DPH Reportables

Jul 24, 2006 04:03 PM

by CapeCodMermaid

OK...what do all y'all report to the state? For some reason we have to report a resident to resident incident of "inappropriate touching" on a dementia unit. One little old guy thinks ALL the women are his wife so he doesn't see the harm in putting his hand down their shirts. It's been reported to the DPH but I don't understand why...there was no harm - physical, psychological or otherwise. It's just a delusional old guy. We have two of these guys on the dementia unit...one of them is the sweetest little old man you'd ever meet. Does anyone know of any all male facilities? We've tried all sorts of drugs ( I wanted to go with salt peter but that's been hard to find since the 1700's) and nothing seems to curb their proclivities.

banditrn · Jul 25, 2006, 03:28 PM

Re: DPH Reportables

Originally Posted by CapeCodMermaid

OK...what do all y'all report to the state? For some reason we have to report a resident to resident incident of "inappropriate touching" on a dementia unit. One little old guy thinks ALL the women are his wife so he doesn't see the harm in putting his hand down their shirts. It's been reported to the DPH but I don't understand why...there was no harm - physical, psychological or otherwise. It's just a delusional old guy. We have two of these guys on the dementia unit...one of them is the sweetest little old man you'd ever meet. Does anyone know of any all male facilities? We've tried all sorts of drugs ( I wanted to go with salt peter but that's been hard to find since the 1700's) and nothing seems to curb their proclivities.

Any answers to your post will be enteresting to me, too. In our facility we have a demented lady who is inappropriate with one of the demented gents. She makes lewd suggestions to him in the comman areas of the home - I don't know that they do anything but try to redirect her.

southern_rn_brat · Jul 27, 2006, 02:22 PM

Re: DPH Reportables

Is it reportable maybe because of "potential" harm? with the new guidelines, who the heck knows anymore?

as for the salt peter...I worked in a facility that had a retarded man that gave other male patients oral sex. We put him on birth control pills and voila! no more oral sex! or maybe it was Deproprovera? lol it was some kind of birth control lol

Nascar nurse · Jul 27, 2006, 07:52 PM

Re: DPH Reportables

I think I would have reported it just as a CYA measure. If I was a family member and I walked into the room and some old guy had his hand in my mother's shirt - better believe I would be having a fit.. don't care if either one of them "understands" what's really going on. Now as a nurse, I would be having a "fit" with the nursing staff, but there are lots and lots of people anymore who take their complaints straight to department of health - why not report it first?

suebird3 · Jul 28, 2006, 06:12 AM

Re: DPH Reportables

Any falls are reported, and if there are any "altercations" between residents are reported at my facility. Also bruises of unknown origin....

Suebird

CapeCodMermaid · Jul 28, 2006, 06:13 AM

Re: DPH Reportables

A few years ago I had to report to a family member that her mom and one of the demented men were trying to...er...um...well, you know what. The daughter smiled and said "Why not?? She's always liked sex so why should she have to give it up now??" Somehow, I can't picture MY daughter ever saying anything like that

CapeCodMermaid · Jul 28, 2006, 06:14 AM

Re: DPH Reportables

Originally Posted by suebird3

Any falls are reported, and if there are any "altercations" between residents are reported at my facility. Also bruises of unknown origin....

Suebird

We only report falls with fracture or if the res. goes to the ER and has any kind of treatment such as sutures....

achot chavi · Jul 28, 2006, 09:21 AM

Re: DPH Reportables

interesting that he is more interested in the female patients and not the female CNA's. We get a lot of the latter! But at least the CNA's can protect themselves. I wouldn't want any old coot (no matter how cute) to be sticking his hand down my blouse!! You really do owe it to your female patients to keep an eye on this frisky fella, and keep explaining to him that the nice lil ole lady is NOT his wife and he has to keep his hands to himself. I'd keep him seated near the nurses desk or keep him very busy with activities etc.
More importantly-does he take meds that increase his sexual interest like Dopamine (for Parkinson's) It is worth it to check the side effects of his current meds and ask the doctor!

banditrn · Jul 28, 2006, 04:57 PM

Re: DPH Reportables

Originally Posted by Nascar nurse

I think I would have reported it just as a CYA measure. If I was a family member and I walked into the room and some old guy had his hand in my mother's shirt - better believe I would be having a fit.. don't care if either one of them "understands" what's really going on. Now as a nurse, I would be having a "fit" with the nursing staff, but there are lots and lots of people anymore who take their complaints straight to department of health - why not report it first?

I've been there as a family member - and I had a complete fit!!

A few years ago, my MIL was in a small facility - she was in the later stages of Alzheimers. This old guy apparently took a real shine to her, and one night they found him naked in bed with her!!

My MIL was a very distinguished, proper lady, and would never have tolerated this sort of thing if she'd been in her right mind - but with her Alzheimers, she'd lost the ability to object.

Nurse_Pauline · Jul 30, 2006, 08:38 AM

Re: DPH Reportables

I know at our facility we report falls with injuries, trips to the er from a fall, (whether they were treated or not, dont agree, but hey), resident to resident altercations,including sexual ones. I run a 60 bed dementia unit, so ive seen alot of those. (some that i never IMAGINED that i see too) I do know that a lot of times out psyche team will recommend a female hormone of some type to decrease some of the sexual urges, Of course i do forget the name off the top of my head...but its worked for some of our more "active" male residents,and isnt an antipsychotic, so alot of the side effects of them arent an issue.

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DPH Reportables

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