Every so often we would turn up and find Dad with plasters covering various bumps and bruises.
It did make us wonder what the heck sort of supervision was provided in the care facility.
On one occasion Dad was playing the piano and one of the gents took exception to it. I'll admit he's no Beethoven, not by any means, but he's never got a fat lip before because of his playing. Staff told us the gentleman in question was usually so quiet and he and Dad used to get along famously....Uh huh.
The two questions - How the heck did ths happen? and How can you make sure it won't happen again? were run by management. To be honest, I can't recall what their response was.
It's quite upsetting visiting your confused father with a swollen lip and plasters on his face. One does contemplate, just for a moment, finding the offender and giving him the evil eye. Though that's kind of childish and pointless. It's obvious he's stuck in the same hell condition as Dad and I can only presume, based on his outbursts at home, that Dad is not always nice as pie toward the other patients either. Energy is better spent on a positive visit with Dad who, by the way, has no memory of being biffed at all.
The fact is grown men thrown together will get on each others wick and get angsty - verbally or sometimes physically, either pushing and shoving or the occasional fisty cuff.
Most times the staff can intervene and send the boys to their corners long enough for them to forget they were shitty in the first place and no one gets hurt. Other times management had to call Mum and tell her the damage.
We've been told staff are on higher alert when the moon is full - the patients tend to get more aggressive then. I wonder if the first werewolf story was the result of an Alzheimer's patient going off?
It's quite hilarious, and slightly frightening, watching elder men setting to each other. I do wonder how they stay on their feet given their age makes them wobbly before they decide to throw a wide punch.
This makes Alzheimer's units sound like boxing rings. They aren't. The other factor that adds to bruising is age. Falls are common. And any bumps will show up on the skin - I have watched Dad try to force himself and his walker through tables and chairs because his mind was dead set on going that way. No amount of coaxing would change is course so he was left to bump his way through.
And sometimes it is necessary for staff to man-handle the men. They may be old, but they can also be stubborn and surprisingly strong when they decide to 'go off'. And man-handling the elderly, regardless of how carefully you try to do it, tends to leave bumps and bruises.
