Crisis in an old peoples home

Crisis at an old people home

I remember it well. It was a miserable day, a strong wind from the north scattering the autumn leaves across the highway. As we drove my parents to an old people's home I noticed a few drops of rain on the wind screen. I could hear my parents talking in whispered voices at the back of the car. Although I could not hear the conversation I did hear the occasional phases like don’t worry we will be all right. The weather reflected my mood. It was a day when my brain was copying the wind with memories and decisions swirling around my thoughts in chaotic fashion. The old people’s home we were going to was mine and my wife’s choice after visiting several others in the district. The sad and disturbing reality was that both my parents had Alzheimer disease and were incapable of continuing to live in their home. This tragic and life limiting handicap first inflicted my mother. Three years later my father was affected by memory loss.There was only one solution.

Physically my parents were in good shape considering they were both in their late seventies. As I was the only child I wanted them in a home close to my wife and I. When I was young I had some medical problems that required a month’s stay in a hospital. Over that period one of my parents visited me on a daily basis. I wanted to return this loving devotion. We found a suitable old people's home not far from where we lived. This drive was closing the curtain on their previous life. They were going together into the unknown, surrounded by people of their own age. I am not sure they felt unhappy or fearful about the move as with a serious loss of memory they were living in the present without any memories of yesterday. It seemed to be a very well run home managed by a dynamic and cultured older woman. After a few visits we became good friends.

Four years later my life suffered an irritrating change. I was posted to take over the responsibility of a factory about 100 miles from our present home. The appointment resulted in a substantial increase in salary and a demand to live in the manager’s house situated close to the factory. It was certainly a position that would enhance my career, the annoying part was that I would not be able to regularly visit my parents. Thankfully, my wife's parents lived aboard. I comforted myself with the thought that we were now firm friends with the home’s manager.

A year after we had moved I got the message that the old people's home manager had taken ill and a new manager had been appointed. Within two days we drove to the old people's home, but first we called in at the local hospital to find out about our friend, the previous manager. Sad to say she had a serious case of cancer. Regardless of all her suffering she remained deeply concerned about the old people she had looked after for a number of years. She pleaded on our next visit to come and see her with all the news.

We drove on to the home to meet the new manager. We were very disappointed by the impression he gave us on meeting with him. He seemed to lack a deep understanding of what managing an old people home requires. The whole atmosphere of the home had changed. We saw many little signs of a disintegration of the home’s services. It was concerning. My parents seem reasonably happy but they continually repeated that Mary, their regular nurse, had promised certain things that never seemed to materialize. They were very pleased to see us, but during our visit there were times when they were not sure who we were. For us these moments were not only sad but deeply disturbing. Life plays many complicated and destabilizing emotions on the human body.

In that same year a windy springtime was followed by a summer that was proving to be exceptionally hot. There was one particular week when I started worrying about my parents and how they were coping with the heat. I called the home to be told they were in a crisis mode as they had an enormous problem with the water system. It was at present turnoff ,no water was available, until the plumbing brigade came. That would take twelve hours. They had contacted the mayor. He promised a lorry load of water bottles as soon as possible. When I told my wife about my telephone conversation we both agreed we should immediately drive there to see what was going on.

When we got there we found the home in a state of chaos. There was a large dining room on the premises where all the residents had gathered. The staff had their hands full trying to explain why there was no drinking water or any suitable substitute. The majority of the patients were seriously dehydrated continually asking for a drink of water.The very older members sat there with their tongues hanging out and a noticeable problem of breathing. The manager seemed to be in a state of panic trying to quell their fears. I looked for my parents.They were not in the main dining room with the others. This was odd as the manager had assured us all the home’s residents had gathered there awaiting the bottled water that was due to arrive in an hour's time. It amazed me that the home did not have a stock of bottled water for emergencies like this. Our doubts about the new manager were proving correct. We looked for my parents one more time then I said to my wife they must still be in their room. We went, the room was empty. Immediately we returned to talk to the manager.

“ We have just been to my parents' room. They are not there. Please get some staff to immediately search the premises.”

“He looked at us in a dazed fashion as though this was the final nail in his coffin. “Of course.”

Half an hour later two members of the staff came back with the disturbing news that they and two other staff had looked everywhere but my parents had not been found.

I instantly asked if they could have left the premises. The manager replied with a stutter

“I suppose so. But the property is surrounded with a wired fence and there are only three gates. The main gate is certainly open awaiting the lorry with the water bottles. The other two smaller gates at the back of the property should be closed and locked but I am not sure that is the case. These gates lead into a farmer's fields.”

“Well you should know if the two small gates are locked or not. We will go and find out. In the meantime please call the police. To have two people with Alzheimer wandering about in the countryside is totally irresponsible on your behalf. We will hold you liable if anything should happen to them.”

My wife and I, accompanied by a staff member, went to the two gates. They were both unlocked. In fact one was wide open the other closed. As one gate was wide open we walked through it into a big field where cows were grazing. Far in the distance at the end of the field we saw a cow’s watertrough. There appeared to be two people sitting in front of it with their backs to the trough. I turned to my wife.

“It's not possible!”

All three of us walked up the field to the trough. There were my parents sitting with their legs extended before them. They were pleased to see us. My mother said

“We were extremely thirsty and for some reason Mary could not give us any water so we decided to try and find some.”

Father chimed in with a giggle, saying. “I think we have left enough for the cows.”

“Well,” I said. “You both seem perfectly happy but I suggest it is time to get you back to your room.”

As we left the field we saw the cows strolling towards their watertough making loud mowing sounds. This seemed to greatly amuse my father as he kept chucking to himself.

On the way back father stepped in a large patch of cow’s dung. Our group of five arrived smelling of pungent odors of the countryside. Both my parents were smiling. The little adventure had clearly represented for them a bright star in a universe that was probably quite dark.

The staff member who had accompanied us took my parents to their room to clean up. I went with my wife to find the manager who I was told was with the police.

We first looked into the large room. It was a sight I will never forget. Glasses with water seemed to be everywhere with the staff running from one patient to the next. It was like watching a herd of animals crowding around a waterhole after a trip of many miles over patched lands. Thankfully everybody appeared to be alive and were slowly recuperating from their lack of water. We were told the manager, with the police, were in his office.

As we entered the manager's office. All conversations ceased and the manager addressed us with.

“We were just discussing a search party. But thankfully I have just heard you have found your parents in the field at the back of the property.”

“No thanks to you. I am considering filing a complaint against the management of this establishment. Also once we have found another suitable home for my parents I will cancel any agreement I have with your company. As the police are present I suggest they contact social service and require a full audit of the establishment. Do you realise we found my parents in a farmer’s field drinking from the cows watertrough. It is inconceivable considering they are both in the later stage of Alzheimer. I have no more to say.”

We left and went to say goodbye to my parents. We found them cleaned up and laughing together like two young children that had just had an exciting adventure.

My wife and I thought it was best to leave them in this happy state without us interfering.

We creeped out of their room.

David Nutt August 2025