	AllExperts > Alzheimer`s Disease
	Search

About Mary Gordon
Expertise
Several years direct experience as caregiver for family member who died of end stage AD. Did lots of research and dealt with a lot of health care professionals and caregivers over the 7 years from diagnosis to the end. Used various care options from community based resources to increasing levels of institutional. Mother of three, two born during our loved one's decline, so I know what it is to be the ham in the sandwich, taking care of the older generation and the younger at the same time and trying to balance everyone`s needs. Ask me, I`ve probably been there, done that. We made lost of mistakes and learned everything the hard way - but you don`t have to! If I can`t answer your question, I`ll steer you to a place or person who can.

Experience
Currently a program manager for a large utility company. My Alzheimers experience comes from having the illness in our family. Out of necessity, we did a lot of research in order to understand the disease, plan for what might come next, and make the right decisions to help and support our loved one. Please note, I am a Canadian living in Toronto, and therefore am not the best person to ask about US regulations and insurance rules!

You are here: Experts > People/Relationships > Senior Health > Alzheimer`s Disease > dementia

Alzheimer`s Disease - dementia

Expert: Mary Gordon - 11/5/2009

Question
My husband had a massive stroke in Jan 08, resulting in left side paralysis and progressive dementia. He has been in a nursing home for a year. They are getting rid of him because of combativeness. They are not trained in dementia. I have been searching for a home that has a dementia unit but all have rejected him. Don't ant dementia units take persons who are in middle to late middle dementia? I'm scared for him and am frustrated by homes that only want beginning or end stage dementia patients. What to do????

Answer
Hi Dawn, is the reason they are rejecting him because he is physically combatative ? I ask because if he is acting out in any physical way, the facilities may be afraid that he will harm staff, or worse, harm the other frail residents.

If he has a neurologist, and her or she won't assist with the mood and behavioral issues, ask to be referred to a neurologist or psychiatrist with a speciality in dementias. Quite often, major hospitals have dementia clinics. As you know these mood and behavioral issues are very common in mid dementia, and there ARE medications and behavioral approaches that can help. It isn't just about making him easier to care for. It's about him being as comfortable and happy as possible. It must be miserable for him to be so upset all the time. You may have to be persistent. There ARE things they can do to help calm him down and make him feel more at peace. They may have to try different medications, try different doses and try different behavioral approaches. It will help if the facility is more tuned in to the special needs of dementia patients.

You don't mention what state he is in at the moment. If he is very physically disabled, dedicated dementia units may not be able to handle him.

For example, my mother in law spent a year in assisted living, and then had to move to a locked Alzheimer's unit. She needed 24/7 supervision and support, and the original assisted living facility couldn't provide that, plus the security she needed (she had to be kept in a locked ward for her own safety).

In the specialized AD ward, residents had to be able to walk- they could manage people who needed a walker and who needed support and assistance, but they couldn't manage people who were completely unable to walk, or transfer themselves from bed to chair, stand up to be dressed etc. They also wanted people to be able to feed themselves and be able to do some basic things with assistance. If your husband cannot walk or stand on his own, and is incontinent he may well require the kind of heavy care that only a nursing home can provide.

When my mother in law could no longer walk and stand on her own, and thus needed complete care, she had to leave the AD ward and go to a nursing care unit. They just didn't have the staff ratio and equipment on the AD ward to deal with someone who couldn't do much for themselves. She lived a full two years after the point she stopped walking.

Here are some links that might help point you to resources and give you some idea of the types of care options there are.

http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_senior_housing_finder.asp

http://www.assistedseniorliving.net/ba/alzheimers-disease-dementia-care/

http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-disease-continuing-care-information.asp

Hope this helps. I know this is very discouraging.

Mary G.

Add to this Answer Ask a Question