Found my Dad sleeping on the floor when we came to see him at the extended care home. Is this ok?

I have seen many a senior snoozing in the lounge area, but not on the floor. Does he do this for a bad back?

no bad back. he sleeps alot. I just assume a care worker would guide him to a couch or recliner....they are scattered all over and patients are always sleeping in them.

Maybe the "parking lot" was full and that was the best space he could find. Or maybe he is looking up skirts when they pass by...LOL

You should talk to the administrator and tell them while you appreciate their homier style, sleeping on the floor is unsanitary and unacceptable.

If he wouldn't sleep on the floor at home, he shouldn't sleep on the floor there. Even if it is their policy, put in a request that he stays off the floor. In my book that's not ok.
I've never heard of a place allowing it. I would keep my eyes open for other "policies".

No, not okay for so many reasons!!! I would watch this place very carefully.

Its possible he fell asleep there.. But someone should have awoken him to get on a couch or recliner! Very unsanitary! The staff should know better!! Good luck!

It's absolutely not OK! Not only is it unsanitary but someone else could step on him or stumble over him and your dad would get hurt, as well as the other person. Letting the people sleep where they feel like it does not sound like a safe place to me. I would keep a close watch and also talk to the staff and the administration.
Best of luck to you.

I would ask about that...I don't think it's OK, no!!!

A couple of times since mom's been in Gulf Shore when I/we visit we'll see a resident in a wheelchair at the end of their property - ALONE!!! {SIGH} I don't ask about those residents but...NO it's NOT ok, ESP if your mom found him there AND is upset!!!

These "policies" could be a ploy to divert your attention from the fact that they are understaffed, to save money. At one facility I looked at, the decor was very old and dated. The person giving me the tour explained it by saying that "they let the residents pick it out", implying that elderly residents would select a more dated style.

As lily04 mentioned, look out for other "policies", and their relation to keeping operating expenses low.

I don't like the floor idea, either. If they could provide a mattress then that would be okay. I do like that they'll let people choose if they want to nap, but this is a bit over the top. Talk with the social worker or administrator and discuss solutions.
Take care,
Carol

Someone is not doing their job. Go to the head of the facility where this happened.
This sounds like a place of where, housing elders, is common.

Was the floor a thick carpet area...soft and nice and clean...or a hard cold surface? sometimes a thick full carpet looks inviting..and small children love to lay on the floor and watch Tv..color..and dementia take all folks back in time..He could have gone back to child hood days...when being down on the floor watching Tv...took him to his youth...in his mind....I play with my grand kids...on the floor now and then..if it is carpeted...but it is hard to get back up...LOL..GOOD LUCK...there are so many things that go through the mind...even without dementia...My hubby likes to sleep too..and right now..he is tripping over the WATER USE...and wanting us to save on water..and was dishes in 1/2 inch of water in the sink..LOL...GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

This does not feel or sound right to me. If my mom were found sleeping on the floor, I'd ask why no one guided her to a sofa, chair or her room. Floors are not clean,and I'd have serious doubts about a facility that allows this.

No, its not ok. Its not even excusable no matter the explanation. If I were in your shoes, I would call the County for an inspection of the facility. Its called a tripping hazard for other residents, its filthy because if all the crap tracked in on bottom of shoes, its laziness and disrespect of elderly- and a sign of a bigger problem with management. I see elderly who fall asleep in lounge chairs or couches which is fine- but the floor? Just by the very fact you are asking- you know this is so wrong. Would you allow dad to sleep on the floor at your home? Your answer is in your need to ask- no you wouldn't so look for another facility and call the county and file a complaint to protect other residents.

Sleeping on a hard (cold?) floor could cause bursitis on pressure points not to mention the germs from other people's shoes, or even being stepped on! If you want to get the facility's attention , tell them they are a lawsuit waiting to happen (and you would hate to THAT happen!)!!

Ok, I revise my answer: NO IT'S NOT OK TO HAVE YOUR DAD SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care WHAT kind of carpeting they have!!! UGH!!!

Although people don't normally get sick from lying around on carpeting---and in fact is probably a form of immunization!---I don't think your dad needs that at his age. Carpets are filthy (especially in a public facility---eeeww) and no amount of vacuum cleaning can change that! If he is on vinyl or other hard surface, it could cause problems with his joints or skin abrasion. (Elder skin tends to get very thin and delicate and easily cut or bruised.) Also, as has been pointed out, he is a large obstacle posing a danger to himself and others.

I appreciate that this facility is trying to let their patients get comfortable, but they cannot allow all the behavior that we enjoy in our own homes. Dad might roam around home in his underwear, but obviously that is a no-no in a public facility. Same thing with catnapping anywhere he takes a notion.

ifhe has a bad back. The floor is the best place for him. I have a bad back and sometimes I sleep ona hard surface.

This suggests the place is very understaffed. Contact the licensing authority and the local Area Agency on Aging. The letter needs to be cc'd to the administrator. It is not necessary to lay blame. Your letter puts everyone on notice there is a problem.

It's not ok with me. I think it's up to you to decide if it is ok with you or not. Who makes these decisions? You or the place. If the place thinks it's them then I would seriously move to a new place. You need to be the one in charge - that's my thoughts.

Well, if the PLACE makes those decisions, then I'd start looking for another facility to place my Dad - BUT, @birklake, DID you ask your Dad about this???

I would be upset too, and you have every right to question why he was on the floor. It not only is the most filthy place to be, but for no one to have noticed him there is suspect. Get answers or find another facility.

I have never, ever heard of a NH letting a resident sleep on a floor - and I don't think your state's regulatory agency would approve of it, either. Someone needs to be checking out that place, ASAP.

Say something. Don't let this go. My father was allowed to "go missing" from the NH because he was at a local dialysis center, and his blood pressure dropped, which required hospitalization. Because the dialysis center thought the NH would call us, and the NH thought the dialysis center would call us, the end result was NO ONE called us to tell us my dad was hospitalized. We learned of his hospitalization when we called to check on him and were told he wasn't there, and they didn't know where he was, because he never returned from dialysis the day before. Important information that should have been relayed to the hospital by a family member was not, because we weren't told he was hospitalized. Because of his health issues, he could have died, and we wouldn't have known until the hospital called us to ask us to pick up his body. (In fact, he died 2 months later, so I'm not kidding - that was a very real possibility.) The NH administrator was extremely upset and embarrassed that this had happened, and re-wrote their facility's policies to ensure that THEY always contact the resident's family and don't rely on anyone else to do it, so they know that they aren't the ones dropping the ball.

The State Ombudsman can help also. They are client representatives when things are not ok. They should know their way around the system. Usually listed in the State listing.

If I found my mother sleeping on the floor I would ask immediately for a full explanation. Did you do that? What were you told?

Was Dad in his own room?

I agree 100%. A license residential facility should never allow this to occur to any of their clients. This is totally inappropriate.

shoulda checked his temperature. its always coolest at floor level and for everyones information , if your ever burning up with fever lie on your back on a tile or concrete floor. itll bring it down in minutes.

An "extended care home" is NOT a nursing facility. It is a private home that takes in boarders basically, but there are regulated by rules of the State Board of Care Homes. Report this incident to them. AND there should have been personnel to check his temperature and it is NEVER a good idea to lie on a floor unless you know it is sterile.