Asked a question 1/1/2010 at 10:27 pm
Our aunt lived on her own until she slipped and bumped her pelvis, no crack even showed on the x-ray, just a raised spot. She then needed to have some one with her when she went home. I was in Yuma, A
...Read MoreOur aunt lived on her own until she slipped and bumped her pelvis, no crack even showed on the x-ray, just a raised spot. She then needed to have some one with her when she went home. I was in Yuma, AZ. for the birth of our first grand child and would have come immedietly but she decided to go to a nursing home and get therapy and begin healing. Then we would work through what needed to be done when I got back.
When I got there she had been in 3 weeks and they neglected to turn her, or get her up enough, or encourage her to eat. She was in such pain, all her visitors (friends, nieces and my husband, her nephew) thought it was her pelvis. I looked, it was a severe bed sore the size of a mango, and deep.
After i saw it 2 days later and it had grown we got her into the emergency room, a surgeon debreeded it and then admitted her for 2 units of blood for iron. After a second debreeding and 3 nights in the hospital she was off pain meds and the wound was so much better. I felt confident I could care for her at home with visiting nurses. They are wonderful, kind and knowledgable. The wound is half its size and mostly filled in a month later. We have turned this nursing home into ombudsman and trying to decide what our next move will be. I don't feel she should pay for her stay there (she paid cash up front) so will be writing a letter (quoting the director of nursing, "I didn't know it was that bad. If it was my mother i would be very angry. I'm sorry.") , asking for her reimbursement. Has anyone had such an experience with a nursing home? What was the result? My desire is to see all nursing homes be safe and properly functioning for our loved ones.