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Staff knows but does not seem like its a priority/ unwilling to medicate more
not fair to my mom who is bedridden and forced to endure ongoing disturbing cries for help seems to me a basic right to not be subjected to that but I dont see it written in patient rights

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* You need to discuss with the nursing home.

* Find out what their policy is and their legal obligations.

And, as others have said, this behavior is very common in individuals with dementia so you might need to transfer her to another facility and pay for a private room.

It is a very unfortunate and difficult situation for many.

Gena / Touch Matters
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So my dad is back in AL now and doing well but he had a bad episode shortly after he had to leave his home three years ago that landed him in rehab, a nursing home, for a month. And he was absolutely the "help help me" guy. I want you to know that it was something that was constantly on my radar screen, (mainly because he was calling me fifty times a day as well) and I had numerous conversations with staff, and I was totally embarrassed and upset by his behavior. We tried medication, I brought in some items (an iPad, for example) that might help him calm down, treats, clothes because he was complaining about his clothes, we tried a million things and it just didn't seem to work. I felt terrible for his roommate, and apologized every time I was there. The reason I tell you this is that there may be things going on behind the scenes you don't, and can't, know about. But I feel for you — because I definitely knew my Dad was an absolute nightmare for his roommate.
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No-one ‘liked’ my post saying “No one wants to be near the ‘help help help’ resident, it’s a common problem without a solution”. My feelings on this changed when my multi-millionaire sister was admitted to a major public hospital following an obscure reaction to a flu+covid vaccine combination (it turned out to be something close to Guillain Barre syndrome, took them a month to come to that conclusion). S was stuck with a ‘help help helper’ on the ward, and said that People Like That ‘shouldn’t be in a ‘normal’ hospital’ (ie with important people like her). Though I am very fond of my sister, I was disgusted.

So far as I know, there IS no solution to this, even private rooms unless they are sound proof. Blasting Admin with a recording might be a quick way to get a suggestion that you might be more comfortable in a different facility. If the ‘help helper’ is your own relative, you probably feel differently.
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Geaton777 3 hours ago
My 100-yr old Aunt *was* that person continuously saying "help help help". She was saying/yelling it while waiting in the car with her sister while I was in the bank. The cops came in looking for me believing she really did need help help help. It was a phase that evenutally ended but she seemed distressed and I think meds maybe would have helped her. I would not want to subject anyone to that all day and all night because in her own home it drove us all nuts.

My MIL was in a rehab facility where a patient was also doing it. Wasn't in her room, but was clearly heard by all in the very tiny facility. No one sleeps well while trying to recover from their injuries/illnesses. When my MIL was in a LTC facility with a roommate who was disruptive, we asked that either she be moved or the roommate. It happened more than once over the years and she was always accommodated.
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All you can really do is ask for your mom to be moved to a different room unless a private room is available.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Your Mom is a resident and this is now consideredher home. Ask for Mom to be put in another room. No one should have to listen to someone screaming all the time. This will cause anxiety.

I so hope those building new facilities make the rooms for one person. A closet, a dresser, side table and hospital bed. It would so make things easier all around.
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cover9339 10 hours ago
Oh JoAnn29, lol

Seriously, it is and will always be about the money, The only surefire way OP's mom would be moved is if she could "strike back" at the other resident. Since mom is bedridden, then this makes it easier for the facility to keep her where she is. (what is mom going to do? get out of bed and hit her?)

Whoever approved the room assignments probably knows this.

Another true story in the facility, there was a resident who moved several times to different rooms Why? She was a real firecracker, and would argue, almost to the point of hitting her roommate. To keep the peace she was able to move, which would last all of a few days, then the issue would start again. Had to give it to her, she took no mess.

End result she was discharged after an accusation of hitting a nurse. The facility put her up in a motel for a week until she could plan her next steps. I hope she is doing okay. She is a real "fighter"
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I would ask to speak with an ombudsman.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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No one wants to be near the ‘help help help’ resident, it’s a common problem without a solution. One just over the corridor from my MIL for about three years, I think she stopped hearing it after a while. In the same room would be more difficult. Two ‘help’ people together would be good, but the sound travels. Perhaps drugs for the caller, ear plugs for the ‘listener’? At least it stops when they are asleep, it doesn’t go on all night.
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Request, persistently, a change of rooms for your mother. She’s a consumer and deserves to live in peace. You cannot control the medication level of another resident, but you can expect your mother to have a roommate she’s compatible with, who allows her to get appropriate rest
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Geaton777 Nov 3, 2024
I would video it as it is happening and replay it back to the admins, loudly. Keep requesting a room change. Remind them they wouldn't want their loved ones to endure something like this day in and day out.
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https://story.californiasunday.com/covid-life-care-center-kirkland-washington/

As seen, they stick loud aggressive dementia patients with quieter ones who take the brunt of the former’s attacks and antisocial behavior.

Were I you, I would encourage mom to socialize throughout the facility to find a mutually compatible rooomate.
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Chalyse 22 hours ago
Amazing, informative, and heart-wrenching article looking back at nursing home ownership, the covid outbreak, and the impacts both have had on so many lives. Thanks for posting it, Peggy Sue.
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Yes, they should put the resident with another resident that does the same.

They did this at the facility, with the resident who would say "help me" cry, then bang on the table to get the aides attention. She was with another resident who was "out of it", (same resident who threw water on the nurse when her husband was discharged before her).
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