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Melgill Asked April 24, 2024

Should I go get mom from NH? She's not getting proper medication, she's supposed to be on. They never talk to me about her condition.

Mom is in a NH, last night after looking over her Humana summary. They are not giving her medication she's supposed to be on for memory. Says she's had low Blood pressure. Well she's on a cholesterol pill and blood pressure pill. She's she's been in pain. She's not on her stomach medication. I'm not happy. They won't speak to me. But they send me bills 3x a month for 7,000$ (Mom has medicaid) I'm her durable poa. Can I just walk in and tell her to come on? I can't go to jail right? Lol.

AlvaDeer Apr 24, 2024
You say you are reviewing her Humana summary.
Is her medication, her MD, and her care provider still humana?
Do know that there are no medications for memory that are currently PROVEN to work, and as they are very expensive they are often not given in Medicaid provided nursing home care.

You should request a review of medications with your mom's current doctor and then with copies of his orders, discuss with administration at the Nursing Home. It isn't clear to me if your mother currently has her own MD or if the nursing home has an MD assigned. If she is on Medicaid she may not be a Humana patient.

Do request an administration meeting for discussion of her medications, the medications her MD wants her on, and a review of the care plan that would dictate "holding medication" below certain blood pressure reading (this is ordered by her Medical Doctor or Nurse Practioner).

If you are Mom's current POA and responsible for her care, you certainly can remove her with adequate proof of 24/7 care, though you must do this through administration, and if they have any reason to suspect this is an unsafe discharge they may notify APS and discuss with them and with you together.
We can't know anything about your case here, so this is really in your hands, and in the hands of the facility where YOU (I assume) placed your mother.
As to whether you can simply waltz in and say "let's go"? No. You can't.

If you mother was at any point removed from your care and placed in facility case by another entity, and if her placement involves conservatorship or APS, state guardianship, or other complications, then this is a legal case in which you could NOT remove her from care, and you would need to consult an attorney.

MeDolly Apr 24, 2024
You get a bill for $7, 000 three times a month and she is on Medicaid? This does not compute to me.
BurntCaregiver Apr 24, 2024
MeDolly,

The nursing home is doing what nursing homes do. They're already getting paid by Medicaid if the mother is on it. They're trying to double-dip and collect twice by screwing the family for the cost and also collecting it from Medicaid.

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Cathygene Apr 28, 2024
So sorry to hear of another nursing home neglect story. Over 60% of elderly and family are opting for care at home for a reason! My 81 year old Mom with NPH dementia and PD was pleased on meds for behaviors and it rendered her bedridden and wheelchair bound. As her POA I sent her to an inpatient skilled nursing to get her moving again. While at work, they shipped her off to a behavioral center where she was overly medicated and in a locked down environment where I could not visit her in her living quarters. I sent the local police to do a wellness check and the next day discharge papers were prepared to send her to a skilled nursing home for medication adjustment and physical therapy. I visited her daily (lots of pop ups ant different times) and within weeks, I noticed her health declining. After the executive director, nursing director and medical directors refused to answer verbal and written requests for clinicals (including medication dosage), and concerns of their neglect- I contacted 911 to have her transferred to a nearby ER where they diagnosed her with a thyroid storm, kidney injury, UTI headed to sepsis, dehydration etc. The clinicals revealed that she wasn’t given her medications and couldn’t participate in PT. I contacted both Medicare and the Ombudsman and Medicare. Please note: the Ombudsman seemed to focus on how well he knew the Executive Director and the owners and that they knew better… After calling around, I found a skilled nursing only facility who helped to restore her mobility to a point where I could bring her home. A good diet, prayer, exercise and replacement of antipsychotics and “memory meds” with CBD oil and coconut oil massages… has restored her to the point of good health and mobility. She is jogging behind her walker on daily walks. Her neurologist discourages the use of antipsychotics for behaviors by the way. Seemingly the Parkinson’s symptoms were triggered by the meds. She no longer has tremors or any other PD symptoms. Bottom line, we need to admit that these facilities are a problem and they are fox are guarding the hen house. Take your loved one home, get a good caregiver to support you in a well thought out person centered care plan and advocate for your Mom to the team of doctors, nurses, aides and specialists who support your Mom in her journey of healing and comfort.
2ndTimothy Apr 28, 2024
So glad you fought for your mother when she couldn't fight herself. I love the stories of loved ones purting together a great care plan and turning things around. Oftentimes people give up too early without doing basic research and consulting with care professionals on options available outside of a care facility. Refreshing to read your family's story.
TouchMatters Apr 28, 2024
I first 'tried' to work with an Ombudsman - wanting to get the issue resolved, not just report. After ample considerate time - realizing that wasn't / didn't result in any changes, I filed an OFFICIAL complaint with the licensing board of the nursing home.

What did this do?

