Alzheimer's Blogging:

So today we get a call for a patient that fell out of his bed. As we arrive to the nursing home we find a 90 yr old man lying on the floor. Was told by the nurses aids, he fell out of his bed and complained that his head and neck was painful. That is until he saw us and than the pain went away. He lives in an assisted living with his wife. They have a two bedroom apartment. He was pretty agitated and didn't want to come with us. He fought us all the way as we took vitals, put on a c-collar and placed him on a soft back board. His son was the POA, and even though he wasn't there, he wanted his father transported to a hospital to get looked at.

This gentleman had dementia, knowing his name and his wife's name. He told me he had been married for 60 yrs. But he couldn't give me his age or birthday. He complained the whole way to the hospital that he was in pain especially every time we hit a bump on the road. This broke my heart.

Mostly what I was thinking was how much nicer it would be if a loved one would have been in the ambulance with him. He had to feel alone and scared. He didn't know me, and I was one of the mean ones making him go to the hospital. Just food for thought.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com