Keeping people safe in a care home.

[InQuiresandplaceswheretheysing]

My friend is in a care home and while I was visiting, another resident (I think he has dementia) came into my friends room. When I said it wasn’t his room. He starting punching me multiple times in the head and torso. I managed to get away and immediately ran into a nurse, who I reported it to. I’m happy with the way the incident was handled and have no concerns about that. But it made me wonder how on earth they can possibly keep more vulnerable residents safe. Doors tend to be left open and call bells so are not always answered quickly. I could get away, but they can’t. The bloke was very tall and strong. Just wondering really, as it’s playing on my mind.

The home is generally pretty good.

That does not sound safe at all

The home should have a safe guarding policy.

15 minute watching of the resident.
Referral to the Safe guarding team
1-1 care.

Just a few off the top of my head.

Doesn’t sound safe at all, sounds like he needs a more secure unit. Sometimes a patients condition changes, he may have been non aggressive and deteriorated so that he now is- but the staff should identify they cannot provide the care he needs and move him on. I guess it’s tricky though if there are no spaces available for more intense needs, where does he go whilst he waits.

I think they put him on a 1:1, as he also went for a carer. The nurse did say that he was no longer on medication that he used to be on, but that he needed to restart it.

I know this is controversal, hence the change of user name, but if the OP was assaulted why did she not call the police?
Why do we accept such behaviour from anyone?
I am sure the police would have sensible suggestions which might be a more secure home or a simple lock on his door.

@ControversialThoughtsthey did say that they could involve the police, it was my choice. But what good would that do? He’s an elderly man with dementia, not a criminal. If they had pushed me to go to the police to gather evidence as part of a bigger issue then I would have done.

You can’t lock people in their rooms.

I thought you could if a DOLS was in place? At the very least they can put him in a secure home or a secure part of this home. When people start walking around lamping others, they generally don’t get left out and about to keep doing it, regardless of age or capacity.

I believe he’d also managed to break out of a fire door. So the staff are well aware there is an escalating issue. Hopefully they will act appropriately. Pretty sure they will. The manager has his head screwed on. I could get away, it’s the people who can’t that concern me. My friend was upset that he could t help, which is probably a good thing or it wouldn’t have ended well.

My gran was moved to a mental hospital from her care home for a short spell to stabilise her meds when she became aggressive with dementia. She was hitting the other patients with her walking stick when they were in bed to get them up. It was quite a sudden change in behaviour and she had never been aggressive before in her life.
She was 4ft 10 and 90 years old so unlikely to do much damage but she drew blood on one of the other patient’s head. I think it is quite common and their behaviour can change quite quickly. I would be happy if the care home management are dealing with it effectively now.

I wouldn’t call the police either - it’s not the patient’s fault.