. Mum only lived round the corner. Anyway I started to look around. There were no nursing beds in our town.
I managed to find a nice place ten miles away in another town where mum would be top of the waiting list.
Anyway she transferred a couple of weeks ago. I was away at the time and my son visited and said he liked the place a lot and I went just the other day.
The difference in mum was amazing. I went late afternoon. No longer was she slumped in a chair like she was in the ch. she was still quiet but looked more alert.
I'd taken her a handbag with some bits of jewellery and an old watch. She was over the moon. At Christmas she couldn't be bothered with her presents. She was saying...oh I like that. It had lots of zips and pockets and she was so enthusiastic.
Then the lady who was sat on the sofa with her kicked me and gave mum a slight punch on her shoulder. Mum said ' did you do that? What did you do that for?
I was so impressed.
She even said my name. She couldn't remember it last time. Her room smelled clean and fresh .
It's a big place, with all the room built in a square around a garden like a quadrangle. She can walk out if she wants to as its secure.
I spoke to the nurse and said this time I was determined mum was having a downstairs room and the nurse said all dementia patients should be downstairs so they can walk out. It helps calm their agitation.
I agree. Mum got herself upset walked out. Walked round the building....chucked her bag away.lol and came back fine.
Please don't despair if this happens to your loved one. I chose the ch nearest to me as I felt it was the best of a sad bunch ...But was never happy with the layout, the fact that it was upstairs, and the view of the lounge was obstructed by a wall. I'd hoped to visit three times a week but because of mums agitation it was more like once a month towards the end of her stay.
And where possible and if your lo is still mobile look for somewhere that has downstairs accommodation with access to the outdoors. It should be a basic right. I dread to think how long it's been since mum had fresh air on her face. My feeling is staff were too overworked in there to take residents downstairs to the garden in her previous home. She has walked outside many times now.
I feel she has been given a new lease of life and what's more...even though it's a twenty mile round trip I think I will be visiting much more frequently.
I hope this helps someone.
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