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A Few Days In The Hospital
Last month we had to put Gladys in the hospital. I went to check on her shortly after breakfast and she was listless, skin clammy and nauseous. I called her doctor who said to take her directly to the hospital. Several tests were taken and blood work done but with no definitive answers. So they wanted to keep her overnight.
Of course by the time they decided they needed to keep Gladys overnight, we had been at the hospital for five hours. We were taken to a room where a nurse came to input Gladys’ information into their records. Everything was computerized and it was the nurses first day on the job. It took another hour to put in the same information that I had given the emergency room personnel. I really didn’t understand why it had to be done again.
She’s So Sweet
After getting Gladys settled in, both the nurse and the doctor on duty came by to get acquainted with me and Gladys. When they were leaving both of them looked at me and remarked, “She’s so sweet, she’s precious.” I just looked at them and smiled. I knew there would be trouble.
Gladys was scheduled for an MRI and when they came to get her she wanted me to go with her but I told her I couldn’t. I could see the fear in her eyes because she didn’t understand what was going on. I tried to explain that she was going to get a test done and that they would take good care of her. After she left, I told the nurse that they would need to raise the rails on the bed and watch Gladys because she would try to get out of the bed, even though she can’t walk without her walker. I went home while she was having the MRI.
Restrained and Sedated
When I came in the next morning Gladys’ roommate told me that the nurses had to restrain Gladys, the nurse told me they had to sedate her. I had a real problem with her being sedated because I know the sedative causes her brain to malfunction. Gladys did not know who I was. I could see it before I even talked to her. I asked them not to sedate her again. If she became combative, I wanted them to call me and I would come back to the hospital. We only live 10 minutes away.
What the hospital didn’t understand is that Gladys did not become combative because of the dementia. She became combative because she couldn’t have her way. That was her MO, when she couldn’t have her way she either had a tantrum or she would fight. Fortunately, there were no more problems.
All Is Well
After three days were were able to take Gladys home. There were some issues that were the result of massive doses of antibiotics, but they eventually cleared up. All is well but Gladys is a little slower and her cognitive abilities have diminished a little more.
Proposed Changes to Georgia Personal Care Home Rules and Regulations
This information was forwarded from the Georgia Advocacy Team (part of Alzheimer’s Association – www.alz.org). If you love in Georgia, please respond.
Proposed Changes to Personal Care Home Administrative Rules and Regulations–In July, a person with Alzheimer’s disease wandered away from the personal care home where she lived in Augusta, and after two days of searching, was found deceased. The Association Vice President for Programs, Services and Public Policy Ginny Helms notified the State that this death reflects the fact that the Personal Care Home regulations do not have provisions ensuring the safety of persons with dementia.
Ginny was invited to discuss the regulations with the Healthcare Facility Regulations Division Chief, Doug Colburn. He and his staff made changes to the administrative rules and regulations that will better protect persons with dementia. The Board of Community Health is holding a public hearing on the proposed regulations on Wednesday, October 21st. We are asking that you write a letter in support of these new regulations and mail or e-mail it to the Board of Health. The deadline for the postmark on the letter, or for their receipt of your e-mail is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, October 22.
To e-mail comments: wmcgaha@dch.ga.gov
To mail comments:
Members of the Board of Community Health
c/o General Counsel Division
2 Peachtree St, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-3159
Key talking points include
- I am concerned that current administrative rules and regulations for personal care homes do not have provisions to ensure the safety of persons with dementia.
- Nearly 70% of persons with Alzheimer’s disease wander.
- Of those who wander, if they are not found within 24 hours, up to 50% risk serious injury or death.
- Existing regulations do not adequately address the risk of wandering and leave residents with cognitive impairment at risk for harm or death.
- I believe that Requirements for Memory Care Services set forth in Section 111-8-62-19 of the Ga. Admin. Comp. Ch. 111-8-62, Personal Care Homes (new) proposed rules and regulations address the concern about lack of safety provisions in personal care homes and the risk of residents wandering from personal care homes.
