I haven’t been active on here in a while due to yet another situation with my dad. He had moved to to his new facility about an hour away from my home. He was only there maybe a week and a half and they called and said they had sent him out (called 911) for evaluation. He hit one of the female residents. He went to the emergency room at a small hospital and was supposed to be admitted to a geri-psych bed. He waited in the ER over a week (I know this sounds unbelievable but it happened). He ended up being re-evaluated by psych and they said he could return to his facility....I also about that time received word that my dad was nonverbal and unable to even stand without assistance and had been that way all day. I had not visited him in the ER because it was not a locked facility and I knew my dad would run after me resulting in more traumatic events for he and I. The hospital ended up admitting my dad to a regular hospital bed due to his decline he also had fever of 102. That same day the director of his facility called me and told me that the state had done an investigation on my dad's behavior and he would not be able to return to their facility.
My dad’s rapid decline was due to a UTI which is being treated now. Today I went to see him and he is back to walking, trying to say words, eating etc. I am literally so wiped out and just at the end of my rope with all of this. I feel like I can barely even type this.
There are three centers in the state of North Carolina that take aggressive Alzheimer's patients and that is now what we are faced with once he becomes medically stable. Yesterday he was unable to do anything at all and I really thought maybe this was the end of his disease process but now he is bouncing back only to be placed in an environment that I find devastating. I feel there is such a lack of education for the workers at these memory care facilities and it so much easier to deem a resident as aggressive that doesn’t fit the bill of sitting and watching tv all day just so they do not have to put in the extra work. I am so sad and literally feel helpless with all of this. Please send good vibes my way as this upcoming week will hold some of the most difficult circumstances for me and my entire family.
My mom was an agitated Alzheimer's patient, too. She had to be admitted for a geriatric psych assessment on several occasions. When she was home, it was always a UTI and easily recognized because of the behaviors. But, when moved and she became agitated it was not a UTI. She needed med adjustment.
Is there an appeal process to the state investigation? Any chance to get the "state" investigator to review or include the hospital evaluation that Dad could return to the facility and consider revising the decision in state report? My father's MC required any resident involved in a violent act against a person to be re-evaluated and stabilized before returning. You may not want him to return to the same facility but getting the aggressive label revised would give you better options for placing him somewhere his needs would be better met.
If he’s definitely going into an aggressive labeled facility I’d go see how chaotic their environment is. Watch how they handle the others especially if a patient has an outburst, if they don’t approach slowly, diffuse and redirect then they’re probably administering big doses of drugs instead. You might reconsider where he’s was, that he wasn’t receiving the care he needed if they didn’t bother to check for UTI, a number 1 aggressor...I’d be worried about their quality and thorough care. Keep trying on the appeal but perhaps winning means you should inquire other places. It’s NOT ok and quite dangerous to have psych meds “forgotten” don’t you agree? The withdrawal is painful, aggravating and makes people want to crawl out of their skin (imagine a heroine addict and the burden of withdrawal) and that seems completely negligent, dangerous even deadly and irresponsible of their behalf. Considering that was the problem both times, sounds like it’s not his fault or his disease.
Continue advocating, it’s your best effort to get him placed appropriately so you sleep better at night knowing he’s okay. Hugs from California
Fever makes everyone feel awful. It’s terrible that he was suffering like he was. So, when was he tested for the UTI? This is so disturbing to see.
Why does a UTI cause so many problems for the elderly? It’s so sad.
sorry that you and your dad experienced this ordeal. Hugs!
Long term care psych facilities have the staff who are trained specifically to deal with people like your dad. It's for the safety of others as well as your father. They will give your father his meds. They will adjust his meds as needed. They will identify when he has an infection and treat it. They will treat him with dignity and respect. They will help you cope with your father's illness.
In my opinion, move forward and get your father settled into one of the "three centers in the state of North Carolina that take aggressive Alzheimer's patients".