No peace of mind

LJS45

My mom was placed in MC by her husband 6/11/21. We keep waiting for her to settle in but it  seems almost every other day there is an issue. She was getting very agitated when her husband would visit and it finally escalated into her yelling and screaming and banging her head on the glass.  She tells him she wants to go and he responds that she can't. I've hired a geriatric case manager and she provided some coaching for my mom's husband to hopefully have better visits. Her husband took a break from visiting for a bit. Then another day, paramedics were called when she aspirated water. She was examined and they said she was fine. Another day she hit the med tech. She also keeps leaving the building setting off the alarm. Her room is right by an egress door and we have requested her room to be moved, but there is nothing available and she is on a waitlist. She was also transported to the ER for a prolapsed bladder, which she has had for a long time, but MCF said it was worse. Her seroquel was increased and it made her extremely sleepy so when the speech therapist came to do a swallow evaluation, my mom was too sleepy. We have checked twice for UTI. Negative. Lowered the seroquel 2 days ago and when my mom's husband went to visit her last night, she was outside the building with staff trying to redirect her and go back in. She really can't participate in many activities, but has taken comfort in a baby doll. She talks to it, checks it's diaper, and kisses it, but I'm so worried she is going to get kicked out of the MCF. It would be so traumatizing for her to move. I guess I was wrong in thinking a MCF would offer some peace of mind. Does it ever get better?

M1

Sounds really difficult. Do they have a geriatric psychiatrist on staff? I haven't dealt with placement yet but from reading here, seems like many take months to settle in. Longer than you'd hope for, anyway.

loveskitties

I am surprised that the current MCF has egress doors the patients can open into an open area.  After all, one of the issues of the disease is wandering.

I would think that they would have a walled/enclosed area outside that door if it can be opened at will.

Wishing you better days

LJS45

M1, thanks for your reply. No, there is no geriatric psychiatrist. She has a neurologist that manages her meds. Trying to find the right balance so she is not too sleepy or not too agitated/aggressive.

Emily 123

It seems really odd that she can get out of the MC at all.  I would discuss with the administrator.  She’s at a high risk to end up hurt somewhere, since she seems to be able to get out.  Dementia wanderers will tend to straightline it through any obstacles if the territory looks unfamiliar.

LJS45

Thanks for your reply Emily. Only psychiatric units are on full lock down in our state is what I was told by the director.