I moved her in with my family for 2 yrs. & was able to be her caregiver. Dementia set in, on top of all her many health problems, began to fall a lot. She broke her neck from a fall at my house. ER, hospital stay & then rehab. While in the rehabilitation facility, slid out of wheelchair & broke her hip. ER, hospital & surgery, inpatient rehab hospital & then to a nursing home. Covid hit & I couldn't be there to move her in or get her set up. She has been there for 4 months now. Staff doesn't have the eyes of family anymore. I believe they have become even lazier with paying attention to the patients. My mom is totally dependent on the RN's & the CNA's. They stick the call chain where she can't reach it. She has to get her neighbor to get it for her. If she calls they have ignored her or comes in abt 45 mins to an hour later. They don't give her showers only bed baths. She has a Foley that is not flushed regularly, her vagina is always red & painful. Usually has a horrible smell. 4 visits to ER in 4 months, 3 caused by the NH's neglect. Example: they removed her Foley & couldn't get it back in. She didn't urinate for 3 days! She was in severe pain. I had NO idea what was happening until the 3rd night they called me to tell me she was going to ER for stomach issues. I met her at ER. Within 25 mins., they emptied 1324 units off bladder! I can count on one hand how many times I have been notified, updated or informed about anything! I had to request my own care plan meeting! I got her a cellphone so she can call me. She will call me balling! Sometimes 5 to 10 times a day. They don't turn her while in bed, just left to hurt, sit in her bm's or urine, left in a wheelchair in room. She has 2 bedsores. I could go on & on.
She has been in hospital for 6 days for severe compaction constipation, which I was never informed about. Hospital was releasing her today & she immediately started having severe chest & side pains, crying to almost point of vomiting. I know she hates the place because the staff doesn't take care of her correctly! I don't even know if hospital is still going to release her today. They gave her a pain medication & she is resting now. I am about to have a total melt down. I don't know what to do! I have called the DON several times but not much change. I call nursing station to check on her. I am told she is doing well! I just don't know what to do!
Suggestions, advice, ANY HELP would be appreciated.
How are you getting this information? Document this as well.
Call the DON again to discuss your complaints and make her give you a time to return your call in 3 days (just an example) and you expect her to call you back with her assessment and plan. Pin them down for accountability. Make a list for your discussion. Make sure you document who and when you’ve called.
You may need to call daily several times a day. Approach them like polite but persistent nuisance. And Don’t take no for an answer.
At the same time call other SNF in your area for bed availability and transfer her. Your local Dept of Aging is a good start for resources. You have the right to do so. It will be easier for you to get mom into another SNF if you have one all lined up and the new center has verified insurance & medical records. Request a copy of your mother’s medical records from her current facility as well for yourself.
Good luck!
Also if I were you I would report the nursing home that your Mom is in to your states elder protective services. Gather up all the documentation you can, medical records of her hospitalizations and the like and present that as evidence of abuse. Even if you get your Mom out do that for all the other poor souls who can't get out. I wish you luck and hope you can resolve your Moms situation
I just got Mom out of nursing home hell. I will not go into the details, but I am going to make sure to report this facility with all of the problems clearly detailed with dates and as much information and names as I can possibly provide. I have not gone away and they have not heard the last of me! They will not get away with what happened!
It is so important to do so for the other people that are still stuck there!
I have researched about my TX ombudsmen in my area. Looks like a good place to start I guess. I am leary about reaching out to that kind of group. I had a bad experience years ago w a company I worked for. My new boss was bullying me. I reached to the company's ombudsmen & they secretly was on the bosses side, another story for another time. Come Monday a lot of people might come to despise me. This is my mom & she doesn't deserve to live like this!
Thank you all for your advice💞