They moved Dad due to the NH closing. He was happier there than he has been anywhere else......

He was at one nursing home where he had behavioral problems. They eventually said he couldn't stay. I understood why because he was being so mean and cranky and is a fall hazard. So he was moved to a smaller nursing home where he became much less agitated and was able to get into a groove. He was wheelchair bound due to the stroke and has been incontinent for a while. Due to the use of the wheelchair, his upper arm strength is good. He is now able to push himself up more. This would be a good thing but he has been trying to stand up for months now. He spends all of his time, trying to stand up, falling, and trying, trying, trying. At the new place where he was moved, the staff would place a couple of patients right by the nurses station because it gave them a chance to keep an eye on them and since there was a lot of activity, the patients would sit and talk. Well now that nursing home is closing it's doors :( They call me on Sunday and were moving him monday evening. He was only there one night and they called today and said that they could not take him on. He is getting up out of his wheelchair and walking a few steps. I am upset because I am getting really frustrated with the state of affairs. I told the nurse he had moderate to severe dementia and they all like to claim that they are all versed with handling Alzheimer dementia patients but that is just a buzz word, because if they did, they would know that dementia patients are usually exit seekers and need a LOT of attention. The lady who called to tell me was the Social worker and she was very intense about him falling. They said they are not used to ANYONE falling and that they cannot give him the attention he needs.
I am upset because things just don't ever seem to calm down in his situation. The nurses that he has been with moved to the new building but I think the new nursing home is this big fancy corporation who only wants to take care of patients who sit around and drool. I can't understand these places. They don't mind if a patient has any number of medical problems but when it comes to dementia, They act like they are wringing their hands and just don't know how to deal with them. I get that but I keep thinking these ppl are professionals and know techniques to handle dementia patients?! I get very confused when reading through all of the hodgepodge of descriptions on the internet that say that are alzheimers assisted living. Correct me but isn't the nature of alzheimers such that these patients don't have short term memory and display irrational behavaiours and actions? It almost seems like an oxy moron. Alzheimers assisted living: how can someone with alzheimers need only to be looked in on once in a while? I have been told by assisted living places that they do not administer meds, the person needs to be able to care for himself and yet, that they are alzheimer certified. I know society doesn't really understand what alzheimers is. i know that I didn't realize what it is. Often people are portrayed as just being unable to remember a few things. What I have found out is that Alzheimers eats your brain such that you are unable to make sense and you also can't put sentences together. You display extreme behaviours. wandering around talking to yourself, or others incoherently. banging on the dooor that you want out. walking around crying incessantly, thinking that you are someplace other than a nursing home and actually proceeding as if you are. I think it's more like alzheimers dementia patients appear more like patients in a psych ward than just nice old people who can't remember their name and stuff. They can hurt themselves, They forget every single thing and cannot retain the information even for 30 seconds. i tell my dad that his leg is too weak to stand on. he temporarily suspends his campaign for standing until 30 seconds passes and he continues trying to stand up. I know that the outside world has a misconception but I would think the healthcare elderly medical community would know what it is and be able to come up with techniques to help dementia patients. Gadgets and such to keep them in their chair and on their bed. I am super sad that he has to move and I so wish I was able to move him to my home to be with me. i cant do it unless I win the lottery. thanks for letting me vent! BG