Do the families of AL/MC facilities require/deserve a notification when there is wide-spread illness in the facility (stomach virus vomiting diarrhea) - Or when the DON has given notice on a Sunday of ‘immediate’ resignation - Or when the ancillary medical staff/NP’s no longer refill scripts. We are talking about *Dallas* 7k p/month. Literally NO communication about anything. The facility is IL - AL - MC. The ‘executive director’ for the facility does not return emails that contain questions about illness, supervision, communication, etc. We have had 3 DON in 2 years 3 months. The first one was a gem- she resigned bc her hubby was going to divorce her if she didn’t resign - she was available 24/7. The next inept. The next was motivated/good intentions, but it became overwhelming for her and her family. Not certain what to do. Looked at the current website and it lists a walk in medical clinic that I know does not exist *at least in AL* staffed by a NP who reports to a ‘DO of Adult coronary disease and Pediatric Coronary Disease’. In 2 years we have been through 3 different “MDs” who have NPs do all of their ‘visits’. As a family member who is the DPOA - MPOA - Guardian the situation is untenable. My father - 90 - was ill with the ‘stomach flu’ for 4 days, never leaving his room, refusing food. And yet no one called to inform us. We usually visit twice a week - saw him on a Friday, came back on a Wednesday and it was his first day ‘OUT’ of quarantine. Again, no notification. This is a place that puts the ‘bills’ on the clip by the door at beginning of the month. TBH most of the residents, as lovely as they are in conversation next to the fireplace, have any idea of bills, rent, etc. As the person responsible for all medical and financial decisions I sent email to the executive director of the facility asking for them not to do that. Seeing a ‘bill’ for 7,000 a month is not a good thing for a lot of AL residents. Anyway, forgive me - venting. Very upset that the executive director of all facilities - IL - AL - MC, treats everyone like they are a 20 year old who is ‘renting’ their first apartment - in control of all of their normal faculties. The last time my father wrote a check, it was to a local pizza joint for $1,000. ‘Nuf said’………………..
inspection ratings can be goosed. It’s like having a straw man do glowing 5 star ratings on Yelp on an actually awful restaurant. Ignore. You want to do your own boots on ground inspection & sniff test AND do a visitor lunch at the place as well.
Personally I’d stop trying to work something out. It’s not gonna stick as whomever you speak with will be gone or has very limited actual authority as it’s all corporate HQ decision making. Here’s my suggestion, move him into a NH. The NH is one either in adjacent county (maybe Collin if that co hasnt been totally built out by subdivisions?) or a much older NH in actual Dallas that is owned by religious. Forgetabtit on his being in MC. You do the move to a NH so that this will be his last move; he’s not going to get any younger or better. NH will take a private pay resident who is not fully ready for skilled nursing care. In my experience a Nh will be overjoyed to have this type of resident as they are still cognitive and active enough to do things, participate in activities, be social, get up get dressed and get down to dining room on their own AND full tilt private pay. And when the day comes that they do require skilled care, they are a known quantity for the staff so doing their care plan is easy peasy.
So as dad has been private pay for Watermark, he has $. Does he have entirely on his own enough $ to private pay for 5 years? If not look for a NH is one that also takes LTC Medicaid. Now Dad goes in private pay and stays private pay till his $ runs out…. whether it’s 6 mos from now or 6 years. If ya know he’s good for 3 years, tell admissions that.
if you feel overwhelmed in trying to find a place or what options exist, as your in Dallas, I’d suggest you contact Jewish Family Services in Dallas. They have a very deep Senior / Geriatric professionally staffed community outreach program. I grew up down i35 from you & we have JFS and it’s just an amazing resource. You do not have to be Jewish either.
IMPT!: final note, I would highly advise you to save or print out everyone’s answers to you if they have been helpful AND delete your account. You are giving way waaaaaay too much info and you are identifiable for Watermark if they have a social media crawler set up for mentions. You can do a fresh account and make it more anonymous.
will work on printing What i need and give a better look at new account. Thanks again..
My Mom kept her own Doctor. The RN worked with him concerning refills.
Most of your questions can probably be answered by the Adminstrator. I would not want bills left on the door. My reason would be because of Dementia. Moms bill cane in the mail.
I am not myself going to self report to admins for consideration, as I bother them too much already. But if anyone agrees, report me!
I am afraid that it will be getting worse. It is falling into the crack of "not-everything-can-be-fixed".
Staff is already underpaid, and as you mention in the case of your second DON, overwhelmed. And now corporations and Hedge funds, only recently (decade or so) interested in purchasing and managing these UNMANAGEALBLE facilities are NO LONGER interested in buying them (according to two articles in different business insider mags.
I was appalled when they STARTED buying them, fearing they were only in it for the money.
Now I am worried they are pulling out of it.
I have read recently that, gambling/guessing game that it all is, the "big boys in money" feel that there won't BE money OR workers in the future for our elders. And in this country it is, of course, all about the money.
Sit tight. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. I wish I could give you hope. I cannot.
The whole capitation system is perfect for making profit by doing only the minimal with over enrollment
By chance is your Father's facility for-profit? Is it a county Medicaid facility? The staff turnover is the barometer of what's going on behind the scenes. Find another place today.
Yes, for profit - Watermark.
I have looked at their inspection ratings and always 100.