Alzheimer's Community

I had thought that I posted a comment earlier this week, but I guess I did not. It has been a month since I had "spoken" with the group and just wanted to apologise. I truly appreciate this site and all of your contributions. Guess I got too tied up in the hectic day to day duties! I am anxious to know how you and your loved ones are now. My friend Ron did much better when we resumed the Namenda, even though he is losing ground each week. A lesson learned from this! He fell twice this week, always hitting the same eye. So after a waste again at the hospital of 9 hrs, a cat scan, being pumped with iv's of Ativan and Benadryl, we are back to square one. I stayed the night and he finally could sleep. The ironic thing was the that we weren't told they were waiting on a urine sample, and when I called for help when he needed to go, they never sent anyone to assist. I can now say I think I know how to use the urinal, mess and all! Hours later I said he at least needed water to assist him in the to need to go. No uti, didn't even clean the the head cut. It took the nursing home's call to move things along. They agreed with his dr to admit him as they were going to put him on Depacote and the nursing home and dr had requested an evaluation. (He was so drugged and could not stay still on the bed for the 9 hrs that they said he could not go back to assisted living, ever)! Eventually, I drove him back to the home, even though he could not see nor was steady to even stand. they said he did not meet any criteria to stay in that room by the nurses station the dr promised us. But it took 3 more hrs of suffering and thrashing from the iv's, for the med to reach the emergency room from the in house pharmacy. (My daughter had worked in this pharmacy while in college, I and I should have known what to expect and was glad she is out of there)! I finally agred to sign a DNR and signed papers for hospice as he does qualify, yesterday. My point in sharing this experience is that evidently it is not safe to allow an Alzheimers patient to be sent to an emergency room, because they are left alone with no one checking on them for an entire day. Luckily, I was with him the entire day. It is cruel and unsafe, let alone frightening for the patient. These persons are not treated with care and respect. I now know this is the norm not the exception. It is imperative that they receive care, especially when there was a head injury. Once again, I feel it is another case of elder abuse. We were lucky, but I am not so sure everyone is. I just feel that this illness is not treated with the respect it is due. Best wishes to all.