experience –
moving and handling difficulties working with dementia clientsRating: (votes: 5) Thanks I am currently working in a psych unit with a specialization in geriatric/dementia patients. You are right, they can be very difficult to deal with. But, we have amazing docs and nurses who can pick up on the slightest issues with these patients. In fact, we often get patients from long term care with acute mental status changes or increased aggression, like you're describing. Once we get them, they go through the entire medical head to toe. Often, they have a UTI, which can be the root of the problem. Also, we've found underlying pain. If neither of those are there, the docs often switch up their drugs and that works. I would recommend that someone sees her and evaluates her. I'm sure many people would say, "that's just her!", and leave it be, but it's not safe for the patient or the staff that she's that non-compliant and aggressive. I feel your pain. I hope it works out. Comment:
Try minimizing the noise and activity when trying to put her into the equipment you are going to use.Have one staff member speak quietly to her and talk her through it while the others are moving the sling and lift into position and NOT talking,banging or slinging stuff around.You can also try having her hold a stuffed animal or baby if she enjoys them-she may comply with a hoyer if she has a job to do such as keeping the baby or pet "safe".Or-you are all "in the army" and working together and you have a new piece of equipment you need to train the staff on and you need her help..Nothing wrong with leaving her bed for safety and getting her up later.Is she more compliant later in the day? Try prn tylenol prior to moving her.Those lifts look like they can be un-comfortable.Rule out a UTI and maybe get a psych consult.Sometimes nothing works and they need an antipsych med to help them accept care and be safe.Good luck
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