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janette Asked January 2010

Has anyone had a bad experience with a nursing home?

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, 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.

EXPERT Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF Jan 2010
Seeking out your ombudsman was the right thing to do. I'm glad you are pursuing this for the sake of others. There are many fine nursing homes, but there are still too many that are horrible.

The attorney and the ombudsman seem to be your only option. I hope you can accomplish something with this.
Carol

LynnPO Jan 2010
Call the agency in your state responsible for over sight of skilled nursing care. This is neglect and her life was in danger. Had it become septic she could have died. An Ombudsman - means nothing, don't mess around, turn them in NOW. Others are in danger!

She should absolutely get her money back and the nursing home should pay for her care at the ER and hospital stay. If they'd done their job, it would not be necessary.

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linda09 Jan 2010
i agree ! when dad was in rehab i made sure his teeth was clean and his bottoms were taken care of . i saw a rash once i growled about it . they didnt mess with me cuz they know im his daughter and his caregiver and i will be there everyday and they have no idea whattime i come too . after 2 weeks i finaly brought him home , dad sure was glad to be home .
but you were out of town and they took advantage of it thinkin she had nobody , just make sure she doesnt ever go back there . i know my dad will not ever go back to that rehab ...

SecretSister Jan 2010
What does her attorney say?

janette Jan 2010
Thank you all for your responses. Sorry I haven't checked until now. Our aunt Jean passed away Jan. 5th. We feel robbed of more time with her even though she was almost 94 (Jan. 13), she was alert, sharp and a lot of fun. We do feel that this neglect shortened her life. She lived with us a little over a month. She lived alone until then. We now have a lawyer.

But I still want to personally make positive changes in the nursing homes. I can't at this one if i am suing them. That is my dilema. I am not working, but need to be. If I could volunteer to go into the homes and ... there is where I am stuck, but researching begins! I will be contacting Ombudsman, the state agencies, everyone until I know what to do. I can't do nothing and I am ready and willing. Any advice and contacts are so appreciated!

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