My neighbour is at her wits end.------

[brenda]

Her mother is in a care home. I visit another resident in the care home and have seen the situatiion she is concerned about first hand.
Her Mother is 91 years of age , quite frail and not able to move unaided, she also has serious dementia.
The problem is that about 3-30pm in the afternoon the old lady begins to vocalise at volume , non stop. This constant noise which is very loud , drowns out the Tv and winds up other residents and their visitors.
The staff from time to time speak to her, and for a moment she is quiet.Other residents sitting by her , threaten to hit her ,and the male residents shout at her and swear at her.
The staff sometimes take her away to her room where she sits on the bed and sobs.Or they move her to another part of the room away from the group and again she sobs.
My neighbour thinks the vocalisation is due to boredom and frustration, and she may well be right.
So my question on her behalf( my neighbour) is this------Is there anything that anyone can think of which might occupy this old lady and keep her focussed for a short while and hopefully silent?
She has good manipulative skills and flexible fingers eg can hold a cup and saucer, and pick up small objects, her vision is also good.
Any ideas would be very welcome.Thank you in advance Brenda

[cathfromsaron]

*IF* that is why she is creating, (and she hasn't just got an elderly mental illness) the institution should be giving her therapies, such as craft, hand massages, or singng, or even conversations! is there any stimulation at all?

[soxmis_sid]

Would the lady in question have any experience of knitting or needlework of any kind. Possibly she may have excelled at some sort of art or crafts which she may still like to do.

[brenda]

Continued --- there are activities during the week until say 4pm ,but none at weekends.

[brenda]

soxmis- thank you will pass that on to my neighbour.

[cathfromsaron]

they need to 'amuse' her during visiting then, i she has no visitors of her own!

[Maydup]

Maybe the family and friends could time their visits to co-incide with these times and take along some games to play. A simple game of cards, pick up sticks, or dominos for example. No need to worry whether she can play comptetitively, just let her pick the cards up and lay the down if that's all she can manage.

[daffy654]

How about some audio books on an MP3 player, that should keep her mind busy.

[TOWIE]

There were a couple of ladies very similar in my Mum's Care Home - all they wanted was to be spoken to, and taken notice of. Its a difficult situation, as obviously the care staff (if there are an adequate number of them) cannot sit solely with one resident. Though that said, if this is a regular occurrence, then they should have some activity in place to occupy her, NOT shut her in her bedroom to cry.

I am guessing, your neighbour is witnessing this, or has the care staff told of about what is happening ? It is up to the Care Home to come up with a plan of action, and shame on them if they can't.

[brenda]

Thank you both cathf and Maid up-- will pass on

[ummmm]

If my Nan ever starts to get agitated the staff get out her photo albums. In the albums my Aunt has written who everyone is. She always looks so happy when she realises how many children, grand children and great grand children she has.

[brenda]

Thanks daffy-- sounds good will pass on

[brenda]

Towie the care staff have told her .

[TOWIE]

brenda, so are they asking your neighbour to come up with a solution then?

[askyourgran]

It sounds like frustration, my heart goes out to her. My elderly aunt had to go into care where there were two people who vocalised at different times. My aunt was so afraid that she would end up like them, and I couldn't think of anything to help her. If someone started a singsong or group interaction, exercise of some sort it would help them.

[brenda]

ummmm-- that is something my neighbour could do for her-thank you

[brenda]

Thanks EDDIES. for sharing with me your insight into things. The care home is a private facility and my neighbour makes a sizeable contribution monthly-- do not know how much , nor should I

[TOWIE]

http://www.talkingpro...ing-photo-albums.html

brenda, this is a good idea.

[brenda]

TOWIE -- The staff are not asking her to solve the problem , but report this so called "bad behaviour "every day to her when she visits .As a result my neighbour feels helpless and heartbroken by the position. Hence my post for her with her permission.