I'm so sorry about your brother in law. From 2010 onwards my mother had several hospital admissions for a leg ulcer. Although she was not specifically on a dementia ward there were on occasions people with dementia on the ward that was quite upsetting for her. When my father was admitted to hospital in 2016 he had dementia and was on an older person's ward,the majority of whom had dementia. The staff were lovely but desperately understaffed. I spend between 12-8 every day making sure fed and hydrated. Most of the patients on the ward had come in from living in their own homes,most never went back to them but to care homes as their was insufficient community care to support them. Four years ago social care was on the precipice of disaster.
Bed blocking has been an issue for years. Social care has been underfunded and stigmatized for years. These poor older patients have few options,especially if they have no one to advocate for them.
It many ways it makes sense for care homes to be part of the solution. To overcome the stalemate over fees,which is always at the source of care the government has thrown money at the problem. It's a sticking plaster. You cant care properly for people if you havent got the staff to do it. Free PPE is pointless if no one to wear it.
Caring for a Covid positive patient can be done. My daughters care home managed it. The patient was isolated on half a floor that was empty. My daughter and a few volunteers spent 12hours on the floor. They were not allowed off the floor for breaks or any contact with other staff. The PPE they had was basic gloves apron and the basic surgical mask. The resident was bed bound as end of life.
A lot of time and resources. A lot of care homes can isolate a new resident for two weeks. However a mobile resident with dementia can be problematical.
It's a horrible situation with no answers. The isolation of care home residents is heartbreaking. My daughters care home has spent months protecting them,staff and residents tested weekly/monthly. Socially distanced activities etc. Relatives were finally being allowed in but with strict social distancing. A member of staff walked past such a visit and observed family hugging a resident. Now that resident,and several others have developed coughs,slight temperatures
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The affects of this virus ripple out regardless of whether vulnerable or not.
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