The ASL (memory care) admitted my mother to the hospital claiming a fall. Upon seeing him, the hospital found no fall damage, but could not understand why he was on drugs throughout the day (seraquil) that kept her asleep without being alert to eat or drink anything. The ASL was also giving her a different med to help her REMAIN asleep at night. Hospital diagnosed her as unresponsive and severely dehydrated. She had also lost considerable weight in a month’s time. The hospital is keeping her until she becomes hydrated. They’re weaning her off the dosages during the day. She’s groggy but will not eat and drink when offered to her. Two weeks into her hospital stay, the ASL has informed the hospital they will not take her back. Can they do that without discussing my mother’s situation with us? I feel they don’t want to deal with her, but they know they are guilty having her heavily drugged to almost death.
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Were they administering these medications?
Were they ordered medications?
How are you so certain what medications were given and when were they given?
Have you seen and examined the records of what was giver versus what was ordered to be given.
ALF is not like a nursing home. The residents are expected to have some autonomy, and they are given care only in so far as it is deemed necessary by medical checkins. For instance the levels of care rise from level I to level IV or V in most instances, which each levels care components carefully described.
First of all, any investigation would likely be at your expense.
There is no injury here so there is no suit.
As to why you mother is being asked to leave that is for you to ask the Administration.
In your note to us you have left us no indication that you have spoken to administration, nor any indication of what they said.
They will have an admission packet signed by your Mom or by the POA describing under what conditions they may ask a senior to leave. One of the indications may be that they require a higher level of care than can be provided with ALF. They may, for instance require memory care of nursing home.
ALF are not overseen in the way NHs are, by state laws and rules. For the most part they are private businesses that provide housing and some level of care as described in their packets.
They would give medications as directed by an MD if they are giving the medications, but they have no control over what a senior may get or take on their own without their knowledge and are not responsible.
I encourage you to discuss this with the administration.
There is no permanent injury here and your loved one was transported to hospital as the ALF should have done.
The answer to whether an ALF can ask a senior to leave is "yes".
I wish you the best of luck. Talk to someone IN CHARGE, knowing we are just a bunch of strangers from around the world who haven't a guess as to what may or may not have happened here.
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the doctor has to have ordered the medications, the dose and the frequency that the medication is to be given.
How long has mom been in the Memory Care facility?
When you have visited have you noticed unresponsiveness, weight loss?
Have they given YOU a reason that they are not taking mom back?
If you feel that they have "heavily drugged her almost death" why would you want her back at the same facility?
If mom is no longer able to be easily transferred to bed or to a chair the facility might no t be able to take her back if she needs equipment or a 2 person transfer to be safely transferred. Facilities can not use equipment unless it is a Skilled Nursing facility. And at this time most AL and MC do not have the staff to do 2 person transfers.
Oh, to answer your actual question. You can contact the Ombudsman's Office and file a report. You can report on Medicare's website. And if you wish you can contact an attorney.