Hi can anyone advise about male dementia patients in residential care home wandering into my mothers room waking her in the early hours in the morning frightening & upsetting her, management have been informed but don't take this seriously.
Regards Jan x
Phone the Care Quality Commission and ask their advice. It is very difficult for staff in the homes as they are not allowed to lock people in, restrict them in any way so stopping them wandering is very hard. This is not fair on your mother though so something needs to be done. My mother's home had the same thing (and nothing was done until someone went into the Manager's room!).
Thanks exhaustedwife they have said they will put alarm mats outside of the doors so staff know people are up & out of rooms, but they wanted mom locked in which I totally disagree with. I have been told they are not registered to dementia care though but as mom loves this little care home not sure which way to go x
If they aren't registered for dementia care, then they should not be having those disturbed residents. Do give the CQC a ring and chat with them.
Yes I will thank you x
Yes. Call the care quality comm. A lot of homes register residential and take dementia and specialised dementia clients in. Staff ratio changes for dementia. All cost cutting tricks and keeping staff levels low. Adult protection may need to be implemented if the can't rectify situation.
Is this possible that Care homes can be so underhanded they are certainly short staffed & mom doesn't feel so happy there anymore it was such a nice quite place but now seems so overcrowded
I agree with your comment regarding staff ratios however royal college of nursing have not yet got a legal ratio for staff vs patients in England yet (however this is in place in scotland)
Hi Jan. As a nurse working in nursing homes I can assure you social services will have been informed (or should ha e been if not) this incident should have been safeguarded.
Now I assume this is an EMI home therefore gentleman entering your mum's room does not have capacity therefore we are asuminghe is wondering into car room 'lost and he is not a man with capacity who is wondering into her room for a less innocent reason; as if this was thought to be the case then obviously police would have to be involved and subsequently your mum would be examined etc (not a nice process). So we assume the resident has dementia and is 'lost', the night staff should not be aware of the situation and be more vigilant of this gentleman being wandersome around the building. They should be aware of his wareabout as there is a risk of obviously frightening other reaidentsnincluding your mum, obsconding or obviously there maybe risk of falls for him. The h9me should provide sensor alarms or a door alarm so staff. know when he is moving around or out of his own bedroom of a night.
If this gentleman is bypassing sensors then perhaps your mum cab have one on her door to alert staff if someone else is entering her bedroom.
I hope this helps.
Laura
Hi Laura thank you for your reply. They have now put sensors into this mans room and he has not bothered mom since, however he got into the kitchen turned on the gas and burnt his hand before carers realised he was on walkabout again, this was on a Saturday and there is not many carers over the week end. The home has taken in 4 more dementia patients and the carers are overwhelmed. I have spoken to the owners and raised my concerns and am deemed to be a trouble maker as they say they cannot afford more care. This is a small home with capacity for 18 residents and sometimes only have 2/3 carers during the day & only 2 at night. I just want mom to be happy in her remaining years as her health is fading fast. I must add that the carers who are there are very good with mom and she has nothing but good to say about them, just the owners bother me that they put money before residents and should pay the staff they have got a decent wage and employ more carers as this is an expensive care home. Sorry for long rant could say more.
Regards Jan
The great thing about this site is ranting is aloud haha.
I rant all time in work. Nursing homes are difficult buisness the care vs business. In an ideal world money would not be a worry. Our residents would all have lovely decore and best facilities; it costs alot to pay for nursing care on average £700 per week (my monthly mortgage for 2 bedroomed house is only £450 per month!).
I never could work out why sometimes; in some homes staffing levels are poor. Consider 18 residents paying for care weekly and then consider the overheads and utility costs. I still think there is someone making ALOT of money, owners etc. Because it's not the care staff as they are generally on a low wage.
I couldn't own/manage a nursing home because I am 100% for my residents so for my you can't put a price of health. But it appears that in this industry you can.
I assme your mum is in a residential home as you have not mentioned any qualified nurses. When patients with dementia deteriate (and likelihood is they will as dementia a progressive disease) the patient is likely to require more complex nursing care which residential homes are not equipt for.
I am pleased your mum is happy. The fact that you are deemed a trouble maker can only be a compliment as you are complaining because you care! Some of the residents I care for don't have families or a 'voice' to complain and express concerns on their behalf. - so well done for pointing the problem out. I hope the owner addresses the situation.
Laura x
(Apologise for my spelling mistakes I'm recovering from a manic night shift haha)
Thanks Laura love your reply as you are a true carer as they are in moms home can't fault em moms been very ill & they have looked after her perfectly I feel so helpless as the carers are so underpaid & are not recognised for the fantastic care they give these homes could not run without them I can't praise all carers, nurses, paramedics etc enough they are truly deserving of a decent wage thank you for replying to my post & I hope u have a good well deserved rest
Regards Jan x
Sorry yes mom is in residential care home very understaffed & fees just gone up £33 per week to £683pw which mom had to sell her house to pay for on Monday only 2 carers on & running off their feet!!
Hi Jan.
So sorry that your Mum is getting upset. Not nice for her or you. I see someone else has suggest alarm mats outside of the doors so staff know people are up & out of rooms. My Mum had one outside her door. It does not stop the entry but at least the staff can go and intervene quickly.
Good luck Ali B
Hi Alibee thank you the home have put these mats in place at the doors of the wanderers I cannot fault the carers they are fantastic with mom it's the management who don't seem to care much they suggested mom laugh it off!!! other residents have complained also
Hi
They put one at Mim's door so that they would know if anyone came in. Mum was not a wanderer. I would get in touch with CQC if it a problem to others too.
All the best
Ali B
Hello Jan
I can see from some of the replies that contacting Adult Services and recording your concerns with the safe guarding team would be the best thing to do. That way, when CQC come to inspect they will have a log of any issues raised as a concern and will want to know what actions have been taken to reduce the risk.
Being able to access the kitchen and potentially putting others at risk would be a serious concern and should be looked into
I’m pleased to hear the carers are good but sad they are stretched. Often raising these issues is the best way to ensure improvement.
Is this the ens?
Caring for mom, age 82
ThedrivenSnow
Mums hospital experience 
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