Need Sleep - Thank you

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all who responded. It's a great feeling to know you are all out there

ready to support.

The rehab atmosphere is probably causing more distress, anxiety and

confusion. He gets a half an hour of hurried physical therapy where the

therapist tries to get him up from his wheelchair and walk; but is unsuccessful.

He was walking prior to his seven days hospitalization due to a UTI.

However, during the time he is not in physical therapy (meaning the rest of the

day), he attempts to get our of his wheelchair but is restrained from doing so

by the staff. Yesterday, while we were alone in the computer room, I allowed

him to attempt to get out of his wheelchair, and he actually stood up and

attempted to take some steps.

I'm going to see the social worker this morning and ask if it wouldn't be better

to take him home and have a physical therapist come to the house. I have a

friend who is doing this and is very satisfied with the arrangement. She gave

me the name of the agency where she obtain outside help.

I'm getting sleepy now; maybe I can get a couple of hours of sleep before seeing

.

Teri

[Guest guest]

Teri:

This struck a real chord with me. These facilities--and therapists--are so

often abysmally ignorant when it comes to dealing with dementia patients! My

father, who had Alzheimer's, was in a facility after fracturing his pelvis.

Confused? Of course! The therapist ASKED him if he would LIKE to get out of

bed for his therapy. Confused, frightened, and not knowing what the heck she

was talking about, he refused. All this nitwit had to do was say, " Mr. _______,

let me help you up so we can get some exercise, walk, or whatever. " After a

week, my mother, who was unaware of all this, overheard this therapist tell the

head of the facility that my father was " noncompliant " with his therapy and

should just be discharged because they were unable to help him further. She set

them straight in 2 seconds. I could go on for several pages about some of the

stupidities that take place in these facilities, but suffice it to say that, as

one of their nurses told me, you have to monitor the situation constantly and be

very vigilant to make sure the patient gets the care they need and does not

injure themselves further while there.

Cassie Levy

To: LBDcaregivers

CC: tcornelius964@...

From: tcornelius964@...

Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 06:41:59 -0700

Subject: Need Sleep - Thank you

Thanks to all who responded. It's a great feeling to know you are all out

there ready to support.

The rehab atmosphere is probably causing more distress, anxiety and

confusion. He gets a half an hour of hurried physical therapy where the

therapist tries to get him up from his wheelchair and walk; but is unsuccessful.

He was walking prior to his seven days hospitalization due to a UTI.

However, during the time he is not in physical therapy (meaning the rest of the

day), he attempts to get our of his wheelchair but is restrained from doing so

by the staff. Yesterday, while we were alone in the computer room, I allowed

him to attempt to get out of his wheelchair, and he actually stood up and

attempted to take some steps.

I'm going to see the social worker this morning and ask if it wouldn't be better

to take him home and have a physical therapist come to the house. I have a

friend who is doing this and is very satisfied with the arrangement. She gave

me the name of the agency where she obtain outside help.

I'm getting sleepy now; maybe I can get a couple of hours of sleep before seeing

.

Teri