Hi all, I've just joined this forum tonight and I'm hoping to gather and share some information. I've had no experience with Dementia until now and I'm a bit lost. My experience with (and introduction to) dementia is as follows: My aunt returned to the UK 2 years ago from Australia following the death of her husband (they stayed 40 years there). She stayed with my husband and myself for 4 months during which time we found her behaviour a "bit odd" at times. It was after she moved into her own home that we realised she had a problem. I took her to the docs where they did a memory test, this was followed by a brain scan which showed early vascular dementia. She was managing fine in her own home (with her wee dog) with the help of carers who came in to prompt her meds. She was also diagnosed with depression. She was able to go out on her own to the local shops and took her dog to the park everyday. All seemed fine. Then she discovered wine. She had never been interested in alcohol before but suddenly was drinking 4 or 5 glasses a day. This increased to 8 - 10 glasses. She is only 6 stone. Her behaviour obviously changed and she became very forgetful, very muddled and sometimes aggressive (verbally). I was still trying to keep her at home and did everything for her i.e. shopping, cooking cleaning etc. However, one day I arrived and she was slumped on the sofa sobbing. I thought she'd had a stroke and called her nurse. It turned out my aunt was quite drunk and the nurse thought it would be a good idea to have her taken to hospital for assessment and help for her drinking problem. The carers/doc/nurses were all aware she was drinking. They took her away for admission that day. I was told she would probably be in for 2 weeks then discharged with a more intense care package. They took her to a psychiatric hospital and sectioned her the next day. I couldn't bring her home. The section lasted 28 days during which time she was in a locked ward and heavily sedated. Towards the end of the 28 days they applied for a CTO (Compulsory Treatment Order) intending on keeping her in the hospital for a period up to 6 months. We fought this as we felt the environment was not helping her... no stimulation, no activities, the only lady on the ward, no conversation, over sedated, a grey room in a grey ward literally. We had voiced our concerns frequently during her time there. Even the ward staff said on numerous occasions that she didn't belong there, her CPN agreed. It went to tribunal which went in our favour. I had been using this time to secure a nice nursing home for her as it was now obvious she couldn't return home. The tribunal agreed that she should be released to this nursing home.... but still under section.. so she could be returned to the hospital at any time. She moved into the nursing home yesterday and seemed fine when we left her there. Sadly, during the night she became agitated and violent. I visited her today and she was more settled and in good form, chatting quite normally and not the usual confused and disjointed conversation. Still a bit muddled etc but making sense and talking about the other patients. Until it came time for me to leave. She wanted to go home and became agitated and violent again. For a six stone 80 year old she can pack a punch. It took 2 nurses and a delivery man to hold her back while I left. I'm now very confused. She can't stay in her own home (the drinking, wandering off etc), she (in my mind) is not bad enough for the psychiatric hosp but now I'm wondering if she is ready for a care home as she seems more bright and alert than the other residents. I don't know what to do and I'm scared they will take her back to the hosp which is not an ideal place for her. They also diagnosed her with paranoia and psychosis. Sorry for the long post.... this is the short version.... there is lots more. Thank you for listening. x