I have a very strange situation. I am trying to help my uncle from long distance as he is being bounced around from nursing homes to hospitals. It seems
with HIPPA no one shares info. Strangely, his maid called and told me a nurse had ripped out one of his tubes and he almost died. When I confronted them they did not deny it but wanted to know who told me so they could fire them.
My uncle was being treated for a broken arm from a fall. He had a somewhat successful operation but there was a mixup on his dialysis routine. I called his dialysis doctor and asked if he could go to the nursing home and get my uncle admitted for emergency dialysis. I was caught off guard by his response, " I do not go to nursing homes!" I got his primary care doc to get him admitted for emergency dialysis but his behavior changed and they tagged him with dementia. He had another complication which I don't understand, he started having trouble swallowing. So they put a feeding tube in his stomach. He then started yelling for water as his mouth was dry. They pointed to the dementia and started drugging him.
When the doctor completed his plan of care he stated my uncle he was going into pallative care and he and the dialysis doctor signed a DNR order. When he was transferred back to the nursing home the social worker called about this DNR order as my uncle had instructed her when he first arrived
that he wanted the opposite of a DNR. When I questioned the doctor he said go ahead and rescind it and I am now his guardian and need to relocate him
since no other specialist in the area will see him as they are in the same dialysis group.
I stated he could not make me guardian and I could not move him. So the alternative was removing me from the contact list and they would be getting a guardian. Adult Protective Services(APS) may be getting involved. I got voicemail that my uncle was on deaths door and when I called they charge nurse said no he is being transferred back to the nursing home. This has happened twice.
Are there non-profits that know how to deal with APS, guardians and healthcare agencies. Lawyer wants to start reporting everyone to some medical board and we just want some one in charge to oversee that my uncle is having some quality of life. Any ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I also agree with others that say hiring a geriatric care manager might be a good option. If you're in a resource rich market, you'll be able to hire one between $75 - $150 an hour (ball park). I know the cost can seem crazy but a GCM will be able to give you honest recommendations. Since your uncle's medical condition is a bit complicated, a registered nurse would be a good choice.
Good luck, you have your hands full!
I don't know if all hospices are as good as the one I worked for, but it might be something to consider. A DNR would indicate that he might meet the hospice admission standards, keeping in mind sometimes people get better when they are not over medicated. Hospices can be VERY knowledgable about the appropriate levels of medication. A they can be a great buffer to protect the patient.
left when "award would be prorated to $-0-.
Look for the Department of Consumer Affairs in his state - re:medical problems.