Robert Roberts (2483)

Admission Details for Patient: Robert Roberts (2483)

Gender: Male Age: 78
Marital Status: Widowed Religion: Unknown
Occupation: Hawker
Address: Bala, Merioneth

Date of Admission: August 13, 1875
Date of Death: December 20, 1877
Cause of Death: Senile decay/Pneumonia

Disease: Senile dementia
Supposed Cause: Old age

Medical Certificate:
Wants continually to go to Bala whereas he has not left the place for a considerable period. Does not know where he slept last night though he sleeps in the same lodging every night. Fails to recognise persons who are in the habit of visiting him. Mistakes the Relieving Officer for the medical man and vice versa. From Jabez Jones: He wants continually to be on the move but has no idea where to go. Would wander away unless constantly watched. Troubled with sleeplessness. Complains he get no food when he gets his meals regularly.

Approximate duration of present attack: 2 or 3 months

Number of Previous Attacks: 0

Number of Previous Admissions: 0

Number of Subsequent Admissions: 0

Total Number of Admissions: 1

Relatives affected:

Epileptic: No

Suicidal: No

Dangerous: No

Clean Habit: Yes

Food Refusal: No

Sleep Habit: Bad

Destructive Habit: Not in any way

Disposition: Fond of wandering about and a great smoker

Education: Imperfect

Physical/Mental State at Examination: Very feeble. Considerable amount of senile decay Arcus senilis well marked. Respiratory murmurs very loud and tubular. Amber cataract forming in both eyes. Slight oedema of ankles. Was somewhat excited on admission. Required a little gentle force to bring him from the trap into the building. Said that he should not have been brought here. Somewhat incoherent although somewhat sharp in his replies. No loss of identity. Does not know where he is. Memory impaired. Says that his eyesight is as well as ever it was although that is impossible. Has not worked for the last four years having been supported by the parish for that time. They have no workhouse in Bala otherwise he would not have been sent here.*

Current Diagnosis: Alzheimer's Disease (F00.1)

Case Notes

1875 Aug 14 - Ate and slept well. Is very angry at having been brought here. Has no idea where he is and memory is completely gone.

Aug 15 Quiet and free from excitement.

Totters a little in walking.

Aug 27 - No improvement. Wants to leave here very much and cannot understand why the doors should be locked.

Sept 5 - Quite incoherent. He is so far gone that he fancied that some circular pieces of zinc was silver money.

(Notes October 1875 to September 1877 indicate no change although his health is referred to as ‘capital considering his age’).

1877 Nov 12 - Has been slowly failing for some weeks past and is confined to the Infirmary where he wanders restlessly about.

Nov 21 - Is now confined to his bed with no particular complaint except general weakness.

Dec 17 - Gradually running down. Has some hypostatic pneumonia at both bases.

Dec 20 - Died today.

Medications/Treatments:

Additional Notes

*

By 1875 Bala’s High Street Workhouse, built in 1839-41, was no longer considered fit for purpose and its replacement on the outskirts of the town had not yet been completed.