Hi, today I've had to move my mum from a residential care home to a dementia nursing home.
Mum has had many falls over the last year, at home and one in a residential home, some resulting in serious fractures, resulting operations and hospital stays. She was discharged under NHS ongoing care to the residential home where she remained for 6 weeks but her behaviour deteriorated, she was at times aggressive towards staff (not witnessed by us) and shouted during the nights. She was at risk of injury from numerous falls as didn't use her walking frame correctly and attempted to use stairs. She became agitated during evenings. Eventually a mental health assessment was done as the home couldn't cope with her behaviour. It was recommended for her to be moved to a specialist dementia unit.
Today I moved her to one that could take mum. To say it was heartbreaking is an understatement...although I'd visited prior to the move and knew it wouldn't be so homely I was still shocked by the behaviour displayed, the residents were far further along the dementia road than mum, my mum was scared and wanted to leave. Leaving her there was the hardest thing I've done, i came home and cried. Mum is nowhere near as bad as the other residents. She was left sitting alone while I sorted her room and paperwork and I cannot see how she will interact with others as she did at the residential home. I am now sat worrying about how this will affect her. Even though her speech can be hard to understand she still has comprehension and remembers what is going on..its a bit like a foot in both camps at the moment.
Already I'm wondering about looking elsewhere but one which looks more homely is £1850 per week which is so expensive and money will run out quickly. I just don't know what to do and know she will be scared there, especially on the first night, listening to many of the residents shouting and screaming as they were during this afternoon.
I'm crying just thinking about mum and worrying about how she is feeling.
Mum has had many falls over the last year, at home and one in a residential home, some resulting in serious fractures, resulting operations and hospital stays. She was discharged under NHS ongoing care to the residential home where she remained for 6 weeks but her behaviour deteriorated, she was at times aggressive towards staff (not witnessed by us) and shouted during the nights. She was at risk of injury from numerous falls as didn't use her walking frame correctly and attempted to use stairs. She became agitated during evenings. Eventually a mental health assessment was done as the home couldn't cope with her behaviour. It was recommended for her to be moved to a specialist dementia unit.
Today I moved her to one that could take mum. To say it was heartbreaking is an understatement...although I'd visited prior to the move and knew it wouldn't be so homely I was still shocked by the behaviour displayed, the residents were far further along the dementia road than mum, my mum was scared and wanted to leave. Leaving her there was the hardest thing I've done, i came home and cried. Mum is nowhere near as bad as the other residents. She was left sitting alone while I sorted her room and paperwork and I cannot see how she will interact with others as she did at the residential home. I am now sat worrying about how this will affect her. Even though her speech can be hard to understand she still has comprehension and remembers what is going on..its a bit like a foot in both camps at the moment.
Already I'm wondering about looking elsewhere but one which looks more homely is £1850 per week which is so expensive and money will run out quickly. I just don't know what to do and know she will be scared there, especially on the first night, listening to many of the residents shouting and screaming as they were during this afternoon.
I'm crying just thinking about mum and worrying about how she is feeling.
