Secure Unit?

[triumph25]

My O/H has been in a residential home since April. It is a very nice home & I have been very happy with him being there. This morning they called me & told me that there were 2 incidents over the weekend with my partner and the general public and the police were called, due to his aggressive & threatening behaviour. He had climbed the fence to get out.

The home no longer feel that they can keep him and have said he needs to go into a 'secure' unit.

I understand that they have a duty of care to all of the other residents and staff, and they cannot keep the home locked as it is deemed a deprivation of liberty for the other residents. The GP's have said that they won't give him any more sedation either.

So it seems the only option is a 'secure unit'

But this is breaking my heart, I simply can't bear the thought of him being 'locked up' it seems barbaric & cruel to me, and awful as it sounds I would prefer he was dead than have to go through this, especially as he is only 63 yrs old and extremely physically fit, he doesn't even take a blood pressure tablet!

The thought of him having to be locked away for any length of time is tearing me apart and I just don't know what, if anything I can do about it.

He was the kindest, gentle man and he himself would be appalled at what he has now become.

I also, don't know what the format is now, how does all this work? What happens next, and do I get any say in where he goes?

Thank you

 

[mot]

Hello Triumph25,

As I am in the US, things may be a bit different, so I am hopeful others who live around you will post as well.

I moved my mom to a memory care facility the first of July. It is a "secure" facility. The most wonderful thing is that no one really knows they are locked in!!! I have found this to be fascinating and assuring. In this facility there is a courtyard....no inside locked doors except for storage and laundry rooms. The courtyard has a planting area and a lovely garden where they are free to come in and out as they please. There is an activity room and they move about freely. There are 37 residents with about 7 care partners per shift. A registered nurse is always on duty as well.

It has been a wonderful place for my mom.

I would suggest you visit a secure or locked in facility before you have to make a move. You may find all your fears vanish.

Not saying that it's perfect, because it most certainly is NOT. But, all things considered, I am very grateful we made the move.

As the mind diminishes, the behavior patterns change. In a secure environment, they are safe. That give me peace of mind.

Sending hugs your way! Best of luck to you as you decide what to do!!!

Mot

 

[Kevinl]

My story is on he link below, for me the secure unit was the best thing that happened for both of us, however, if it goes like Rosebay (second link) then it can be the worst option for either or both of you.
K

http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?89276-Kevinl-that-was-a-week-to-remember

http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?92497-Loved-ones-in-a-Care-Home

 

[Toddleo]

So it seems the only option is a 'secure unit'

But this is breaking my heart, I simply can't bear the thought of him being 'locked up' it seems barbaric & cruel to me, and awful as it sounds I would prefer he was dead than have to go through this, especially as he is only 63 yrs old and extremely physically fit, he doesn't even take a blood pressure tablet!

The thought of him having to be locked away for any length of time is tearing me apart and I just don't know what, if anything I can do about it.

He was the kindest, gentle man and he himself would be appalled at what he has now become.

I also, don't know what the format is now, how does all this work? What happens next, and do I get any say in where he goes?

Thank you

Triumph, good morning. I just wanted to say hello and give you a little bit of insight. My mum had to be admitted to a mental health/secure unit under section 2 in June this year. She was aggressive and very very unsettled. The section lasted for 28 days and then she remained there under a DOLS (allowing her to stay there, and not allowing her to leave)

I must say that the experience was all in all very positive, I have nothing but praise for the unit and the calm manner that they deal with everything she and other residents throw at them (sometimes literally!)

My mum has declined in her alzheimers jjourney though, and the way forward is unclear, but that is another story!

My point is that, mum being admitted to the secure unit was a very positive thing, and I wish you luck.

 

[canary]

Do you have visions of them all being locked in their rooms?
Mum is in a secure unit because she was constantly wanting get out. It looks like any other care home - there is a garden, an L shaped lounge with a TV in one section, a dinning room, a quiet room and lots of little alcoves for activities or just watching the world go by. Residents are free to walk around and go in and out of all these places - although they will try and be dissuaded from going into the garden if it raining! The only difference is that there is a key pad on the front door and residents have to be escorted if they go out. I can take mum out when ever I like, although I have to inform the staff if I do. There is never any problem. The home also takes the residents, who are able enough, out to places like the sea front for an ice-cream, or to a local garden centre - there are usually about half a dozen who can cope with it.
I agree with mot - go and look at them.

 

[Amy in the US]

As I'm in the States, things may be different here, but I have also had positive experiences.

My mother (Alzheimer's and no short term memory) underwent the US equivalent of sectioning early last year (called the Senior Behavioural Health Unit or Geriatric Psychiatry Unit here). It was a locked ward in a regular hospital devoted to the care of geriatric patients with mental health and/or behavioral and physical health issues. Other than the doors at the end of the hall being locked, and having a hallway that went all the way around the unit (to accommodate walkers), it looked like any other hospital ward that I've ever been in, with the addition of a common room/living room/lounge area, and a dining room. The common area had an aviary and a large fish tank, a piano, and lots of windows. The rooms were just regular hospital rooms, all en suite and with windows. Nobody was restrained or locked in their rooms. My mother got amazing care and assessments there and it was exactly what she needed.

We moved her to a care home, the level of care described here in the States as "assisted living." The front doors are locked overnight, but not during the day. Residents can lock their rooms if they want (from the inside or outside). It has an enclosed courtyard with a paved walking path. There are regular outings and residents are free to come and go as they wish.

This has worked well until recently, when my mother's dementia has progressed to the point where there are behaviour issues with other residents and the staffing ratio doesn't permit one-to-one care at all times. Recently my mother got upset and left the home and took off down the street. Fortunately staff witnessed this and went after her, but it took her "favourite" nurse quite some time to persuade her to return. Because of this and other reasons, I've been advised that they want to move my mother to memory care. This is a separate wing at the same care home with only about 30 residents, and the external doors are always locked. There is a door to an internal, enclosed courtyard that is always open (although staff is alerted if the door is used and they do try to redirect people if it's raining or very cold). Other than the locked external door (which is visually tucked away at the far end of the wing), it looks just like the rest of the care home. Residents can have a key to their room and lock it if they wish, although the nurse manager has a master key in case of lockouts or emergencies. Nobody is restrained or locked in their rooms. My mother can still go on the same outings and attend activities in either the memory unit or the assisted living part of the building. She will still come on outings with me and my husband whenever we like. While I wish we didn't have to move her, I know that having the increased level of care and staffing ratio is now what she needs.

Part of me hates the idea of "locking up" my mother but in reality, the only thing that will change is that she won't be able to walk out in the middle of the night and get hit by traffic on the nearby busy road, or get lost, or die of exposure in the winter. Since the episode that landed her in hospital last year was (mercifully) being found early one winter morning, no coat, not properly dressed, hallucinating, disoriented, and injured, I'd rather have her safe.

I hope you are able to find a care home for your husband that will meet his needs and make you feel comfortable. I know it's not easy, and wish you all the best.