My Mom has dementia and in a Memory Care unit with about 18 others. The unit recently introduced a patient who has outbursts all the time and bangs the table/floors, screams at other patients and I witnessed her hit another patient. She is stealing the peace of the others. When does the welfare of the others outweigh the needs of this one? They all get agitated. Shouldn’t there be other units where people are cared for based on their level of behavior. It seems very wrong. While I am sympathetic for that woman and her family, I’m concerned about my Mom and the others who don’t have a voice to change this. This is hard on the aides/staff also. I’ve brought this to management’s attention. Has any one else dealt with this?
You see what happens but you do not know what is being done for this patient.
And HIPPA laws prevent them from telling you what is being done.
*They may be trying to have this person's medication adjusted. This can take a while.
*This person may have been just been uprooted from the home they have known for years and is ..angry...scared...lost...
*Taking things from another person's room is VERY common and if you read many of the posts others have asked about it. There is not much that can be done.
*The administration may be having discussions with the family that the behavior is unacceptable and they may have been given some time for adjustment and if the patient/resident does not adjust they will be asked to find another facility.
Continue to monitor what is going on.
I would also send a letter, not an email, that you are concerned about your Mom's safety. If you have or if your Mom has a lawyer that handles her affairs a copy to the lawyer might be a good idea. You might even ask, since you are concerned about your Mom's safety and theft, if you can put a camera in her room to monitor her safety and her possessions.
And yes there are facilities that will take agitated patients/residents but I am sure this persons family is trying what they can to avoid that. There are forms of dementia (LBD) that the person can have more violent tendencies and it is a matter of medication adjustment. But like with all medications for Mental Illness it can take time to find the right medication, the right dose.
Continue to have meetings with the administration but Please be patient..
And yes, patience is the big challenge.
Moves are very hard on those with dementia.
What was the management's response to your concern?
You can always speak with an attorney if you feel the facility is not handling this the right way, but chances are that they are doing all they can. And remember, if you do speak with the facility’s administrators, there is only so much about this woman that they can divulge.
Difficult as it is, try to give this new resident time to calm down. Meanwhile, if possible, keep your mother's door closed and introduce sound - even white noise - into her room if possible to mask the sounds of others. I wish you luck.