My father is a dementia sufferer, he was recently involved in a serious hit and run accident, he has been left in an emergency assessment unit in two hospitals and now moved to gastroenterology department,not because he has a stomach issue but because it’s the only empty bed. Non of the wards he has been in are equipped to deal with dementia and he is deteriorating, has anyone else suffered in this way?has anyone any advice on how to force the hospital to care for him correctly?
Right treatment in hospital
- Thread starter Graybumb
- Start date
Sorry your dad has been badly injured in that way, Graybumb. Not sure if you can force hospitals to find a space where they usually have none, but I agree it's added stress for you both.
Des your dad's hospital have "This is me", a booklet which identifies him to nursing staff as having dementia? They may have it on the more specialist correct wards, and I know from experience you sometimes have to ask for it on other wards. Stressful and hard though it is you have to badger nurses politely to recognise your dad's needs, maybe speak to the consultant on Monday and definitely speak to the ward sister when you get a chance. Some wards at our local hospital allow carers to visit at lunchtimes to make sure food is eaten and drinks are consumed. You may need to make sure meus are chosen to suit what dad actually wants rather than what the nurse thinks he agreed to. Persistence and diplomacy may come in handy if memory of previous visits is correct.
Do you have a carers liaison or a local carers help line which could offer advice?
Sorry, bit of rambling reply. I hope any of that helps you and your dad.
Des your dad's hospital have "This is me", a booklet which identifies him to nursing staff as having dementia? They may have it on the more specialist correct wards, and I know from experience you sometimes have to ask for it on other wards. Stressful and hard though it is you have to badger nurses politely to recognise your dad's needs, maybe speak to the consultant on Monday and definitely speak to the ward sister when you get a chance. Some wards at our local hospital allow carers to visit at lunchtimes to make sure food is eaten and drinks are consumed. You may need to make sure meus are chosen to suit what dad actually wants rather than what the nurse thinks he agreed to. Persistence and diplomacy may come in handy if memory of previous visits is correct.
Do you have a carers liaison or a local carers help line which could offer advice?
Sorry, bit of rambling reply. I hope any of that helps you and your dad.
My dad had two stays in hospital..one for an operation one at end of life and 3 A and E day stays. The demands on staff and lack of dementia awareness at those times made me decide to stay in with dad...he couldn't ask for anything or explain anything was agitated and frightened and he would not have stayed without total supervision. Not everyone can or will want to do what I did but I don't regret it. I filled in an AS About Me but not one person looked at it...some shouted at dad to try to make him understand showing their lack of dementia awareness so I was always there to speak for Dad.I understand that often the Ward can book a sitter agency nurse 1-1 if the dementia patient is agitated but on neither occasion for Dad was anyone available as the agencies were already stretched. I gather now things are gradually changing for the better in some hospitals but a lot depends on fully staffed wards and their dementia expertise. I would speak urgently to whoever is in charge of the daily running of the Ward..Senior Sister and ask what provision they will put on place for your dad in view of his dementia.
Hello Graybumb and sorry to hear of your father's situation.
Surely the first thing to do is speak to those caring for him to learn what is happening and what they expect to happen. If he already has a dementia diagnosis then this will help in determining who to talk to.
Wishing him, and yourself, understanding care and support.
Surely the first thing to do is speak to those caring for him to learn what is happening and what they expect to happen. If he already has a dementia diagnosis then this will help in determining who to talk to.
Wishing him, and yourself, understanding care and support.
In 2015 my husband was in hospital with a chest infection. The hospital phoned me and asked if I was OK with him being moved to the dementia unit to be treated. I was very happy with that as they are geared up for elderly or dementia patients. He was able to wander about as it was a locked ward. See if your hospital has something similar. They have more staff in dementia units.
We had a terrible experience following my husband’s stroke. I have since found out that there is a ‘dementia matron’ you can ask to see...is there one in your hospital? I also found out afterwards that the hospital are ‘committed to helping dementia patients’ that was adding insult to injury. If you can stay, I would. They wouldn’t let me on the ward outside visiting hours, I was getting really upsetting phone calls from my husband and they didn’t give him his blood pressure medication...and his BP rocketed. With hind sight, I should have refused to leave him. I was too obedient.
Oh dear, this sounds complex.
It is difficult to presume without any information but the fact that your dad is on a medical ward after being in a hit and run accident suggests that he did not suffer from any major damage to his head or bones. But he is likely to need intensive help to get back to his baseline.
The problem for the hospital is that their first priority is to get unwell patients unto a ward, ideally the appropriate ward but under pressure any ward will do. This is the reason that he is on a Gastroenterology ward instead of an Elderly ward. It is true that they are not as caring with the dementia patients as their skill set tends to be towards younger very unwell patients. In truth they usually do not want to have dementia patients on their wards. This comes across in the attitude often.
I think the advice to get the dementia matron involved is important, but if he is likely to be in hospital for more than a few days maybe put some pressure for him to be moved to an Elderly ward instead. That takes time so the earlier you push the better.
Please ensure that the main problem is to do with his dementia as his care can get overlooked if everyone becomes focused on just getting him to another ward. If he can get out of hospital soon then that would be best, even if into respite care.
Pick your fight carefully and speak to PALS if not getting anywhere.
It is difficult to presume without any information but the fact that your dad is on a medical ward after being in a hit and run accident suggests that he did not suffer from any major damage to his head or bones. But he is likely to need intensive help to get back to his baseline.
The problem for the hospital is that their first priority is to get unwell patients unto a ward, ideally the appropriate ward but under pressure any ward will do. This is the reason that he is on a Gastroenterology ward instead of an Elderly ward. It is true that they are not as caring with the dementia patients as their skill set tends to be towards younger very unwell patients. In truth they usually do not want to have dementia patients on their wards. This comes across in the attitude often.
I think the advice to get the dementia matron involved is important, but if he is likely to be in hospital for more than a few days maybe put some pressure for him to be moved to an Elderly ward instead. That takes time so the earlier you push the better.
Please ensure that the main problem is to do with his dementia as his care can get overlooked if everyone becomes focused on just getting him to another ward. If he can get out of hospital soon then that would be best, even if into respite care.
Pick your fight carefully and speak to PALS if not getting anywhere.
To be honest, I think it depends on the hospital. I often thought that the acute medical ward that people usually go to first copes better with all kinds of patients. I often found the wards for the elderly understaffed for the level of care they had to give. But a ward stands and falls with its staff, and they can be educated. Try to find where the dementia nurses are and involve them. They can speak to ward sisters about relaxing visiting times for carers, they can provide This Is Me forms to fill in or make sure someone is noted down as a red tray patient - Ie someone that needs feeding.
Some hospitals support the Butterfly scheme or John's Campaign - ask whether they do and what their carer policy is.
Some hospitals support the Butterfly scheme or John's Campaign - ask whether they do and what their carer policy is.
Hi. I was in a similar position recently.my husband who was in latter stage if alzheimers went into hospital with a water infection. He too was placed on a ward that had no one trained in Alzheimers. He suffered dreadfully, they put him in bed as much as possible so he forgot how to walk, he got violent and agressive due to being scared. It was horrendous. Complain first of all to Ward Manager then to Matron and ask for him to be seen by a specialist dementia nurse. Persist and don't give up. I eventually got this and within a matter of days he was transferred where he was looked after properly. Good luck.
