Memory Care

Dispatcher: 9-1-1, what is the location of your emergency?

Caller: Eleanor, is that you?

Dispatcher: No sir, this is 9-1-1, do you have an emergency?

Caller: Where's Eleanor? Why isn't she here?

Dispatcher: Sir, where are you located?

Caller: I don't know.

Dispatcher: What's your name sir? Do you need help?

Caller: My name's Frank. Do you know where Eleanor is?

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Dispatcher 2: (to Dispatcher) That's the Palms Rehab on Port Malabar Blvd. Phone history shows Frank McCallister in room 2211.

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Dispatcher: No, I don't. Are you hurt Frank? Do you need an ambulance?

Caller: They won't give me my medicine.

Dispatcher: Who won't give you your medicine? Frank, is there anyone there with you?

Caller: No. I'm all alone here and I don't know where I'm at.

Dispatcher: Frank, are you at the Palms Rehab?

Caller: I don't know. There's some nurse or someone ... Where's Eleanor? Why isn't she here?

Dispatcher: Frank, do you know what room number you're in?

Caller: I'm at home ... I think ... there's nobody here.

Dispatcher: Frank, I'm going to have someone come in and check on you, okay?

Caller: Okay. Is Eleanor coming?

Dispatcher: A nurse is coming to check on you Frank.

Nurse: Mr McCallister, are you okay? Are you on the phone?

Caller: Who are you?

Nurse: I'm Nurse Jean, Mr. McCallister. I'm gong to give you your medicine to help you sleep, okay?

Nurse: 911? This is Nurse Jean with Palms Rehab. We're with Mr. McCallister.

Dispatcher: Is Mr. McCallister okay?

Nurse: Yes. He's in the Memory Care unit. He has alzheimers.

Dispatcher: Can you tell me who Eleanor is?

Nurse: Eleanor was his wife. She passed away two years ago. He forgets because of the alzheimers and someone always has to tell the poor man again.

Dispatcher: That's awful. I can't imagine learning over and over repeatedly that my spouse was deceased. Having to go through that pain again.

Nurse: Yes. It's horrible. And, like most of the elderly here, no family visits. We're all they have.

Dispatcher: I've got to answer another 911. Call back if you need police, fire, or an ambulance.

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As a 911 Police, Fire, and Medical Dispatcher myself for 31 years now, I can attest to the above. Just tonight we had a similar call. It's heartbreaking. We actually do have an elderly man in our city who has to be told over and over again that his wife is deceased. The sheer horror of that just hits me in the gut. But, we still have to grab that incoming line to try to help the next caller with an emergency.