Since I last posted a message to the site in January, Dad has tried to care for Mum at home, but finally gave in after five years of round-the-clock caring and Mum went into a nursing home two weeks ago. We found the most wonderful home and were all so happy that there seemed to be a future, for both Mum and Dad. Initially the stay was for respite, so that Dad could go on a very well needed holiday. Unfortunately, Mum was very violent with the staff (kicking, biting, hitting), as well as hurting one other resident. She sometimes refused her medication and would only eat or drink spasmodically. After seven days she was admitted to hospital and sectioned under the mental health act.
This was devastating to all of us, but Mum had been violent in the recent past, with my Dad (it drove him to his wit's end just trying to gently stop her from hurting him) and with the care workers that came in to help Dad get her washed and dressed (They had to be dismissed after a week because they were just making Mum more violent).
She is being "observed" in hospital. They are having trouble getting her to eat or drink and can't get near her to wash her, so she is wandering round with faeces on her hands most of the time. When I visited yesterday, there were three nurses on the ward and they could not possibly cope with the 20 or so highly dependent patients.
My question to anyone out there is this. Mum's violence is a result of acute anxiety, yet I am told that tranquilisers will be of no use to her as they will make her sleep all the time. Is that really true? Do they have a duty to encourage her to eat and drink? What happens if she just stops eating and drinking? How can the anxiety be treated?
You have all been so supportive and helpful in the past, I am hoping someone out there may have some suggestions for me now.
This was devastating to all of us, but Mum had been violent in the recent past, with my Dad (it drove him to his wit's end just trying to gently stop her from hurting him) and with the care workers that came in to help Dad get her washed and dressed (They had to be dismissed after a week because they were just making Mum more violent).
She is being "observed" in hospital. They are having trouble getting her to eat or drink and can't get near her to wash her, so she is wandering round with faeces on her hands most of the time. When I visited yesterday, there were three nurses on the ward and they could not possibly cope with the 20 or so highly dependent patients.
My question to anyone out there is this. Mum's violence is a result of acute anxiety, yet I am told that tranquilisers will be of no use to her as they will make her sleep all the time. Is that really true? Do they have a duty to encourage her to eat and drink? What happens if she just stops eating and drinking? How can the anxiety be treated?
You have all been so supportive and helpful in the past, I am hoping someone out there may have some suggestions for me now.