Is there a criteria to move a resident from one care home to another?

[Polly1945]

Hi all,

My Mum (age 98) has been in permanent care (residential care) for over two years now. But sadly as the dementia progresses she get quite angry and agitated especially during the night time.

Today when I visited, Mum was extremely tired and when I was leaving one of the carers told me that she had been up about six times during the night and just wouldn't settle, she was angry and saying how she "HATED this bloody place" and was going to get out and go back to Manchester. She tried to break the window with her walking frame (according to the evening carer).

Mum would never swear and it is totally out of character for her but she is so frustrated with being in the Home. I must add that the Home is really cosy and the staff are great but it is a worry for me in case they feel that she must be moved on to another more secure care home.

Last summer she did work out the numbers on the keypad and managed to escape down a flight of stairs and onto the road outside, where thankfully the next door neighbours were out in the garden and realised what the situation was, invited her in for a cuppa and then phoned the Home to let them know where she was! The Home were so upset about this and couldn't understand how she could have worked out the numbers. Since then they have changed the numbers, but she still tries to get out.

Is there a cut-off line where the Care Home say she is being too disruptive to the other residents and want her to be moved elsewhere? I know that this has happened quite recently (in Mum's care home) with another lady who was very disruptive all of the time. With Mum it seems to be mostly at night time.

I will phone the Care Home manager tomorrow but in the meantime, thanks for reading and I'm hoping that someone has some ideas.

Pauline

 

[Witzend]

We had to move an aunt from an ordinary residential home to one catering for dementia, as her dementia worsened and she started to bother the non-dementia residents. They had told us from the beginning that they would accept residents with dementia 'up to a point' and obviously bothering or upsetting other residents was that point. However the new care home was lovely - she settled very well and was able to stay until she died a couple of years later. She had been in the first home for over 2 years.

As regards not settling at night, my mother is in a specialist dementia home and from the first she has been liable to wander about half the night. The home is designed with wandering or pacing in mind, and the staff do not turn a hair - they accept it as a common feature of dementia. One of the night staff will chat or make her a cup of tea, etc. The staff are also used to people being agitated and trying to 'escape' - I have never heard of anyone managing it, though - all visitors have to be buzzed in and out. They are never given key codes, since presumably they might not be careful enough to make sure residents aren't looking over their shoulders.

 

[Polly1945]

Thanks for your reply Witzend ( I love your name, so apt!)

I worried about it all last night, but this morning I phoned the Home and spoke to one of the team leaders who reassured me that all decisions are made purely on an individual basis and there isn't any definite cut off point...she told me not to worry as my Mum is easy to cope with. Most of the time she is very placid and content.

it's only now and again when she tries to get out. She said that Mum has her off days just like the rest of us!

It was such a relief, as they are a really lovely team of carers and I couldn't bear the thought of Mum having to be moved, especially as she is nearing 99!

Thanks

Pauline

.

 

[Witzend]

Thanks for your reply Witzend ( I love your name, so apt!)

I worried about it all last night, but this morning I phoned the Home and spoke to one of the team leaders who reassured me that all decisions are made purely on an individual basis and there isn't any definite cut off point...she told me not to worry as my Mum is easy to cope with. Most of the time she is very placid and content.

it's only now and again when she tries to get out. She said that Mum has her off days just like the rest of us!

It was such a relief, as they are a really lovely team of carers and I couldn't bear the thought of Mum having to be moved, especially as she is nearing 99!

Thanks

Pauline

.

Phew, that is good news!