Going into a care meeting on Thursday. How do I get the nursing home to take this seriously?

Wouldn't life be simpler if we could all have online access to our own medical records? And really why can't we, it would allow us to be fully aware of any test results or in your case allow you to monitor any changes in real time. Pie in the shy or the shape of things to come??

I'm sorry you are even having to consider moving your mother. When something like this happens it makes you wonder what else has happened that you weren't told about? Can you request copies of her pharmacy records or is that allowed? I wonder what were the factors that made them decide she needed less medication and how were they deciding it was working and whose comments led them to believe she was over medicated? I hope the meeting clarifies just what happened and why. Whether they were required to discuss the changes with you or not surely best practices would suggest that you be kept informed.

cwillie, I just got to see my own lab reports online, a week before I am scheduled to discuss them with my doctor. In the bad old days the first I would have known them would have been that appointment. Now I know which results to focus on and we don't have to discuss any in the normal range. I can also access a complete list of prescriptions that are active and any OTC supplements and medicines that I have added to my record. All appointments past and future are listed. If I needed help managing my health I could simply give my helper access to my account.

So I don't think what you suggest is pie in the sky. There are obvious confidentiality issues and privacy concerns, etc. but these are not insurmountable.

For BarbB's situation, an outside provider might be required to sign into the NH resident's online chart and add an update at each visit. Not impossible at all. But, as far as BarbB's family is concerned today, it is pie-in-the-sky.

My mother's NH was very good about communicating changes and concerns. Mom had no designated POAs and 7 children. The four of us girls took most interest in her day-to-day care. The NH wanted one person to communicate with, but we gave them a prioritized list. If Rita isn't available, call Jeanne, etc. And whoever got the message communicated it to the others (and to the brothers if it were major). This worked very well for us, but it did rely on the NH's willingness to cooperate, and it probably helped that not many outside providers were involved.

Barb, I have nothing to suggest, except keep your fingers crossed for the other facility. But I'm looking forward to hearing how the conference goes.

I think most facilities are like this. My Mom has been in a facility for a month and I have not heard from the doctor about a med that a specialist said she no longer need. Had this problem with the AL not being told they thought she had a UTI they were testing her for. I have her medical POA and feel I should be in the loop when changes are being made and why. They call in the middle of the night to tell u they fell out of bed but they don't keep u informed about meds.

Dear All; Wish me luck. I've had this conversation with the nice folks at this facility several times.

Of course, we would really rather NOT move mom; she is getting good care here, overall. But their lack of communication is so unacceptable.

I have asked the SW if we are being "difficult". she says we are not, and that what we are asking is within what should be able to be accommodated.

I'll let you know!

Good luck! I hope you all can come up with a solution so your mom can stay there. Unfortunately there are probably many residents whose families are not that involved and that's why this NH fell into this practice. Sad but true.

How did it go Ms Barb?

Meeting went as well as can be expected. There is mostly new management, new DON, new administrator, new head of the unit.

They all admit that this was an error, that her meds were changed without notification, and that the APRN who changed them is no longer with the Behavioral Health service that comes into the facility. The psychiatrist who is with the Service will be the one in charge of changing her meds.

Dental issue still in play.

SIL asked if facility can notify one of us if mom stays in bed for two days in a row. They are going to try to do that.

We'll see.