Personal Essay on Alzheimer's Disease

Thanks so much for sharing I have read some of it and can empathize with you quite often I looked after mom til she passed in March and now look after step dad
My bkgrd is in Geriatric Nursing
I hope you will stick around and add to the forum..........
You take care
God Bless
Lyn

Thanks so much for the comments and for making the link work properly (didn't know how to do that!).

Yes, there are bound to be exceptions but it seems that we as a family may have been somewhat unfortunate. The present home my father is in is considerably better than others we have encountered and we simply move ahead with it, although it's something of a balancing act sometimes!

Just today my mother and I were remembering what my grandfather went through. We recalled visiting one day and discovering he was wearing socks, trousers, a pullover and nothing else - no vest or underwear. There are many other things like this I could have mentioned in the essay but the point in that section was not to whine on and on in a long list of problems but draw attention to unacceptable shortcomings with many (too many) nursing homes.

We recalled too how a woman who verbally abused my grandmother was dismissed the following day.

I do have a lot of respect for people such as you who espouse the personal touch and consider the well being and comfort of the resident to be of utmost importance. It’s refreshing to read of your commendable approach. I wish there were more like you! Sadly however it’s inevitable that the elderly should become a mere factor within a job specification and a crucial part of a profit-making process.

In recent years here in the UK concerned bodies and the news media have issued reports and findings on the failings of nursing homes. Subjects covered include assault, malnutrition through neglect, excessive sedation, cruelty and worse.

In general terms, and that includes nursing homes, many old people are suffering abuse today: “The figure of at least half a million older people experiencing some form of abuse [in England] at any point in time appears to offer the only estimate that is currently available. We are disappointed that the Department has not commissioned research to establish a more precise figure” (House of Commons Health Committee: Elder Abuse, 2003-04).

I mentioned the excessive drugging of residents in my essay. A British political party has looked into this problem: “The report points to an increase in community prescriptions for antipsychotic drugs - up 6.2% between 1999 and 2002, an increase of 129,000 prescriptions. It also shows that two out of three GP practices have missed a government target to introduce six-month reviews of medication for all over 75s. These reviews were supposed to have been up and running since April.”

Yes there are bound to be good nursing homes but it’s a fact that too many are failing the elderly and their relatives. Most people I talk to seem to take the meek but cunning approach when dealing with nursing home senior staff, which is so sad in a way, and I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone who had a glowing report of any nursing home.

But I’ve stressed in my essay the need for relatives to be cautious. It’s easy to jump to conclusions – it’s the nature of nursing homes to be unpleasant places at times and things may not be what they seem. There are many within the profession who are doing a fantastic job in very trying circumstances.

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss and present difficulties. You come across as a person of strong character and determination and I trust that those excellent qualities will see you through.

Regards

Sam

I need to respond to your essay on Alzheimers... This really hit home for me.  My Mother was diagnosed with A.D. 9 years ago.... Thanks to the care from my Sister and my Mom's strong will, she has been kept in good health and almost frozen within the stage of A.D. where she knows who we are, kept walking all over the nursing home constantly (they wanted to put a meter on her to see how far she really walked each day), was always the first to get up and start clapping and dancing if someone played music, always smiling, laughing and loving people, wanting to go out all the time... Of course she could not shower alone, dress herself, toilet herself, etc... however, the rest was enough.  Right up until Christmas of 2006 - the next day she fell at the nursing home and instantly my Mom was taken over by the A.D. demon....  As soon as they attempted to help her up off the floor she became combative, spitting, biting, kicking, hitting, pinching and cursing everyone out.  This wonderful woman whom everyone loved, all the aides and nurses always told us she was her favorite resident. darn!! How fast that changed.  Since December 31st she has been sent to a crisis center in an ambulance 4 times!!!   Restrained by wrists, legs and chest to keep from hurting someone or herself.  She cries all the time now. Cries out for Mama.  She has been dehydrated, lost 20 pounds from not eating. So what do they do?? The nursing home keeps her drugged as they cannot handle her.  My Sister and I arrive at 5 to 6 PM each evening with food to be sure she is eating, and to get her up walking around as she tries so hard to get up out of the geriatric chair just to walk .... They try to feed her, if she does or does not eat they then drug her up, by the time we get there, we have to struggle to get food and liquids down her, which is scary as I am afraid she may choke.  We cannot even attempt to get her up and walking.

Hi Wordsmith, having read your esssay it brought back awful memories of the year my wife spent in a NH. I was in daily conflict with the staff, and when I saw my wife had given up, I made the decision to sell our large home, for one in which I could manage the care of my wife alone. To this very day I refuse any help, in fact I refuse to accept the conventional treatment which is dished out to Alz patients in the NHS. There have been at least four times when the experts said she had little hope of survival. On the first of April it will be four years since I took her home. From just over five stone, she is now a healthy nearly 9 stone. Though she is incapable of movement or speech I take her out shopping and for walks.
I have long since given up on the system, but will fight to get any medical attention she may require. Thank you for highlighting that which is all too common in what is meant to be a civilised society. I came on this site in the hope of helping others with 'My story my Wife'. Best wishes to you. Padraig

Thank you all for your response... It is very sad how the people who are suffering with this disease are actucally neglected and pushed aside as if they do not matter. My Sister and I went again tonight, we tried to get there before they administered the adifan - however, they said she was too agitated to eat, so in order to feed her they had to medicate her. She did eat good for them, so that was a blessing. We got her out of the geriatric chair and she walked about 10 yards, even under the drugs she has that strong will to want to walk. We were even able to toilet her on the toilet, so she did not end up going in her diaper. The staff was shocked to see her walking. Her legs are starting to curl a little because they are not taking the time with her that she needs. We will be moving her from this nursing home, it may be a week or two, but until then I know I will try my best to get to her side every night and keep her on her feet for as long as I can. I am telling everyone I can about how this seems to be the "normal" with n.h.'s to drug them up and all - it makes me and everyone else sick to our stomachs.
Thank you again
Doreen

I checked out the thread on nursing homes and it ties in with my general research, sad to say.

My mother says time and time again that even the best of nursing home staff don't LOVE those they care for, so human nature being what it is... Relatives need to be firm and tactful, but it's hard to be on top of your game day after day when you're stressed and upset.

Padraig, Doreen, I read you comments with interest. AD is a tough ask for all concerned but we have to press on, don't we.

Best Regards,

Sam

Sam I am so happy you checked out that thread I am looking deperately for something simuliar here in Canada to post as well
God Bless
Lyn


*** Butterfly Kisses G Padriag and Grama Jean I love you both dearly
God Bless
Lyn

HI there I will put it back up for you okay it shows where NH are located and quality or lack of care .....
Lyn

Doreen Have been wondering how you are doing hoping you were able to have mom moved to another facility
Please let us know okay
Lyn

Just wondering where Doreen and Wordsmith are lately

The essay is very true and it's sad to know that this is happening  in some nursing homes. It's heart breaking to know that elderly are abused and neglected. Yes, if the resident is combative and agitated they are putting them in medication to calm them down. It's easier for them to sedate people than to deal with the actual problem. So one day you just see your loved one, totally out of reality, not knowing you, totally helpless. This is unacceptable but it happen. 

Bringing to top

great essay.........