Victoria walks around the room (UNIRI-05-EN)

Victoria is a 75-year-old lady who only recently joined the residential home. Her children who live abroad have arranged for their mother to go to the residential home after neighbours informed them Victoria had incidents such as burning up her lunch after forgetting about it and falling on the street coming from the store. Victoria was accommodated in a bedroom with two other residents. A month after her arrival, some personal items from other rooms went missing. Afterwards, Victoria started to have elevated heartbeat, high blood pressure and respiration problems (lack air and feeling of shallow breathing) in the evenings. These symptoms were not present at the admission. Soon, roommates reported that Victoria walks around the room during night and that is irritable during the day, misplaces her things and then accuses roommates of taking them.

The nursing staff attributed the change in health and behaviour to the adaptation process and possibly even to the first signs of dementia given that they noticed she sometimes does not know the date or time. In the next month Victoria became even more withdrawn, suspicious of nursing staff with visible mood changes, and would sleep only with lights on. What the staff did not know was that Victoria was a victim of home robbery. Five years earlier, at midnight, two intruders barged into her home. When she woke up and interrupted them, they threatened to kill her. She was so scared that she wet herself. She was not only in fear for her life but felt very ashamed of her own reaction that she did not talk about it with anyone.

Medical staff realized that elevated heartbeat, blood pressure together with sleep disturbances, irritability, concentration issues and the need to have lights on might be related to a possible psychological trauma.

They acknowledged that some of Victoria’s behaviours which were labelled as difficult (accusing others of taking her things, night walks, keeping lights on) could in fact be a reaction which started after some items did went missing.

Victoria was invited for a talk with the head nurse. The head nurse cleared her schedule to be sure she has enough time for Victoria and turned off her phone. When Victoria came in, she offered her to choose a seat she prefers, offered her some tea, and inquired whether she feels comfortable. The head nurse could see that Victoria was feeling insecure and suspicious of the conversation so used reflection in attempt to facilitate conversation. Later in the conversation Victoria felt comfortable enough to express her concerns about the missing things and possibility they have a thief in the facility.

The head nurse together with other staff members offered Victoria to reorganize living conditions to make her feel safer. Victoria’s bed is the furthest from the door, she was given a safe box for her personal belongings, and a small night lamp.

Victoria started having regular meetings with facilities’ counsellor and in time was able to talk about the traumatic event from five years ago. As she was able to feel safe and secure her mood, sleep, health, and social relations improved.

Assist. Prof. Aleksandra Stevanović, psychol. PhD (UNIRI-MEDRI)