They made (make) two unannounced visits to the nursing home. If they do not find anything 'wrong' on that particular day, they do nothing. Although they come back one more time. Same thing. If nothing seems 'wrong,' there is nothing they do - or apparently can do.

I also photographed everything throughout several visits OVER SEVERAL MONTHS ... and sent these to the Umbudsman, as well as the licensing board representative.

License board response: I am a third party and they cannot use or consider my photos 'evidence.' I wasted my time. Nothing changed ... although that was due to how things 'appeared' on their two unannounced visits. I tried.

THESE NURSING HOMES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

If I were to do it again, I would cc my supervisors, congress-man-woman, and even the Oval office (now, before the next election). Also I would post the issues on Facebook and/or on line media. Contact local news media. Put as much focus on the issues as possible.

Gena / Touch Matters

BurntCaregiver Apr 24, 2024
Why was your mother put into a nursing home to begin with? If she could not be cared for at home (hers or yours) adequately because of her dementia and other conditions, she cannot be cared for now in the home either. Don't take her home.

If you're the one with her POA then you're the one in charge. If she's supposed to be on certain medications, you DEMAND that they start giving them to her.

The denying of some medications is pretty common with nursing homes if they want more money or they want a resident out. I have seen this happen. The wya to handle it is to not only tell your mother's doctors they are refusing her these medications, but tell their administrator that you will go to the police if they refuse her the doctor- prescribed meds that she's supposed to be on.

Don't take their crap. I've been in caregiving for a long time and have seen this situation happen many times in nursing homes. They even tried to pull it on me with my father when he was placed. Nursing home administration staff do not respond to politeness and civility from the concerned family of a resident.
The only respond to nastiness, viciousness, and being sneakier and more underhanded than they are. You have to police their actions 24/7.

Communicate with your mother's state Medicaid caseworker. You're the POA, so they will talk to you. Ask them if Medicaid has been paying the nursing home and if they have to please send you a written proof of this. They will.
I'd be willing to bet that Medicaid has been paying all along. So pay them nothing until you have found out either way. If they are then you will owe Medicaid, not the nursing home and Medicaid doesn't come collecting until a person dies and their estate gets probated.

Also, start looking for a better facility for your mother. For the most part they all operate like the one she's currently in, but some offer better physical care of their residents.

If you have her medical POA, you can also withdraw her from the nursing home any time you want. You may have to prove that you can provide adequate care for her outside the facility in a private home. You may not have to. This does not mean that you should take her out of the facility. Find a different one.

Don't allow them to do the classic nursing home shakedown on you for $7,000 a month. Talk to Medicaid. See if they've been paying before you pay one dime. The nursing home takes a person's monthly income when Medicaid is paying. That doesn't mean you write a $7,000 check every month also.

Daughterof1930 Apr 24, 2024
My mother was also on Medicaid in NH after some time of private pay. My dad was never billed, and you shouldn’t be either, unless it’s a statement, not an invoice. There is no excuse for meds not being given. Your choices are to request a meeting with the administration, director of nursing, or go straight to the ombudsman and discuss your concerns. It’s also your right to move your mother, however, please consider since it’s true that mom needs NH level care, if that is truly sustainable in a home setting, or if a better NH is the answer

LoopyLoo Apr 24, 2024
Transferring to another NH may be a possibility. But do not take her home.

NurseJoy94 Apr 28, 2024
If you are her Activated POA, I believe you can go in and get her whenever you want. They will say she's leaving AMA (Against Medical Advice), but that's your right. I had a patient just last week whose son did just that. He said they weren't happy, but that's ok. You need to advocate and protect her. I am a Nurse of 30 yrs and have absolutely had it with medications and lack of patient education and follow up! I am offering my advice and time to you if you'd like me to review and give advice on the med regimen.

Blessings. Diana

KNance72 Apr 24, 2024
You can remove her just say " I am taking her home and Please do the paperwork for discharge . " Takes a Hour and a half .

AdVinn Apr 28, 2024
That's only theTip of the iceberg. Sounds like she's got good feeling about the Blood Pressure. There's generally no human care unless you have a special person come in, but they don't stay very long. They've drive the good responsive employees away. I've been here a year and a 1/2 and I know. the human care. They don't give her. It's crimes against humanity. Take her home and do whatever you can maybe get a group home going. But these places that are only profit. There for-profit, not patients, and have state investigate the income, the revenue and if the state audits them actually forget about that, get her home. Get the neighborhood to help her put in time with you.I'm in one now and i'm suffering , but i'm not gonna put the load on my family. We've had a good life. It's, sinful to let us live like this. The last few years of our Lives. It's the personification of satan. Most who draw a paycheck are low life bottom feeders whatever their race. Years ago, they used to keep us at home till we died. Listen to the staff. They're laughing and partying because they have to stay detached. Or their'll be affected mentally. They could become an angel of mercy. Look that 1 up.
southiebella Apr 28, 2024
Bless you. I'm so sad to read that you're suffering.
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