Mailbox Response

The question was submitted 10/07/2007

Subject: nursing home problems

As a family we suffered the sudden death of my father back in april this year. As he was the main carer for my mother who has dementia we found our selves needing to place her into care. We had her assessed has high care. The problem is she is considered boarder line high care as she is physically active she just forgets. Every day the home is ringing us up as she is screaming banging on the windows trying to get out she says she has to go home to cook for her husband. The home is saying if she keeps this up they wont be able to keep her in there.
As you can see we need some advise on how to over come this problem with her.

Answer from DementiaNet

Thank you for your question,

I suggest asking your GP to arrange the local psychogeriatric team to review. The first thing to do is to have a assessment of the provoking factors to her distress and this needs expertise to be brought in.

Behavioural interventions are often helpful giving the staff ideas on how to deal with your mother's distress. Sometimes medications can also be useful.

All the best.

The answer was published on DementiaNet 11/07/2007