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Wheat85 Asked March 2, 2024

Abusive aides?

My mother has been in assisted living since October 2023. She tells her children that some aides are rough with her, yelling in her face and pushing her down on the bed. My sister has sent a request to the Resident Services Director to see how we can discuss these issues and determine the reality of the situation. I admit Mom's complaints are vague and perhaps the aides are rough but they have several other residents to handle. Please offer suggestions or advice how we can handle Mom's complaints but avoid alienating the people who are taking care of her. My sisters, brother and I are reaching the burnout stage with Mom and the situation is not going to improve. Thank you.

liz1906 May 1, 2024
" Rough" is not acceptable. Patients can get hurt physically by a push or shove.
You are her only protection. Report this.

BurntCaregiver Mar 4, 2024
Install cameras in her room like everyone here has said. Hidden ones though. If these aides are indeed behaving abusively to your mother, they will be on their A-game in front of the camera, but not in the areas of the AL where there aren't cameras. They should not know there's cameras in her room. If they get caught being abusive, you get them fired.

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Geaton777 Mar 2, 2024
Yes to installing a camera.

Is your Mom on any meds for depression or anxiety or mood? Maybe consider this.

Has she been checked for a UTI? Sometimes this common infection causes an elder's mind to become confused and delusional.

Wheat85 Mar 2, 2024
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and advice. We have not installed a camera but that may be the next step.

AlvaDeer Mar 2, 2024
Have you yet met with administration?
As you say that is step one.
I would tell them you will be putting in cameras, because while you understand your mother has some dementia you need reassurance that this isn't happening.
If there is a lot of pushback against this, I would be worried.
I don't know but that your mother is now not able to stay in AFL circumstances, but that may be the case.

I am so sorry, but this is so common. A patient with dementia often has these claims. And yet we do hear of abuse in some cases. I hope you can come to some sort of agreement as to how to follow this up.

Scampie1 Mar 2, 2024
Are you sure this is really happening? You did the right thing by installing cameras. Dementia patients will make up stories on certain aides. Yes, this does happen in some facilities.

JoAnn29 Mar 2, 2024
Your last post said Mom has encephalopathy. These are symptoms of encephalopathy

Confusion
Memory loss
Personality changes
Trouble thinking clearly or focusing

You Mom maybe imagining these things. Its all in her mind. I would still have that meeting just to make everyone aware.

toogooddaughter Mar 2, 2024
I just put ring cameras in my mothers room

The skilled nursing facility she was in allowed me to use their Wi-Fi. They just put a little sign on the door saying electronic surveillance in place.
The new assisted living she’s in required me to pay $40 and put in my own Wi-Fi but I still monitor

I also had cameras in my mother’s home when she was receiving in-home care

She feels strongly that the aids were very aware of the cameras, and it did help their behaviors

I would notice sometimes they would say, or do something and then glance over to see if the camera was working

You get a very good idea of what takes place

The cameras are inexpensive relatively and can be purchased on Amazon and work on Wi-Fi
well worth the cost for peace of mind

funkygrandma59 Mar 2, 2024
My first thought is install some security cameras in her room so you can see exactly what is going on. I know that some assisted living facilities allow them and some do not. Hopefully the one that your mom is in does.
And while you don't mention it, perhaps your mom is starting to show signs of some dementia which could cause her to think theses things are going on.
But despite that you do want to know exactly what is going on with your mom as I'm sure she's paying big bucks to be there and she deserves to treated with kindness and respect.
So definitely set up an appointment to talk to the powers that be.

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