Commented on a discussion 6/27/2010 at 6:14 pm
Ladies, I am so sorry that you and your loved ones have gone through this. I might be able to help give a little information. First, you need to distinguish between nursing home level of care and assi
...Read MoreLadies, I am so sorry that you and your loved ones have gone through this. I might be able to help give a little information. First, you need to distinguish between nursing home level of care and assisted living level of care. They are two very different things. Nursing home level of care is a much higher level of care than assisted. Nursing homes should be bathing regularly ( the minimum is usually 2x wk), oral care every 8 hrs, assisting with toileting and personal hygeine, changing briefs as needed, turning pts to prevent bedsores,transferring, assisting with feeding and giving medication ( I think I've got everything). Assisted living, the person usually is independent in most of the areas but needs supervision. They are independent with wanlking/wheeling about, feeding themselvs, etc. The assisted living facility passes medications . If the patient is a Medicaid patient you can contact DMAS in your state. Do not stop complaining! If you do then nothing will get done. My mother also suffered the consequences of poor nursing home care. She was in a nursing home after major abdominal surgery. I live out of state from her and have POA, so I would call every day and speak with the nurses to check status, they'd say she's doing fine. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, when I spoke with Mom, I noticed she was having increased difficulty speaking/breathing and then started telling me that something smells...I spoke to the nurses, again, everything is fine., next thing I know, I'm getting a phone call, she's being transported by ambulance to ER with sepsis, has to undergo major surgery again, (surgoen didn't think she'd make it), ICU,bla bla bla....It's terrible to say but family members need to understand that placement in an institution means a committment to providing an ever watchful eye. Ask to speak with other residents families, talk to the other residents and ask them what they do and don't like about the facility.