http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printe...ustom_community_util

I don't know this family, of course, but I'm ANGRY on their behalf. It broke my heart to read about his brother not being able to even visit him in the hospital for fear that they'd release him. It broke my heart to read about this poor man appearing in court in a hospital gown and diaper. No doubt, the shuffling from place to place has made him even more violent and disoriented.

In the end, it was a criminal prosecutor who has been able to be the most help to this family. By encouraging a caregiver to file assault charges against him, the criminal system seems to be able to do what the stinking system set up to care for these helpless dementia sufferers was unwilling to do.

And, friends, as the boomers (which include most of us!) age, this type of story will be more and more common.

Chicago seems to have away with the elderly.Seems last week the police went to an 82 year ols home to check on her.They asked to come in and she said know.Evidently she was frightened and picked up a hammer.They tasered her.Now in the hospital

This makes me so angry to read how this man has been treated.

Having had personal experience w/Lewy body it really hits home. Poor man, very likely his aggression comes from hallucinations & all the bouncing around from place to place.

I am sick to my stomach about this & have to stop this post b4 I get myself into trouble.

This is a heart wrenching story.Bunnys girl is right with her reasons why he behaves the way he does.There are medicines that can help the behavior without making them a zombie
My hubbies doctor stated he would wait until he was really out of control to prescribe a new meds.One would be Geodon.My huby is one of those punchy people.Cused because of the paranoud psychosis.He is also strong as an ox.With my back problems I could never deal with him if he were not bedridden.I cannot understand the VA taken the position they have for this man.They deal with people from post wars that suffer with violence.I do know most are kept on ativan if they pose a threat.
There are many people on the streets suffering as this man is.So many are from the vietnam war.I do believe with the right VA doctor this man can get the proper evaluation and meds.Some VA hospitals are better then others.

Ok Im a little better now
Obviously this man needs medication changes for sure but what really works for someone dealing with LBD is anyones guess. They can not be trusted to walk unaided so a Geri Chair is definitely out of the question. I wonder if a contraption I have been thinking about kinda like how they hoist a horse up in the air when a leg is injured somehow incorporated into a Geri chair would be considered a restraint of sorts?
What Im thinking is maybe some sort of freedom they would get from this would ease up the anger a bit???
Most times its the way people deal with the resident that gets them to this point of violence I know Ive had a few times already in the past 2 weeks dealing with certain residents that they have become a little combative with me but thats only because I wasnt their NA and I was just there to help while a CNA called in sick so I had no personal experience with this person. Each person needs a certain approach in dealing with this type of problem so my guess is this man is clearly agitated at the way he has been treated all the moves he has to date the rough nature CNA's deal with a resident (even I have witnessed the rush of a CNA on a daily basis) and thats simply because there are too many residents to deal with in an 8 hour shift in the one Im in there is usually 8 residents to 1 CNA that means changing diapers bed baths showers feeding exercising as well as accidents that occur throughout the day its no wonder they become combative they are rushed throughout the day...it boils down to...the Almighty dollar.

This story upset me too. What CAN you do with a person who is almost continually violent?
Mae, I know you have to deal with this situation daily, as do many others on this board.
We are always cautioning each other to be so careful, to try to stay out of the way of swinging fists and kicking legs; keep a cell phone handy; GET OUT of the way/room/house if the situation escalates. Some caregivers are in so much fear for their lives that caring at home is no longer an option. But what to do?
Heavy sedation is not the answer - bed restraints are not the answer. A jail cell is not the answer.
But how DO we keep EVERYONE safely out of harm's way?
Is there an answer?

How sad.........

RGD

Oh Torp what the hell happened to Dignity here my heart is breaking for this man and his family.
I got nothin more to say Im choked up on this one

t.o.r.p. thank you for bringing this very thought provoking article to our attention. it truly is heartbreaking. we must accept the fact that we are becoming the new gray panthers and although we are overloaded with the cares of our elders you are right, we will all be facing this sooner than we care to think. the elder care system is already overloaded and when we start showing up it will not be prepared to accomodate us. get involved now in bringing this issue to the attention of lawmakers and remember, being as our generation is more educated than previous generations, with modern medicine we are healthier longer, and will most likely be voting for many years to come it is impotant to be involved with the lawmaking process to assure care for our futures, or we could very likely end up in court in a gown and diaper or on the street. i was involved as a young hippie, now it is time to be involved as a gray panther!