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When to Move someone with dementia to nursing home?

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When to  move someone with dementia to nursing home

Moving the person with Alzheimer’s to a Nursing Home can be a difficult decision for the caregiver… especially if you’re a close relative.

Too often in life we are forced to do things we promised our parent or relative that we would never do. I was certain that Mom’s condition would never come to that, but a year into her late stage Alzheimers I found myself faced with the possibility that I could no longer care for her at home.  We began our search for a “good” nursing home. The thought was not a happy one, I dreaded it. I knew the search would be awful, thinking I’d never find one that met the criteria for my mother’s care.

Circumstances change almost daily for the person with Alzheimers, their families and their caregivers. Planning ahead is near impossible. In the beginning, Mom was so adamant that she would never live in a nursing that we contemplated purchasing a small motor home or travel trailer for our own back yard; a pretend home for Mom during the day while she retired to the main house each evening.

Our thought being that Mom would be satisfied knowing she had her own place at night and gladly return to our home at night. Before we could begin a search for a travel trailer or motor home, Mom’s condition worsened and she could not be left alone, even temporarily.

I had a home-based business, a supportive husband, and had been certain I could take care of Mom in my own home for as long as she needed care. I had two computers on a network and envisioned the two of us working side by side, me doing business and Mom playing solitaire. (That’s another story) What a spot of fantasy that turned out to be.

But there is no written progression for dementia, and the 7 step and stages have no designated width.  Each individual is different, different symptoms, different behaviors, and different time lapses between each.

Some behaviors related to Alzheimers have their own labels. Labels that only another caregiver could understand; “sundowners”, “shadowing”, “pack-rat”, “junk-mail”, “violence”, “want to go home.”  One caregiver may find a behavior particularly hard to endure, while another caregiver may be disturbed by a totally different behavior.

Not all Alzheimer’s patients become violent, but some do. And taking care of a violent patient is not a matter of endurance and stamina but of safety.

A loved one needs to be moved to a nursing home if they are continually violent.

Sometimes medical issues can cause this behavior; a urinary infection or other medical problem. But sometimes, it’s simply the dementia itself–changing brain waves and the person’s personality.

For the security of all, patient and caregiver alike, an Alzheimer’s dementia patient who becomes violent must be moved to a more secure living community, a setting that is safe and comfortable.

The patient has no idea what they’re doing and would be devastated if they understood the danger they had become to family and caregivers. But they can become dangerous. And a nursing home should be considered under those circumstances.

Later in Alzheimers stages they may need more medical treatment than the caregiver is able to provide.

Many Alzheimer’s patients yearn for “home,” the place of their youth that no longer exists. They’ll walk and walk and walk, if unprotected by open (unlocked) doors.

Much like a young child, they can be in grave danger of becoming lost or walking into traffic or accepting a ride from a dangerous passers-by. If you aren’t able to keep the patient in a well-protected, locked area, you may want to look for other living facilities.

It isn’t always a happy moment, but many of us simply aren’t able physically or emotionally to care for a loved one in our own home.

Whether it be financial, emotional, or simply in the best interest of our loved one– there is nothing wrong with searching for a safe and loving care-home to meet our loved one’s needs.

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Comments

  1. Do you have or know of any resources in dealing with an individual who has Down’s syndrome and dementia?

    Reply

    • I hope your message will find someone that you’re looking for.

      I’m in early stage Alzheimer’s myself, but someone reading us may be able to help.
      Sandy

    • If you check around your own neighborhood, there are many homes for folks like your Mom. I happen to mention it to my mailman one day, and he pointed out many hopes that took care of those with Alzheimer’s. I found a lady with a house for 10 ladies with Alzheimer’s. My mom was only a couple blocks away. They had nurses all day and during the night. And, my Mom loved this place; these ladies argued over who got to fold clothes, or feed the dog. It was wonderful for her.

      Sandy

  2. We moved my mom to a nursing home last spring. For the most part it has worked out well. She is not interested in anything except people watching and talking to others. The staff doesn’t have time for continuous one on one. So I think that like so many Alzheimer’s patients my mom wants to go home to that place where she was a child and felt secure. She spends a lot of time loudly crying to go home. When I am there I rub her arm, her back, put lotion on her hands, take care of her nails etc. But I can’t be there all the time. Does anyone have suggestions? When I was caring for her at home, she constantly wanted to go home. I can reassure her that this is now home and where I want her to be, close to me, but as soon as I leave it starts again. Help!

    Reply

    • Deb, I know how you feel. It was the same for me and my Mom. The only thing I might recommend is a baby doll. My Mom did love her baby doll and carried her around like her own child. I believe they have some of those dolls at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VWE22q

      My Mom crocheted also and loved doing that for hours.

      The best thing that happened to my Mom was that she became friends to another patient her age. Those two acted like little girls. I would ask Mom if she knew her name and Mom would say..”hmm, no I don’t know her name. I’ll have to ask her.” But for 3 years together before Mom passed away, she never knew her best friends name but it really didn’t matter. They held hands and walked together every day.

      Hope some of these ideas help,
      Sandy

  3. I have been my mother’s caregiver for several years (5 years and counting). I refused to place her in a nursing home. Although, I have a full time job and my own home, I allowed her to stay in her own apartment under my care and the help of several Hommeatt’s.

    She is doing well and I know that being at home in her environment has been instrumental. She enjoys the household routines, the outings to the patio, her plants, tv programs, her books, etc. I would recommend to any children of dementia/Alzheimer’s sufferers to try to keep their parents at home. If I can do it; most people with a sense of love and appreciation for their patents could!

