My dad is now in the later stages of Vascular Dementia and is now falling so often, and going to A and E so often, I wonder what will happen next? Dad is in an EMI unit, has been there for 2 years, previously in sheltered supported housing but he reached a point where he was no longer safe to be there (my judgement, the wardens judgement and eventually his social workers judgement after a lot of input from myself). Initially he was ok in his care home, and he would fall occasionally, but now it has come to the point where he falls so often, 4 times in 6 days this week, that the care home staff are struggling. Dad will not sit still, he constantly walks, and as he is disabled, walked with a stick for years due to his disability before dementia onset, he was a bit unsteady even then. Now his gait has declined to a shuffle, and very unsteady and although the staff do try really hard, there is no way they can be at his side 24/7 as he is not funded 1-2-1. I have asked for an emergency review, which will be sometime this coming week after 4 falls this week, one resulting in a fractured shoulder and hospital sent him back to CH! He has cut his face once, (steri stripped), cut his head (stitched) damaged his nose and glasses (he also has glaucoma and catarracts so vision is impaired, fractured his shoulder, bruises all over back and buttocks and his face is a mess yet again.
The CH have upped his risk assessment regularly, he has support whenever they see him get up, and they walk with him, encourage him to sit down and rest, but as soon as they turn their backs to support another person, he is off again. As a carer myself I know none of this is their fault, care homes are not staffed to enable 1-2-1 support at all times. They work hard, they always inform me when anything happens, I do not blame them in any way, they are doing the very best they can for my dad.
I am wondering what to expect next? Can they up his funding to provide more care, and if so to what level? I know it is down to funding, but can not see dad being given 1-2-1 support 24/7 as who would pay for this. Will he be moved to a nursing home and if so are they staffed any differently? Will they be able to use some form of low level restraint in his best interests at busy times? They say some people will fall a couple of times a year, dad falls at least weekly, and lately it is happening more and more. Yesterday the ambulance refused to attend (despite a fractured shoulder the day before from a fall) as he showed no signs of stroke or heart attack. He had cut his head again and the home have a policy of head injury go to hospital (most places do this). They triaged him and sent a doctor out, who 3 hours later examined him, pronounced him ok except his blood pressure was very low so now he has had some medications reduced, one of which was to keep him calm so he will be hot to trot even more now!
Has anybody has experience of "where and what next" they could advise me on please.
I feel like I am on the dementia roundabout and am getting dizzy from the constant spinning. I know one day I will get off the roundabout, but whilst I am on it, somebody keeps spinning it faster!
Thanks for listening.
The CH have upped his risk assessment regularly, he has support whenever they see him get up, and they walk with him, encourage him to sit down and rest, but as soon as they turn their backs to support another person, he is off again. As a carer myself I know none of this is their fault, care homes are not staffed to enable 1-2-1 support at all times. They work hard, they always inform me when anything happens, I do not blame them in any way, they are doing the very best they can for my dad.
I am wondering what to expect next? Can they up his funding to provide more care, and if so to what level? I know it is down to funding, but can not see dad being given 1-2-1 support 24/7 as who would pay for this. Will he be moved to a nursing home and if so are they staffed any differently? Will they be able to use some form of low level restraint in his best interests at busy times? They say some people will fall a couple of times a year, dad falls at least weekly, and lately it is happening more and more. Yesterday the ambulance refused to attend (despite a fractured shoulder the day before from a fall) as he showed no signs of stroke or heart attack. He had cut his head again and the home have a policy of head injury go to hospital (most places do this). They triaged him and sent a doctor out, who 3 hours later examined him, pronounced him ok except his blood pressure was very low so now he has had some medications reduced, one of which was to keep him calm so he will be hot to trot even more now!
Has anybody has experience of "where and what next" they could advise me on please.
I feel like I am on the dementia roundabout and am getting dizzy from the constant spinning. I know one day I will get off the roundabout, but whilst I am on it, somebody keeps spinning it faster!
Thanks for listening.