Over-75S 'perpetrators Of Nhs Assaults'

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36829120

"Patients over the age of 75 are responsible for more than half of physical assaults on NHS staff in hospitals across England, figures show"

Not sure why this is, other than perhaps the over-75's are more liable to succumb to ailments like dementia.

[THEMOTLEY1]

//They say the high proportion of reported physical assaults by elderly patients probably reflects the challenges of dealing with older people coping with the confusion of a hospital stay, compounded by conditions such as dementia//
From your link

[-Talbot-]

More like they are frightened and bewildered.

[ubasses]

It is mainly due to dementia and infections that cause confusion. There was an interview on this news with a Dr who had recently been attacked and she was surprisingly very sympathetic towards the Patient confirming that it was nearly always caused by their fear of the situation they were in.

[mikey4444]

Talbot....on this issue we appear to agree.

Hospital must be frightening for older people, taken out of their normal routine.

[jennyjoan]

Mikey that could be true as I have witnessed about 5 violent attacks from the dementia patients.

When my cousin was in hospital a cuppla months ago - an old lady was lying in the next bed sleeping and cousin said that previous night she had lifted the fan and hit the nurse who was attending her. She died the next day. Sad.

[mikey4444]

jenny....a sad story.

[EDDIE51]

I have worked in a care home for the over 75s. One 85 year old lady was so dangerous at least two staff had to be present at any time she needed attention. She was known to bite carers so hard she drew blood.
It was all down to confusion due to dementia and being scared.

[mikey4444]

This would seem the ideal question for Ratter, but I don't see him about as much as I used to ...where for art thou Ratter !

[hc4361]

A simple urine infection can cause confusion and delirium in the elderly, and it is all too easy for them to get.

[mikey4444]

And ruddy painful as well hc !

[mikey4444]

As we get older, the proportion of very elderly in our care systems will only increase. I feel very sorry for any care workers.

[andy-hughes]

mikey - //This would seem the ideal question for Ratter, but I don't see him about as much as I used to ...where for art thou Ratter ! //

Ever the pedant - I must pick you up on your mis-use of the Romeo and Juliet quote, which is commonly misunderstood.

When Juliet asks "Wherefore art thou Romeo ..." she is not enquiring after his whereabouts - she asking WHY is he Romeo, in terms of being the man she loves being a member of a family at feud with her own. Of all the men she could love, why did it have to be Romeo, the one man her parents would never allow her to marry.

I know it's picky, but hey, that's how I roll!

[retrocop]

I have every belief in that statement. I was temporarily (thank God) in a Acute Medical Unit whilst waiting to go to CCU.
From what I could see the AMU ward was a dumping ground from A&E for Psychiatric and Geriatric patients. As many social workers visited the ward as doctors.
Sadly dementia was a key illness and the swearing directed at staff was screamed 24/7. Aggression shown to staff was a hourly sight when the patients tried to pull out their cannulars and had to be gently restrained. It was bedlam and hell for the staff. I just wished most of them could be tied down in their beds as they were often falling out and causing themselves more physical harm. A gag wouldn't of gone amiss either. I believe I came out of that ward in worse condition than I entered it.

[hc4361]

It could easily take an hour and a half to help my grandmother eat and drink a very small meal. The elderly in nursing homes or hospital that don't have any visitors are not given the extended help they need to keep nourished and hydrated - there simply is not the staff available.

Being old and helpless is the thing I dread most.

[mikey4444]

Andy...I am suitable admonished !

[sp1814]

mikey4444

There was a documentary on (I think CH4) earlier this year which focussed on assaults that medical staff bear. Hospitals (not sure how many) now have security staff to deal with this.

I think you're right...it's not really that these older people are violent thugs, more likely to be a mental health issue.

Sidebar - looks like I was the only person who thought that ubasses was referring to Dr Who at 10:36.

[Gromit]

Its AOG in for hos blood pressure.

[Old_Geezer]

I'd say the reason you give in the OP is explanation enough. Confused, scared, they can lash out.

[youngmafbog]

One of my daughters gets regularly attacked by alzheimers patients, last week grabbed by the throat.

It is a terriblee illness and patients dont know they are doing it. My MIL was tge same to us.

A problem of curing other diseases and living longer. We have to die of something.