ChatterBank1 min ago
Well My Shift At Work Yesterday Was The Most Traumatic Afternoon Ever!
27 Answers
As some of you will know, I work in a specialised unit for people with advanced dementia. One of our residents is a really kind and gentle man and very affectionate and loves all the ladies and is a real flirt.
Most nights on going to bed he gets very confused and usually reverts back to the war and his time in Singapore. So he wont settle in bed until I have reassured him that he doesnt need his gun or his knife and grenades beside him next to his bed and the home is very secure and he is safe.
the last few weeks we have been getting more concerned about his mental health.
Well I arrived at work yesterday at 13.30 to find this kind man in the garden with two police officers that had been called to control him and for the safety of other residents and staff, he was picking up heavy garden ornaments and throwing at the staff and the police, and was trying to stab a policeman with a piece of wood.
Against their advice I went into the garden and calmed the gent, we always had a good relationship and we sat down on the garden bench and chatted.
For the first time he spoke openly about his experiences in Singapore when the Japanese army advanced, only he was now reliving this in the present, the passing cars were military vehicles, and most of the staff and other residents were spies that were trying to kill us and he was protecting us all, he then tried to run for cover as a Police helicopter passed overhead.
He cried hysterically as he described how "only yesterday" the Japanese soldiers screamed as he plunged a bayonet into them, and the noise the bayonet made as it entered their bodies and as he withdrew the bayonet! and how he had to cut the throat of a Japanese soldier to silence him from all the screaming and all the blood that came from him.
I can tell you that there wasn't a dry eye in the house amongst the staff. We clearly needed professional help for this man, through his dementia, he was now dealing with, what I would imagine was now PTSD.
By evening the poor man was exhausted, still crying and still trying to stay alert against the incoming Japanese soldiers that were trying to invade the home.
Then I noticed the hustle and bustle of a few strange faces in the building and I noticed a GP, I managed to settle him enough for a medical examination and a quick chat with his Counsellor. Our only option was to have him "sectioned" and he was later taken to the mental health unit of a hospital.
It was very fortunate that he knew one of the nurses that accompanied him and he got into the ambulance calmly. My concern now is how he will be treated, very often these places rely heavily on Anti-psychotic drugs.
I came home from work at 22.30 mentally drained, hoping I never have to witness anybody so distraught like that ever again.
Most nights on going to bed he gets very confused and usually reverts back to the war and his time in Singapore. So he wont settle in bed until I have reassured him that he doesnt need his gun or his knife and grenades beside him next to his bed and the home is very secure and he is safe.
the last few weeks we have been getting more concerned about his mental health.
Well I arrived at work yesterday at 13.30 to find this kind man in the garden with two police officers that had been called to control him and for the safety of other residents and staff, he was picking up heavy garden ornaments and throwing at the staff and the police, and was trying to stab a policeman with a piece of wood.
Against their advice I went into the garden and calmed the gent, we always had a good relationship and we sat down on the garden bench and chatted.
For the first time he spoke openly about his experiences in Singapore when the Japanese army advanced, only he was now reliving this in the present, the passing cars were military vehicles, and most of the staff and other residents were spies that were trying to kill us and he was protecting us all, he then tried to run for cover as a Police helicopter passed overhead.
He cried hysterically as he described how "only yesterday" the Japanese soldiers screamed as he plunged a bayonet into them, and the noise the bayonet made as it entered their bodies and as he withdrew the bayonet! and how he had to cut the throat of a Japanese soldier to silence him from all the screaming and all the blood that came from him.
I can tell you that there wasn't a dry eye in the house amongst the staff. We clearly needed professional help for this man, through his dementia, he was now dealing with, what I would imagine was now PTSD.
By evening the poor man was exhausted, still crying and still trying to stay alert against the incoming Japanese soldiers that were trying to invade the home.
Then I noticed the hustle and bustle of a few strange faces in the building and I noticed a GP, I managed to settle him enough for a medical examination and a quick chat with his Counsellor. Our only option was to have him "sectioned" and he was later taken to the mental health unit of a hospital.
It was very fortunate that he knew one of the nurses that accompanied him and he got into the ambulance calmly. My concern now is how he will be treated, very often these places rely heavily on Anti-psychotic drugs.
I came home from work at 22.30 mentally drained, hoping I never have to witness anybody so distraught like that ever again.
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ladyalex, //Being 'sectioned' only means you cannot leave hospital.// Im sorry, that really depends on what section they have used. We have people in our Residential home on "sections" that pretty much come and go as they wish. I do know what a section is. The gentleman has advanced dementia, he is also in a psychiatric unit, I am sure the psychiatric staff will not welcome outside interference.
Hi Ratter. As zyou used the word 'section' I thought you knew what it meant.
Being 'sectioned' is a shorthand term for being admitted to hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act, or at least that is my understanding of it.
There are several 'sections' of the Act usually lasting different lengths of time from a matter of hour to months.
When someone is under 'section' They may be allowed to leave the hospital, but can be required to return. Perhaps that is the arrangement that your residents have.
Whilst I agree that the psychiatric staff might not welcome 'interference' they might welcome information about the gentleman and I doubt very much that they would refuse him visitors.
I'm sorry if I have offended you . I did not intend to.
Being 'sectioned' is a shorthand term for being admitted to hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act, or at least that is my understanding of it.
There are several 'sections' of the Act usually lasting different lengths of time from a matter of hour to months.
When someone is under 'section' They may be allowed to leave the hospital, but can be required to return. Perhaps that is the arrangement that your residents have.
Whilst I agree that the psychiatric staff might not welcome 'interference' they might welcome information about the gentleman and I doubt very much that they would refuse him visitors.
I'm sorry if I have offended you . I did not intend to.
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