Hi,
I am new to this site, so firstly I should introduce myself, and say I hope to be of use on this subject.
I have lots of experience in this particular field of work, having been a senior care worker, and qualified in the care of Alzheimer's Residents, before I became too ill to work.
It is very expensive to train and keep staff who are willing and able to care for people with this condition. Some require a lot of monitoring, and are indeed prone to violence for no apparent reason, and finding the cause for the outbursts can take a lot of detective work. This is not to say your Mum has these problems, and is not intended to cause offence to you. Quite the contrary, I am trying to throw some light onto this subject.
Unless staff are trained, people with this condition can appear very tricky customer's, and many staff will refuse to assist, if they feel unsure or fearful. Sometimes, the more mild-mannered, gentle folks can be difficult to communicate with, and can present a lot of problems for the untrained. However, this condition does affect the majority of elderly people, in some degree or another. The matter of using a hoist is also something which staff must be trained to do, before they begin to work with people, and that knowledge and experience can take some people a while to learn fully. All staff must be trained mandatorilly in the moving and handling of people in their care. This training is annually renewed and refreshed, to keep abreast of updated rules and regulations. When applied to a person with Dementia, sometimes it can take a good knowledge of both the condition and the person, and the applied rules for moving and handling, which needs continuous re-assessment.
I am definitely not defending the actions of the Manager where your Mum is residing. On the contrary, this was handled badly.
Where I worked, this would not have happened, due to the degree of illness we were fully trained to deal with. Unco-operative residents were the norm, and violent outbursts were a daily feature of our work, along with some other very challenging behaviours.
I trust you can appreciate the many issues faced, which need to be handled in a dignified and courteous manner, while protecting the resident and staff.
You could ask for further explanation from Registered Nurses, or again, speak to the Manager for clarification on their reasons. Perhaps there are risks which cannot be catered for at the Home, besides your Mum's mobility problems. Often, it can be a matter of lack of equipment, which can prove costly to a Home. Or a staffing issue, or something else which the Home cannot meet. It might not be a matter of your Mum's needs, but those of the Home. They would have a duty of care towards your Mum, and everyone else, but if they cannot meet those needs, it may be necessary to do risk assessments, to find where staff are struggling. If they cannot reach resolution, then it could be an important factor to the way your Mum is cared for. You would not wish Mum to come to any harm, and maybe the Home are fearful of this happening. Often it is the relatives who are the last to know, of the difficulties staff might face when dealing with a particular aspect of a person's care. It may be a matter of loud crying, that disturbs other residents. It might be that Mum keeps trying to get up, and keeps falling over. There are so many things which you might be completely unaware of, as they are things which do not necessarily require you being informed, and that could be they're concerned it could upset you.
Please don't give up, or get upset, just push for the answers if that would help YOU. I have not written this to cause you any distress, and have only done it, to show there could be a million and one reasons. It hasn't been handled well, and the Manager is not really dealing with it in a professional manner. If you need more information, then you can insist on knowing. But, please be aware, the answers could be distressing to you. Contact the CQC if you aren't happy. Be Strong. Take Care.
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