Hi,
My mum finally went into a nursing home just coming up to a month ago. The carers are kind and helpful but I have a number of real concerns. Her mobility was bad before she went in but is now almost non existent; she has had 3 bad falls in the last week, all at night time, one of which nobody at the home seemed to know anything about; she has had no induction type examination from a doctor; many clothes have gone missing; she is not eating well - the food is always cold; she is refusing medication but the impact of this seems to be played down by the staff; there are no indications that she is getting exercise or fresh air; she is often inappropriately dressed in summer clothes. Whether this is a sympton or a cause I don't know but the place always seems understaffed.
Mum is unable to make herself understood so it is so difficult to know whether she feels well, in pain, settled, happy or traumatised.
I am raising these concerns with the home manager but don't know if my expectations are just too high. Is every home catering for residents with dementia pretty much the same? What is it reasonable to expect?
Any experience out there to help me with handling this would be much appreciated
Nick
My mum finally went into a nursing home just coming up to a month ago. The carers are kind and helpful but I have a number of real concerns. Her mobility was bad before she went in but is now almost non existent; she has had 3 bad falls in the last week, all at night time, one of which nobody at the home seemed to know anything about; she has had no induction type examination from a doctor; many clothes have gone missing; she is not eating well - the food is always cold; she is refusing medication but the impact of this seems to be played down by the staff; there are no indications that she is getting exercise or fresh air; she is often inappropriately dressed in summer clothes. Whether this is a sympton or a cause I don't know but the place always seems understaffed.
Mum is unable to make herself understood so it is so difficult to know whether she feels well, in pain, settled, happy or traumatised.
I am raising these concerns with the home manager but don't know if my expectations are just too high. Is every home catering for residents with dementia pretty much the same? What is it reasonable to expect?
Any experience out there to help me with handling this would be much appreciated
Nick