Residents attacking staff in care home

Old age no, but how about cognitive disability due to an illness that slowly kills brain cells? Some of the residents I have worked with have little understanding of what they are doing, some have the mental capacity of a toddler. They are often very confused, scared and in a state of panic.

@OldJohn what on earth are you on about? Someone who lapses into violence induced through dementia isn't displaying 'bad behaviour'.

And as for calling the police...you want them to arrest elderly dementia patients? And you think it'll land in court?

You really don't get it at all.

For everyone's safety, residents shouldn't have access to the kitchen. Even basic food safety let alone anything else. This is actually really serious and you need to find out who to report it to - put it in writing to the care home manager. This is the first step in doing anything about it.

and if they fail to do this the police must take action. It is wrong that anyone feels frightened at work. Safeguards must be in place and enforced. In this case a lock on the kitchen door should work but any one who is threatened with violence should call the police and then a court can decide who is wrong. Old age is not an excuse for bad behaviour.

One easy way of it being avoided is to have a number coded lock on the kitchen door. And the door kept closed.

This happens all the time. I can't really see how it can practically be avoided. Learning disabled patients have injured me many many times. It's not personal but still hurts! It's no good saying they should be in secure accommodation. Lots of these places are secure accommodation! Two or even three to one care doesn't mean it won't happen. And quite rightly we can't just lock these people up.

I bet families wouldn't be happy with the hygiene aspects of patients wandering into the kitchen either.

It's exactly the same as you wouldn't allow toddlers access to a kitchen in a nursery.

All management can do is report the concerns to the residents GP, who may then change his medication to calm him. However meds will be dependent on his overall health and GPs can't medicate someone to the extent that it impacts on his quality of life, there needs to be balance.

Suggest she finds another job.

If confused residents have unrestricted access to areas where there are e.g. chemicals they could access then the Local Authority and the CQC should be informed.

There should also be an NHS team that the care home can access to support with residents with challenging behaviour. If the home is registered to take more challenging clients though then there should already be suitably qualified staff on site and consideration given by the NHS and adult social care for increased funding for e.g. 1:1 staffing. If they aren't registered for challenging behaviour then they need to be flagging up if they can't safely meet that person's needs and asking whoever is funding the care to consider a move to a more suitable place.

If staff are flagging that it is unsafe and not being listened to they can whistle-blow to the CQC (who will pass it to the local authority to deal with unless its very serious).

There is no way any dementia patient should have access to the kitchen.

Half the time the reason they are in care homes is because they are nolonger safe to be left at home.
Either at risk of accidentally harming themselves or others.

you’ve clearly no idea how dementia care homes work have you. It’s the responsibility of the management to ensure any dangers are identified and dealt with.

My stepfather became violent as his dementia worsened. His care home made sure they had a strong risk assessment in place. Any areas where residents should not have access to were locked via a keypad - this included access to the kitchen. The dining room was locked outside of meal times.

I would say that she must dial 999 and demand the police if she is threatened and also insist that the police deal with it. No-one should feel frightened at work. Let a court decide what should happen, maybe the resident needs to be in secure accomodation.

My friend worked in a care home and was covered in bruises sometimes. It's par for the course with dementia. Not saying they all do but some do become violent. It's very common unfortunately.

Fuck all ime. Happens a lot and management do little about it. Leave and try a different home.