Since my post about my mother's rampage things have not improved much. She has continued with aggression on and off. She has struck other residents on several different occasions. This resulted in her occasionally being given additional meds. I checked the records & they were really being good in trying to handle her without too many meds.
She's also hit me - punched me repeatedly in the arm when I asked her if she wanted to go to her room. Anything can set her off and considering she's in a dementia unit with all kinds of interesting behaviours around her to set her off, it's scary.
I visited her last night - again she was going on about "getting them all together and killing them all" "smacking them" accompanied with choice language and appropriate body movements. She did settle down for a bit & then I left. Afterwards, she assaulted two of the residents.
This afternoon at 1:30 the home called me at work & explained she had got out of control & assaulted 4 of the residents. Three of the workers were also injured (minor - scratches & punches). They called the cops & had her removed to hospital as being a danger to herself & others. The home also asked me to have her kept at the hospital until she was stabilized. They don't want her back for a repeat performance of the last 10 days. Not that I can blame them.
I hotfooted it over to the hospital to find her still in the emergency unit locked in a small cell-like room with a bed in it. She was quite angry & going on about "getting them" & "kicking them in the ass" & so on. this was after the hospital gave her more meds. I spent all of 3 minutes with her & had to get out. Then I spoke to the nurse & social worker. They have agreed that she does need to be in hospital until we can get all her meds sorted out & her stabilized.
Now here's something funny - the nurse told me that my mother put one of the officers in the hospital. She kicked him dead on in the testicles. Bearing in mind she's 69 and she was brought in by 3 officers - handcuffed, no less. The nurse said the officer wouldn't be pressing charges - I guess not!! And I would think his fellow officers will rag him for a long time about the little old lady who laid him out.
I left the hospital before they had found a bed for her. She will be put in the psychiatric ward, in a locked room. I called the social worker before 9 pm just to find out what was happening but she didn't return my call.
Now I'm feeling guilty, I should have stayed with her (I know I'm not being realistic - I would have been absolutely useless). I'm torturing myself with thoughts of her in that cell-like room, cold and afraid and alone but I couldn't stay in it with her.
I don't know how long she will be in hospital. It really is the best thing. However, on October 6 my husband & I are going to Paris for a week. I am not cancelling this trip for anything but I just feel guilty and sad and hopeless and all those pointless useless emotions. My guilt monster is a T-Rex.
My sister (who lives 350 miles away) is urging me to enjoy my vacation. I'm sure I will - it's still over a week before we leave & I hope Mum will be settled down, or at least in the process.
It's 11:30, I can't sleep, I ate about 1/2 lb of candy this evening. I wish she would just be more or less contented and not so angry all the time.
When does the anger stop? She's doubly incontinent, her ability to form meaningful sentences is gone (except for aggressive statements - they're clear as a bell, of course). I really feel lost tonight.
Joanne
She's also hit me - punched me repeatedly in the arm when I asked her if she wanted to go to her room. Anything can set her off and considering she's in a dementia unit with all kinds of interesting behaviours around her to set her off, it's scary.
I visited her last night - again she was going on about "getting them all together and killing them all" "smacking them" accompanied with choice language and appropriate body movements. She did settle down for a bit & then I left. Afterwards, she assaulted two of the residents.
This afternoon at 1:30 the home called me at work & explained she had got out of control & assaulted 4 of the residents. Three of the workers were also injured (minor - scratches & punches). They called the cops & had her removed to hospital as being a danger to herself & others. The home also asked me to have her kept at the hospital until she was stabilized. They don't want her back for a repeat performance of the last 10 days. Not that I can blame them.
I hotfooted it over to the hospital to find her still in the emergency unit locked in a small cell-like room with a bed in it. She was quite angry & going on about "getting them" & "kicking them in the ass" & so on. this was after the hospital gave her more meds. I spent all of 3 minutes with her & had to get out. Then I spoke to the nurse & social worker. They have agreed that she does need to be in hospital until we can get all her meds sorted out & her stabilized.
Now here's something funny - the nurse told me that my mother put one of the officers in the hospital. She kicked him dead on in the testicles. Bearing in mind she's 69 and she was brought in by 3 officers - handcuffed, no less. The nurse said the officer wouldn't be pressing charges - I guess not!! And I would think his fellow officers will rag him for a long time about the little old lady who laid him out.
I left the hospital before they had found a bed for her. She will be put in the psychiatric ward, in a locked room. I called the social worker before 9 pm just to find out what was happening but she didn't return my call.
Now I'm feeling guilty, I should have stayed with her (I know I'm not being realistic - I would have been absolutely useless). I'm torturing myself with thoughts of her in that cell-like room, cold and afraid and alone but I couldn't stay in it with her.
I don't know how long she will be in hospital. It really is the best thing. However, on October 6 my husband & I are going to Paris for a week. I am not cancelling this trip for anything but I just feel guilty and sad and hopeless and all those pointless useless emotions. My guilt monster is a T-Rex.
My sister (who lives 350 miles away) is urging me to enjoy my vacation. I'm sure I will - it's still over a week before we leave & I hope Mum will be settled down, or at least in the process.
It's 11:30, I can't sleep, I ate about 1/2 lb of candy this evening. I wish she would just be more or less contented and not so angry all the time.
When does the anger stop? She's doubly incontinent, her ability to form meaningful sentences is gone (except for aggressive statements - they're clear as a bell, of course). I really feel lost tonight.
Joanne
) but in my mind she was alone & my imagination went on & on. I do feel her anger is concealed fear. I'm afraid my mother's philosophy seems to be "The best defense is a good offense". And boy, can she be offensive.
