I haven't been in Talking Point for a long time. My husband died on May 29th after a 9 year struggle with contingencies dementia. He was admitted to a care home because he was a determined wanderer who was getting into dangerous situations and the mental health team were worried for him, and for me.
While in the first care home he got out after watching to see the numbers being punched in the door pad but they got him before he left the porch. We transferred him to a home nearer to us and he never settled. He made repeated attempts to get out and fortunately was stopped at the front door, until the last time when he got out through an un-alarmed fire door upstairs then through the fire door downstairs which was alarmed with a nurse alarm and no one took any notice. It was dark outside and he began walking through the housing estate. Fortunately a resident in the estate who visited the care home, recognised him and took him back. Within half a mile of the care home lies the river, a main road and a level crossing!! After each attempt to leave, the care home played catch up and installed key pads, firstly on the door then on the lift.
He had been assessed by the home before they took him and they knew he was a wanderer but they took him. They have a dementia unit but after the last attempt they issued an eviction order - via a phone call delivered by an agency nurse. For 8 weeks I searched for another home till eventually, after pressure from the cpn and the local authority they decided that the medication regime which they hadn't even given a chance to work was shortening him and they would keep him. He died 2 weeks later.
At the moment I am waiting for figures from the care inspectorate in Scotland regarding the numbers of people who wander out of care homes. This is a big problem in the US where there are litigation lawyers who specialise in this problem. I believe it is also a big problem here but we don't hear about it! I want a regulated, minimum level of security to be in place in every home which states that it will look after people with dementia. People talk about preserving privacy and dignity and the rights of the individual. What seems to be forgotten is the duty of care to keep people safe. I welcome comments please because I believe we need to raise awareness and make the care homes spend the money we give them to protect our loved ones.
While in the first care home he got out after watching to see the numbers being punched in the door pad but they got him before he left the porch. We transferred him to a home nearer to us and he never settled. He made repeated attempts to get out and fortunately was stopped at the front door, until the last time when he got out through an un-alarmed fire door upstairs then through the fire door downstairs which was alarmed with a nurse alarm and no one took any notice. It was dark outside and he began walking through the housing estate. Fortunately a resident in the estate who visited the care home, recognised him and took him back. Within half a mile of the care home lies the river, a main road and a level crossing!! After each attempt to leave, the care home played catch up and installed key pads, firstly on the door then on the lift.
He had been assessed by the home before they took him and they knew he was a wanderer but they took him. They have a dementia unit but after the last attempt they issued an eviction order - via a phone call delivered by an agency nurse. For 8 weeks I searched for another home till eventually, after pressure from the cpn and the local authority they decided that the medication regime which they hadn't even given a chance to work was shortening him and they would keep him. He died 2 weeks later.
At the moment I am waiting for figures from the care inspectorate in Scotland regarding the numbers of people who wander out of care homes. This is a big problem in the US where there are litigation lawyers who specialise in this problem. I believe it is also a big problem here but we don't hear about it! I want a regulated, minimum level of security to be in place in every home which states that it will look after people with dementia. People talk about preserving privacy and dignity and the rights of the individual. What seems to be forgotten is the duty of care to keep people safe. I welcome comments please because I believe we need to raise awareness and make the care homes spend the money we give them to protect our loved ones.