- I appreciate the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division’s response to the concern expressed by the Alzheimer’s Association, GA Chapter, in developing these rules to help ensure the safety and well-being of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive impairment. I appreciate the Board of Health’s supporting these changes to the administrative rules and regulations.
If you do send an e-mail or letter, please e-mail us and let us know!
Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation (SB22)—Please contact the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Board Members in your area and ask them to approve the inclusion of Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation (SB22) as part of their 2010 GDOT Agenda for action this upcoming Session. Please visit the GDOT website for a complete list of Board Members, district maps, meeting agendas, etc. Their website is: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/Board/Pages/BoardAgenda.aspx.
This would benefit individuals with Alzheimer’s, especially those newly diagnosed who may be beginning to have difficulty with driving and are worried about loss of independence when they lose their ability to drive—especially if their caregiver is a spouse or other individual who does not drive—this will provide another transportation option for them. This will also help to minimize costly duplication of routes and beginning and ending points as various human services agencies pass each other picking up passengers and transporting them often to some of the same facilities—doctor’s offices, banks, grocery stores, dialysis, etc.
If you do send an e-mail, please e-mail us and let us know!
Thank you for taking the action—one voice can make a difference—your VOICE does make a difference to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families!
The Old Lady in the Window
Most of my childhood was spent in West Philadelphia on Cambridge Street. We were a city block of neat row houses all painted and bricked in a similar manner. Back in the mid 1950′s and early 1960′s there were lots of children on Cambridge Street. All the families knew each other and adults disciplined any child on the block. For the most part, the kids were well behaved with a notable exception. We all teased the old lady in the window.
Kids Can Be Mean
The houses at the end of the street faced a different direction and had a side window that was probably a kitchen window. In one of those houses there was on old lady who would sit in the window. I don’t know how old she was, but when you’re 7 or 8 years old everyone one over 20 is old. I remember this woman was very thin and looked frail. Her hair was wiry, wild and white and she had these piercing black eyes that looked mean. She sat in that window day after day, watching the kids play. She never spoke, but sometimes reached toward us like she wanted a touch. When she would reach toward us we would take off running and yell “The witch is gonna get you.”
When I look back and remember this woman, I realize that she was just a lonely old lady who probably had some form of dementia. That window was her only contact with the outside world and we were a source of remote companionship for her. When she reached out, it was for a little human contact. I know that kids can be cruel but I wonder why the adults on the street never chastised us for teasing the old lady and calling her a witch.
Back then I hadn’t heard the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s. Some people called her the crazy old lady on the corner and some said she’s just old and doty. At this point in my life, I’m pretty sure she had some type of dementia. I don’t know if anyone was home with her during the day or if she was there alone. She just seemed to sit in that window for hours.
We’ve Come A Long Way
This morning I let Gladys sleep late. We’ve had bad storms and flooding in the Atlanta area and a lot of roads, schools and businesses are closed, including Gladys day care; so I didn’t have to get her ready to go anywhere. Anyway, when I got her up, her hair was wild and disheveled. She reminded me of the old lady in the window and I remembered how the kids on Cambridge Street used to treat that lady.
We’ve come a long way in understanding dementia and how it affects people. We understand the need to keep them socialized as long as possible. We know there are medications that can slow the progression of dementia. We know the importance of music and familiar things. There has been so much progress in treatment and care. Still, I wonder how much progress has been made in helping family members understand the disease.
How many old ladies are sitting in the window because their families aren’t aware of options? Here’s the saddest part of dementia. Most of us, including me, don’t learn anything about dementia until we are faced with caring for someone with dementia.
The Need To Prepare
When we were young and having babies, we took classes to help prepare us for childbirth. Some of us took parenting classes. All of us asked family and friends lots of questions about what to expect once we got our little babies home. Just like we prepared ourselves to take care of our children, we need to prepare ourselves to take care of our parents.
How do we help others understand the need for this type of preparation? Comments? Suggestions?
