This was also the case when I worked at group homes for people with dementia, but I believe that many of the residents did not understand why they were there. Most of them seemed to think they had been brought to the facility for some reason, but that their families would eventually come to pick them up and take them home. I believe that is why they kept asking, over and over again, if it was okay for them to stay there—or said they were going home and tried to leave. In particular, when someone develops dementia, it becomes difficult for them to adapt to changes in their environment. If they do not understand where they are, they may fall into a state of anxiety and confusion, become easily agitated, and even resort to abusive language or violence. In such cases, these behavioral and psychological symptoms—often referred to as “BPSD”—can create situations that place a significant mental and physical burden on caregivers.
(translated version of the post on October 07, 2022)
認知症対応型グループホームで勤務していた時もそうでしたが、認知症の方は、施設において、なぜ自分が今この場にいるのか、わかっていない場合が多かったように思います。何らかの理由で、今この場に連れてこられているのだけれども、時間が来れば、やがて家族が迎えにきてくれて、自分のうちに帰ることができると信じ切っている方がほとんどだったのだろうと思います。だから、何回も何回も、まだここにいていいのかと繰り返し尋ねてきたり、うちに帰ると言って、外に出て行こうとしたりするのだろうと思います。特に、認知症になると、環境の変化を受け止めることが難しくなり、自分が今どこにいるかわからなくなってしまうと、不安や混乱状態に陥ってしまい、怒りやすくなってしまったり、暴言を吐いたり暴力をふるってしまったりといった、いわゆる周辺症状と呼ばれる、介護者にとっては精神的にも肉体的にも大きな負担が課されてしまう状況へと発展してしまうことが多くなってしまいます。
(2022年10月7日のポストを再掲）