@psp You’re in a very difficult situation and i can’t solve many things, but i can give you some suggestions and tell you why some things in nursing homes and hospitals are the way they are. I was a hospital nurse for many years and understand the frustration that you have. “Patient safety” rules were put in place some 20 years ago, which many nurses felt had nothing to do with patient safety. Thus, the bed that your dad can get out of easily. Side rails and restraints were considered dangerous. (When not used properly, they can be dangerous). Also, staffing, especially at night, is not what families would like. Families, where I worked, would hire off-duty nurse’s aides to sit in the wandering patient’s room to prevent night time wandering.
Your father had become very familiar with the assisted living facility he lived in. A fall, a transfer to a hospital, surgery and then another transfer to a SNF causes an increase in disorientation. And, no, the patient doesn’t understand because their mind is in a whirlwind of changes. I’m really sorry it’s like this for you and I probably sound like a real battle-ax, but I do understand and just want to give you a big hug.
Now, you need to look forward to the day when your dad can go back to the assisted living apartment.. Check carefully: is the apartment safe for your dad to wander at night, can some furniture be moved so he has a clear path, does the staff do checks at night? Once your dad is ‘home,’ he will probably settle down and return to his old routine.
Did your dad have a habit of wandering at night before the fall?