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Melodicmom Asked August 2021

While living in a Board and Care my mom became septic from a UTI. Are they to blame? She was near death when she was brought to the ER.

She is still in the hospital, 5 days now. I am so angry. I just got a call from the hospital they want to discharge her with an order for 5 additional days of IV fusion antibiotic twice a day. The board and care cannot accomodate her as they are not allowed to handle IV medication. The home health won't come twice a day so the doctor changed the order for once a day but the nurse has to stay for the full infusion. This is the same home health nurse that told me my mom didn't have a UTI when I asked her because she had a fever and called me to tell me. I can't bring her home for various reasons and there was talk about her going to a nursing home for 5 days. Is this the norm? My mom said she was tired and was done with treatment and wanted to end it and go on hospice. She is failure to thrive, not eating and living with daily pain. I am my wits end I havn't spoken to any doctors since last Tuesday. Please advise.

Isthisrealyreal Aug 2021
No matter what happened, once you feel this way it is better to move.

I would definitely file a complaint against the nurse that said no without actually ruling it out. She should not be allowed to treat vulnerable people. I would file complaints against her business as well and probably the facility since they have so much to do with who is coming in to treat their residents.

I have to say that I wouldn't make any decisions about hospice until mom is feeling better from the sepsis. She is not in her right mind and does probably feel like dying would be the easiest route right now. My mom went through something similar and once she felt better she didn't want to die.
Momheal1 Aug 2021
100% agree before I understood what a UTI can do I also thought mom had a severe decline and could be time to speak with hospice as did she. Once she was treated she did a 180. Give her even a few weeks after her infection is cleared (as it can take longer then one dose - make sure they retest her 7/10 days after her last dose) to regain her full strength. 🙏🏼
earlybird Aug 2021
I would insist on rehab. My mother has been suffering with UTI"s for years since her five children, As she got older she started getting them more frequently. A few times I thought she was going to die but never got septic. Now she still gets them but a little less frequent and with very careful monitoring and antibiotic therapy she is doing well. So sorry it is heartbreaking I know. The nurse should have reported it to the doctor and he/she should have ordered a urine specimen. Done early might have prevented sepsis. I would concentrate on your mother right now and see if things turn around. Maybe with antibiotics as origionally ordered she has a good chance and once she feels better she should start eating again. After the antibiotics and she improves I would call the director and report this negligence of the nurse. I would refuse to have this nurse care for your dear mother and if not happy with the place find another, Please update when you get a chance.
Isthisrealyreal Aug 2021
A good facility will do a urine sample as a 1st line of action whenever there are any changes in behavior or well being.

Even the chithole my dad was in was always ruling them out before they called the NP in.

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Sendhelp Aug 2021
Get that better care out of your "area", which is not known for the best 'board & care', or nursing homes. Nice place to live, but not the best in facilities. Even if you need to travel further, say, over one hour, try to get her in a better recommended facility if they cannot keep her in the hospital.

I cannot recommend a good place, but looking at Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena may help.

Let the hospital know, firmly, that it would be an unsafe discharge.

Start looking for better placement, where Mom's basic needs will be met.

MJ1929 Aug 2021
She should go to a rehab place for the five days and get the antibiotics. My mother did that, and it was fine.

Without having done any testing, I don't know how the nurse could rule out a UTI. It seems negligent to me, but don't waste your energy on being angry at this point. Focus your energy on getting Mom into a better living situation if you don't trust the place where she was living.

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