how it takes SEVEN people, including three hospital security guards, to get a 78-year-old, 5'6", 125 pound patient with Parkinson's disease and Lewey body dementia, back into his bed and restrained (with LOCKED restraints, I might add)...?
I was sore the next day. Time to hit the gym.
Bonus, I dodged his foot and thus didn't get kicked in the face!
5 comments:
Wow, he didn't know his own strength? Or so out of it he didn't care?
NFO: A little from column a, a little from column b. Google "lewey body dementia", it's really sad.
In this patient's case, during the day, while his family was visiting, he was totally calm and able to be redirected, if necessary.
As soon as his family left for the night (you know, RIGHT AT CHANGE OF SHIFT), he would completely lose it.
We used to call that "Sundowner Syndrome". At least that's what it sounds like.
People who have altered mental status for any reason seem to have no inhibitions against hurting others. Since they aren't inhibited, they use all of their strength and don't seem to fatigue as do people with more or less normal mental status.
At least that's my experience over the years.
My partner and I once had to handcuff a 77 year old woman who had dementia. We then sat her on the squad bench and transported.
Where she tried to kick me was considerably lower than in the head.
The nurses insisted that we take the handcuffs off. Which we did, and then the rodeo started all over again. I don't know that they ever got her under control again, but then again it wasn't my problem at that point.
Yikes, EMS Artifact!
That's no joke. Sundowning is a real thing, I've definitely seen it in action. With Lewey Body Dementia, oftentimes anti-anxiety meds have a paradoxical effect...so basically you're SOL on the medication front!
1994: Elderly gent in the CCU; probably septic or in cardiogenic shock, and the Doc is trying to place a Swan-Ganz catheter. I'm to the right of the Doc, attempting to hold down Mr.Rambunctious, when he somehow bounces his hips, flings his Right leg up, and nails me just above my eye, with the ball of his foot. The force throws me up against the wall. I had a headache for the rest of the night. About 30 hours later, I'm at home sleeping. I wake up with the WORST headache ever......and I believe I passed out. I went to the clinic that day, and Doc said I probably suffered a concussion. I took a few days off.
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