My Mom's assisted living facility has already given us the run-around, saying that they gave my mother a sponge-bath (it didn't happen) because they said she didn't want a shower because she was already dressed. They also said that the reason that my mother had to wait for over an hour one day to have someone respond to the call button is because she calls too much. (The reasons they gave me were weak.) (And by the way, my mother is not allowed to try to navigate on her own. She needs help.) Now, last night, I arrived at the facility at 6:10. After half an hour we decided to begin her exercise routine (walking in the hall). When she stood up at her walker, I noticed that her wrist call button was blinking. She said that she had pushed it before I arrived because she needed someone to help her to the bathroom. I helped her to the bathroom and then we sat and waited for the aide to arrive. We thought it would be rude to leave when my mother had called for help, because the aide would expect her to be in her room and we didn't want her to have to track us down. At 7:20 the aide showed up and asked what my mother wanted. She claimed that she had just gotten the message on her "pager." She said sometimes it "spins" because the message takes a long time to go through, like on the computer when it takes awhile for something to load. She tried to show me that it showed my mother as being "inactive" on her pager, but of course, I couldn't see the display well, plus the clock was not set on her pager, so it didn't give correct times. I like this aide, so I wanted to believe her, but also didn't know if she was just trying to cover for herself. If, in fact, it can take one hour and ten minutes to respond to a call for help, that is very concerning to me, especially with what has already happened in the last two weeks.
But this his concerns me “They also said that the reason that my mother had to wait for over an hour one day to have someone respond to the call button is because she calls too much.” WTH? Did you ask them to clarify what she’s needing during these multiple calls. Are they really needs like potty, or are they easier things like providing tissues or water that could be addressed in a different way?
It was frustrating because my mother was considered "level 4" on the care scale and was charged the highest rates, but the facility did not seem at all prepared to deal with the needs of a level 4 resident.
I would be very concerned about the comment that your mother had to wait over an hour because she calls too much. She is, no doubt, paying for a certain level of assistance and if she's calling for things they don't normally include in her level of care, they need to address that with you and with her. If they simply ignore her calls or let her wait because they view her as a nuisance, they are opening themselves up to a big lawsuit if she ever has a fall and they let her lay on the floor for an hour because she calls too much.. Please be sure to let the administrator know that this comment was made and that you are concerned about the call response time.
Have you considered looking for another facility? It may be that the facility that your mother is living at is not prepared to offer the level of assistance that she needs. (Which sounds pretty basic.)
It's time to call the local Ombudsman Supervisor and file a formal complaint about these issues. Call lights should be answered within 10-20 minutes, and 20 minutes is pushing the limit. Not answering the call light because mom pushes the button too often is considered neglect. Encouraging a resident NOT to drink makes for a lazy CNA. Who's to say how long it should be between bathroom visits? Try and document these issues.
You can find the Ombudsman's contact information for your mom's assisted living facility posted where the residents and their families can find it ... at least that is the law. If not, it's another issue, but you can call the Area Agency on Aging in the area and ask for the Ombudsman. Good luck.
Good luck.
These problems need fixing, but perhaps there are lawyers out there who would take action ASAP, as lives are at stake. I hope so and so should we all.
she said “it’s so sad” but there aren’t enough staff to toilet all the residents, and they’d rather change diapers on “their” schedule.
😢
this HAS to change!
On the other hand, my daughter is a nurse who worked for almost 2 years in a rehab dept. at a local hospital. I could see the fatigue in her eyes and the stress from the pressure at work, dealing with just these kinds of things. And I don't think the answer to this problem is simply "pay higher wages," although, at the aides' level especially, I'm sure that's part of it. But as a nurse, my daughter was doing okay financially. Even so, she ended up leaving and changing fields because of burnout.
It seems to me that, with such a large population of disabled, aged and aging right now, investigations need to be taken by a lot of different organizations, e.g., AARP, ACLU, The National Association of Nurses, various geriatric associations and, ultimately the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Health. Have I missed anyone? To ascertain what the specific problems are, both for the residents and their families, and for the facilities and staff. Ultimately, we need legislation and, I'd bet my bottom dollar, we need funding at the federal level. This would all take time, of course. But if we increased the numbers of members of whatever organizations for the elderly/disabled we choose, I can't see why we wouldn't have enough power to push things forward faster. Yes?
I too have worked as an NA. I have friends in the field. In Peoria I found that in many locations, over half, a Sr staff or CNA who has been there a while, will refer friends and relatives for any openings. These positions are often hard to fill. So NH ends up staffed by people who will protect each other over the patients. NH doesn't rock the boat for fear large portion of staff will leave at once, and may then report the neglect they were part of to the state. So Lok out for too much nepotism or cronyism among the staff as a huge Red Flag!
These things happen to me. Staff RN said I was faking convulsions. Said if I passed out in on toilet, how could I have known the time... because they would frequently take 40 minutes to get back to me!
I wished I had an advocate to take the above actions for me!
If allowed, put in Nanny Cams...check state law. Don't tell them.
I nearly died because missed medication doses threw off labs. Doctor thought increase in previous test was an anomaly, didn't know T had missed 2 doses in 72 hours before the test. By next time they ran the test I was Toxic...every symptom but coma & death. Has those symptoms for months, but once labled as faking, Somataform, obsessed with your health... it's a real battle. This place was highly rated. Some great staff, but some lazy & vendictive. My observation is most are understaffed, especially at mealtime.
Patients awoken at 5am for bath and dressing, to be lined up in wheelchairs for hours to make it easier for LPN to hand out meds.
I was told they could not give me RXs as prescribed because, " they can't be making trips every hour to give me meds!". An exaggeration. Finally a night nurse asked if she could give me anti-malware med before she went off duty. That way it was in my system when I took combination that required 3 RXs to keep it down. There is a reason doctors write orders with time frames!!! It is their duty to follow those orders!
I have run into this problem with medication when hospitalized. Took days to get me all my Meds at proper times!
The medication they skipped, was saving my kidneys. They doctored their records. You have the legal right ( as MPOA or Patient) to know the name of every RN, Dr., and Tech on every shift.
If they know you are watching, they will try to claim you are cured, to get you out, OR up their game for fear of a lawsuit or losing their license.
One day an aide was sent home because they didnt need her, heaven forbid there be an extra person to help out. Something needs to change the way we treat our elderly, we might start not having so many homes that are for profit. The three months my Mom was in a nursing home was an eye opener.
. It will be different from this site as it is focused more on advocating and making change. Hope to have your support. This site great for many different topics!
CBP711:
I agree 100 percent. My grandfather suffered terribly in these types of facilities. I finally took him home.
Yes it was terribly inconvenient, but I could no longer allow him to be treated that way.
Yes, many of these workers are underpaid, but it is not an excuse for neglect. If they do not want the job, do not take it.
It should be a calling like a pastor or a priest who earns very little money, too.