Elderly Mum Self Harm

[MamaGarl85]

My DM is in a specialist dementia care home, she moved in February of this year so has been there 10 months or so. The last couple of months she has become incredibly anxious. For example if a carer comes in her room and she hasn't seen them, when they speak to her she jumps, gets upset etc.
She finds it hard to be in the communal areas as if the other residents shout etc it makes her fret.

Anyway she has recently started biting her hands, badly enough that on one hand she has bitten a large chunk out of the skin (this has now become infected). I just wondered if anyone had experience of this and any ideas on how we can help?

Either a nicer place to stay or some meds to help relax. Sorry, it sounds very hard.

Ask for referral to local elderly mental health nurses team to come and assess
They may suggest meds
Do you have lpa for health?

Would she wear cotton gloves?

She needs to see a Dr regarding the infected wound in case she needs antibiotics etc

Speak to the Dr about her anxiety, maybe she could be prescribed medication such as antidepressants or barbiturates to calm her down.

Have you discussed it with the senior staff, they should be well placed to make helpful suggestions as they're likely to have seen this type of behaviour before.

Is she on any anti-anxiety medication? I assume she has been seen by the visiting GP/practice nurse for any treatment required for her hand.

Are you happy with the care being provided in general?

She was seen by a GP who has prescribed antibiotics as it is believed one of her hands had become infected. She is now having them regularly dressed by district nurses but keeps removing the dressings!

We are very happy with the care although anything is a massive improvement on the carers she was having at home!

It's good to hear you're happy with the care she's receiving. Sadly I am not at all surprised she's removing the dressings!

My mother fell when in her care home and needed surgery. While in hospital she needed IV medication but she pulled her drip out constantly, they had to give up on that way of administering meds. Any 'foreign item' like a drip or a dressing (even a bracelet) is likely to be repeatedly removed.

At least in a care home your mother is being constantly monitored by staff who understand her needs, and are doing their best for her.

My dad's (dementia) started this, he was referred quickly to the older adult psychiatry team and seen for assessment. He's now prescribed a PRN sedative for agitation (used appropriately by staff) and regular antipsychotics in small doses that have helped tremendously