Eight weeks later - transcript

Maddy Smith

Maddy Smith

He seems all right now. We've managed to settle him down. So we should get some peace for a while.

Maddy Smith

Maureen Phillip

Good. Thanks, Maddy.

It's hard to believe that Donald's been here for a few weeks. Feels a lot more.

We expect new residents to find it a wee bit hard to settle in. That's normal, but Donald? It's more than that. It's his attitude. He just doesn't see anything positive about being here. Staff have tried really hard to work with him. I mean they've tried talking to him about his feelings, any worries he has about his wife. We even tried to arrange for him to visit in the hospital but I get nothing back. Either he doesn't want to know or he can't respond.

The man is violent and abusive to my staff. I just don't see that there's any point in him being here.

I mean take a look at his record. Monday the 5th. Donald asked Laura Smith, his key worker, where his f'ing money was. And when she said she would find out for him in a minute, he hit her in the back of the calf with his walking stick. He hit her so badly she fell over then shouted, "Serves you bloody right!" And that he hates everyone in this f'ing prison.

And Laura is now sick. She won't be back for some time.

Tuesday, the 6th. Donald demands a drink from the bar and when Sheila Baird, one of our care officers, says, "You can't serve him alcohol," he lashes out at her. Calling her for... The usual torrent of filthy abuse. He tried to hit her with his stick but somehow she managed to get away.

Then later the same day, one of our lady residents asked Donald if he wanted to watch TV. He replied with some sexually explicit remark. We only found out about that because she was in tears at bedtime.

Wednesday the 7th. In the morning he refuses to come down for breakfast and shouts abuse at the member of staff that woke him up. When the deputy tries to talk to him, he's even more foul mouthed.

Thursday the 8th. For the umpteenth time Donald's asked if he'd like a shower or a bath. He responds with swearing and abuse. The member of staff on the receiving end of this told me she wouldn't work with him again and that she would be speaking to a union rep.

The catalog continues. Verbal abuse, assault, refusal to cooperate, it goes on. I mean, I know there might be something else going on here. He's definitely gotten a lot more forgetful even the short time he's been here but he's got no inclination to visit or talk about his wife. I'm beginning to wonder if he even realizes he's got one.

We have arranged for a GP to visit him and I wouldn't be surprised if he diagnosed some form of dementia. Maybe the GP can give him some medication, but so time. It all takes time.

The thing is I'm really worried that he's not able to be cared for in an open setting. Even in a nursing home. And as for the hospital, well, he's never going to be top priority is he?

I mean, we've tried our best. We really have. I've got one member of staff who's off sick. Two who are refusing to work with him and the rest are scared to turn their backs on him.

And as for the residents, well, they're complaining about his hygiene, his aggression and his language. I really don't think this is the right place for him. But where is?