Husband now in 4th facility. Baker acted due to violent behavior by police, tried sexually assaulting a female, hit 1 resident and 1 Aide. .where can he go now if he is thrown out of the 4th one? He has multiple health issues. He still knows who I am. 1st place he escaped, 2nd place he became violent, 3rd place he lured a female resident into his room and barricaded the door. She was not harmed, 4th place he lasted 3 hours and he urinated on the floor, tried throwing a vase at the front door and hit an aide. Police Baker Acted him and he spent 7 days in a mental facility.
The doctor increased the dosage but it isn’t working out too well. I guess it is a trial and error for the meds. My son went to see him today and told me “Dad is really mad at everyone.” I spoke to the administrator and she told me he took off his wedding band and told her to keep it. On the advice of the charge nurse and administrator I will not be going to see him. For some reason I agitate him more. I am afraid for my own safety and I will not allow him to physically or mentally abuse me.
The facility he is in now is a cross between a memory care and mental health. The other three places were only for Alzheimer’s. I wanted to put him in psychiatric hospital but so far this new place is working out somewhat. My sons get upset and say “no ma you can’t put dad in a mental hospital”. If it comes down to that I will do what is best for him and others he might harm, However, each time the phone rings my stomach gets in a knot. I never know if it is the new place or not. Thank you all for you caring and sharing.
Sending you a big hug and a prayer for strength
Very likely he will be put into the infirmary ward of a facility for the criminally insane if he is this violent and also has physical health issues.
Let the state appoint a conservator/guardian over him and they will figure it out.
Ideally, based on his violent behavior, the Dr. will arrange for his transport to a psychiatric facility that has a specialist in geriatric mental issues. It takes a lot of observation and trial and error to get the medication mixture and level just right to smooth out violent behavioral issues. We had one resident spend 2 mos in a state psychiatric facility getting the meds right. She returned to another NH still sullen and evil but no longer attacked residents or staff. Unfortunately, that only lasted for about 6 mos before the violent behavior returned (blood work showed her enzyme levels were off) and she had to go back for another stent.
All facilities have to keep their other residents and visiting families safe as well as their own staff - no one earning 13.50/ wants to get hit in the eye or should they at any pay rate - so understandably the facilities need to get violent people out. They are (at least in most states) responsible to do a "safe discharge" so they can't just put a resident out of the sidewalk. And coming back to your home is NOT a safe discharge. DO NOT ALLOW (yes, I'm shouting!!!)the facility or the hospital (or Bevthetroll on this site) to talk/coerce/cajole you into taking him home with you for one second!!!!!
What happens in these severely violent cases is that a dementia client is moved to a psychiatric facility where they are given medications to calm down the behavior. I feel badly for someone who gets to this point in their stage of their illness. The geriatric doctor should have been contacted at the facility for help.
There comes a time when we realize that we can no longer take care of an individual who has violent tendencies. I worked as an aide and had a client that I felt needed more help that I couldn't provide. I felt the client was headed in the wrong direction, but with the proper medication could have been spared some of the symptoms they were experiencing.
I don't know why the 1st placement couldn't work with you and the doc to adjust meds. It's not cruel its helpful with the transit ion and the dementia. Why keep moving him? How hard is it for a nurse to pick up the phone and call the his doctor?? Not that difficult. Funny they can call right away to remove him. Of course I understand they don't want anyone hurt, but they can call the doc just as easily.
They could have called you and asked if you can calm him, until doc sends orders, and they get new meds, or increase anti anxiety or whatever.
Id call his doc right away and say he needs help. He's not coping well. What can we do? I'd tell him entire situation, with mult moves too. And ask about could it be a uti, or blood chems off? Sounds more like all the moves & upheavals. I'd do that right away. Since none of the homes did. They might charge you bc it takes up docs time just like a visit, but he needs help ASAP. This doc knows him. The other places don't.
Good luck keep us posted.
Maybe you should allow husband to move back home.
He would be happier living out the remainder of his life at home.
Check with his Dr and Insurance and put him on Home Health.
He'll be able to get an Aide to come by to help him bathe if needed. He will also get a Nurse to come by.
If husband has been in the Military he could get up to 30 hrs a week Caregiver help.
Prayers
We all understand your stance on nursing homes, and I'm not about to argue that your views are skewed, because I know it won't do any good...but there are people in the world with NO CHOICE but to place a loved one, and your constant vitriol against any and all nursing homes is really getting old. Enough, already.
I am so sorry, this must be so difficult.
psychologist … some dementia made much worse by the newer antipsychotic meds….like Lewy body
eith delusions hallucinations. He needs proper professional care.
seroquel worked well my husband.
all these changes making him worse . He’s very frightened confused and anxious and feels worse than anyone can imagine. By careful and honest with the new home and get him good geriatric neurologist asap.
he’s probably used to being in control is scared and trust me he doesn’t want to be like this .
Good luck with you husband.
His behavior issues need specific management, whether by medication, specifically trained staff, and/or alteration (temporary or permanent) of his physical environment.
The fact that he “knows” you is irrelevant at this point. Address his current behaviors, neurological psychiatric status, AND WAYS TO ADDRESS HIS INAPPROPRIATE SOCIALLY DEVIANT ACTIONS via his assessment.
You can’t address his problem(s) until you find out what they are and what’s causing them.
Lots of good luck with planning, understanding, and managing his future.
I wouldn't worry, at this point, about keeping him quite sedated. He cannot be allowed to punch, hit, abuse ANYONE, and all the patients have the same right to safety.
Has he been medicated yet? Somebody should be monitoring what he's getting.