    Marcia daughter of Queen Lola!

    Reply

    • Marcia, You are absolutely right! Yea!!

      Besides their happier disposition, you skip many of the horrors that others may face. Night tremors, fear of rooms, clothes, people, etc. So happy you were able to do this with your Mom.

      Sandy

    • Marcia, I am happy that your arrangement is working out for you. However, dementia is a progressive disease. It keeps getting worse and is fatal unless something else kills them first. Your mom is still able to do things she enjoys, thank God. But, that doesn’t last unfortunately. Everyone deteriorates at their own pace. My dad was diagnosed first. Well, mom has passed him now and is deteriorating at an alarming rate. They live in an apartment connected to my daughter’s home. I don’t think that this arrangement is going to last long. The whole family is stressed to the max trying to help. We have brought a part time caregiver in, who is lovely. But, sometimes the most loving and safe thing to do is to place your loved one in a home and visit as much as possible. Do you know that many caregivers die before the person with dementia? You have to take care of yourself and the rest of your family also. I wish you and everyone else who loves someone with dementia all the best!

    • Thank you so much Donna for some sound advice. I worry about readers who don’t find someone kind to answer before I show up.
      My Alzheimer’s seems to be speeding ahead in my opinion.. Guess it just feels that way.

      Thank you so much Donna,
      Sandy

  4. I take care of my late stage mom at home and when my mom became violent and I thought what do they do in nursing homes to deal with this kind of behavior. I have never seen nursing home patients hitting or kicking people. It is because they drug our loved one pretty quick after such behavior. After quite a bit of research and learning every drug and non-drug therapy I taught myself how to handle this behavior. The doctor put her on a medicine that was NOT BLACK BOXED for elderly dementia patients and have had great success. I think every person must make this decision for themselves and many do choose nursing homes but it can be done at home also. Do not be afraid to drug your loved one before placing them in a nursing home where they will most likely be drugged without the one on one care you are giving. Sandy check with your grampa’s doctor on a possible drug that will work for him. Make sure they are not an anti-psychotic that is black boxed for elderly dementia. I recommend everyone to Google the medicine they are put on and tell the doctor to start them out on half the dosage till you see how it effects them.

    Reply

    • Hello Tina,

      You are so right and I’m glad you were able to see this before your Mom was sedated without your information/permission.
      I was very fortunate with my own mother. She entered a Group Home rather than a nursing home. The lady who operated that center was a nurse from a dementia center and she did not like to see the elderly patients sedated.

      The lady who owned the center where my Mom stayed preferred that the patients were managed in other ways. My Mom took a very small dose of Xanax each day and Gursen the Nurse/Owner of the “Group Home” where Mom resided worked hard to keep the residents active and happy for most of the time.

      Their days were structured with 3 meals a day, 2 snacks. They had walks outside, laundry folding, musical groups who volunteered, puzzles, crafting and television time in the early evening to calm them for bedtime. As a whole, they were a pretty happy group of 9 with varaying stages of Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

      ~Sandy

  5. Alzheimer is a disease everyone have it in you it is the other part of your brain, for example if you have a computer you download as much data as possible after your computer get so much it demand back up or its became slow so what do you do? You erase drunk out to make space or you completely rebuild that computer. It is almost the same with Alzheimer, a new born baby brains is blank we teach that baby from A to z ,but with elderly no one takes time to work with them. Real treatment for Alzheimer is read have people to talk to, do not leave elderly at home alone help them to focus on thing they already know keep reminding them about things they use to like make it new to them be patient even if you have to repeated over and over again it will sink in. If you don’t use it you lose it is for your whole body, I will say start with your brain first then your body total work out. Every human brain are different setting, this is why the sickness progressive in different ways.Stress and depression is a big factor on Alzheimer and dementia.Stress and depression are carry 100sof diseases” really”

    Reply

  6. My grandfather was diagnosed in 2010 with dementia/alzheimers and my grandmother
    Has been his main caregiver. Recently, he has been combative and waking up
    In the middle of the night to urinate in drawers/clothing hampers. My grandmother
    Tried to help him and direct him to the bathroom and he became violent
    With her by hitting, kicking her in the ribs & kicking her head. She was traumatized but
    Is still denying that he needs to be placed in a nursing home. I’m concerned
    For her safety and his safety. How should I approach this topic when she is in
    Denial, maybe she would be open to listening to a professional like
    if this came from their doctor??

    Reply

    • Oh, that is so sad. They’ve probably been together for many years and I’m sure your grandmother wants only to help him. He has no idea what he is doing as he isn’t himself right now.

      Yes, if someone could speak with his doctor, that might be an excellent idea. They could help your grandmother understand his condition. They might be able to add a medication that would help to calm him. And they could also help your grandmother to understand his condition better, and accept that he may be safer in a care home.

      I wish you the best at helping your grandmother. You are a kind and generous granddaughter and I’m sure your grandmother appreciates all your help.

      Sandy

  7. I just started reading your site – thanks for writing. I wanted to inform you that it’s not displaying correctly on the BlackBerry Browser (I have a Blackberry 9700). Anyway, I am now subscribed to the RSS feed on my PC, so thanks again!

    Reply

    • Thank you for visiting. I’m new to WordPress, so I’ll certainly check-in to the issue with my Blackberry Browser display.
      ~Sandy

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