My parents are both in a dementia unit. It seems to me that if a patient is in a dementia unit, he should be monitored 24/7 with cameras at the very least. I get calls nearly every day, usually one in the AM and one in the later evening, that he has fallen because he forgets he can't walk and is trying to toilet himself. I am becoming extremely concerned that this is an ongoing issue. They tell me it is typical but then that's the nursing home saying that. Has anyone had this experience? My lawyer said that there are patients who are made "legless" because it is "too much trouble" for the staff to keep an eye on them, and he is suing a facility now for this practice. I certainly don't want that for my father. They no longer have alarms for him in his chair as they say that is "not in the patients' best interests" as it goes off constantly.
Individual lawsuits don't do it; having their license looked at? That hits them where they live.
Her falling once is understandable. Twice raises eyebrows. Three or more?? Negligence. And don't doubt it for a minute. Twice in a day??? Absurd!
If there is no state law against restraint in a wheelchair, demand dad be fastened in a seatbelt. If that nursing home has their OWN rules prohibiting that restraint, personally? I'd move my dad.
Completely and utterly unacceptable. Get the Director of Nursing's email address. Write her an email documenting that you've been told he's fallen several times a day. Demand a seatbelt.save their response.
Another suggestion, if they have a large common room with a very large TV (mom's was like that...it was the dining room/activities room)' insist that dad be pushed well under the table and his wheelchair locked so he can't move it backwards...therefore can't stand. IF , though, this room is isolated with little staff or social contact, this is unacceptable.
Solve it or move him is my advice.
I am not a litigious person. Quite the opposite. THIS circumstance? If my loved one suffered an injury from their NEGLECT? I'd be all over them.
I do feel for you, because I know what it's like to get constant calls that the patient has fallen and is hurt. If the staff does not witness the fall, in our state, they are required to send them to the ER. So, we were in the ER a lot.
Now that my cousin is in Memory Care, I see other residents who have gerichairs. It's larger than a wheelchair and has more support. It also has a tray in front of the patient so he won't fall out. I don't know the details, but you might ask the resident coordinator about them and if your dad qualifies. I think Medicare will pay for it.
Also, ask for a meeting with the director and staff at the Memory Care facility. This is an urgent matter and they need to come up with a plan. Certainly, they have dealt with this same issue before and should have some suggestions. If they say they have no plan, tell them that is not acceptable and that you must meet and develop a plan to deal with it.
What if they place him in a wheelchair in the activity room in the morning and ensure that he is not near a bathroom, so he won't be tempted to get up.
AND insist they provide a schedule of when he is taken to the bathroom. If he is taken there enough, maybe he won't try to get up by himself.
Maybe others here will have more ideas. I wish you luck.