I'm new here... Advice For Moving Wards?

[rpottinger22]

Hi all, my grandad has been in ICU for a few weeks now and today they moved him down to the acute respiratory care unit. He's very distressed and keeps telling us to call the police. He's still quite delirious from being sedated and on a ventilator, and has been since he woke up 5/6 days ago (we were given no advice on how long this would last or how to deal with). Anyone else had experience, or spoken to anyone with experience of moving from the ICU to another ward? We're stuck on how best to support him, because we can't be there 24 hours a day, no matter how much he begs us and is distressed, and I'm feeling so guilty every time I have to leave

[Stayloose]

Oh how difficult for you to see him struggling. Do you have an ICU outreach team at the hospital? If so they should be able to explain what is happening, why it happens and offer you support. A patient on Critical Care was very confused when my husband was there. The Nurses were very kind and reassuring to him, although he had no visitors . Not so easy on a general ward where the staff/patient ratio is much less. Talk to the nurses. Actually I found some of the experienced HCAs were more supportive and had more time to be with patients.

[rpottinger22 in reply to Stayloose]

Thank you! Definitely helped ease the worry some. We did get a call in the night just now and he’s back on ICU due to breathing difficulties. Can’t fault the nurses and doctors for doing everything they could to help him. Back to square one

[Stayloose in reply to rpottinger22]

Oh dear. I wish him and your family well. A stressful time for all. ICU is the best place for him if his breathing is unstable.

[El_Violet]

When they moved my dad to a ward after 5 weeks in emergency care, the reason was clear as we talked to the doctor: palliative care so he could die in a more quiet place than the ICU because there was nothing else to be done to save his life. He was 83. It really depends on how critical is your grandad’s health situation. He’s probably experiencing Delirium He may get better after a few days. The best thing is to ask the doctors to be open and clear. I would also spend as much time you can by his side. My dad was in a coma and had tubes for breathing so he couldn’t talk. I put music for him and talked to him even though he could not respond I saw a video that a woman experienced Delirium and music helped her think of her life outside the hospital. She also said to say to the patient what day it is, where he is, etc. Also be careful with sedatives if the person is too elderly. My dad was put in a induced coma and never got back from it. But every case is different. Good luck and all best. Be strong for him.

[Sepsur]

This is a really useful guide - p.12 is especially pertinent for you. Hope your Grandad continues to improve - his delirium will eventually lessen, that you can be sure.

icusteps.org/assets/files/I...

[Natty1234]

The ward they sent me to. After 3months in icu had real bad delerium they didn’t have a frickin clue and just thought I was mad and awqard never. B. Tradferrerrd to ward c 4 at the gwent you end up a raving looner lol seriot

[garycom]

Its ICU delirium. I had it. Its especially common in patients who experience severe respiratory or cardiac events. (I had both) The best thing you can do is reassure him it is normal; its a medical effect; he’s not going crazy. They also put me on about a two week course of quietapine. It really helped. Ask to see a consultant psychologist with experience in ICU Delirium. Don’t feel guilty about not always being there. I often didn’t remember if someone was there. Visitors are great, but he will be kept busy just by virtue of being a patient with drs visits, tests, nurses etc...

[Tedsdad in reply to garycom]

Because of covid I wasnt allowed visitors for weeks in ICU or in the general ward after.I seemed to think myself into a zone where I preferred not to have visitors, it was a long way to the hospital I didnt need to be concerned about my wife doing an hour drive both ways and I knew there was someone at home to look after the dogs.I have never quite understood this when thinking about it after but as with many things I came to the conclusion if there was something that I didn’t understand that I could not see would have a direct result on my recovery it was better off being left unworried, actually most unlike me! But I was left wondering whether visits were really for the patient or the visitor.I certainly has some odd delusions but nothing that was so terrifying that I couldn’t handle it and the staff knew when it was best to humour me and when to put very gentle but consistent pressure on to help me accept that I hadn’t actually been on a troop,flight back from Tripoli, all of which could sort of have made sense.