The Family from Hell

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Thanks, but now I am removing identifying info.

:)

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Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Holy Crap! I don't think there's a way out of this, other than restricting daughter's time in room, and designating one person only to discuss all matters with. Good luck.

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at times it's best to refer them to the state regulatory agency and/or ombudsman. let those people deal with the crazy. it helps to bog down the bureaucracy (they're busy chasing a bogus complaint) and the bureaucracy usually gets the best of the crazy (fustrates the hell out of them).

you're only encouraging the crazy by jumping when the crazy says jump.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

what a bunch of looney toons.. i wouldn't even know where to start.. maybe you can encourge moving the poor lady to a different home if they don't like the care there...

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I just don't know what to do.

I field (or the DON, or someone) at least one of these calls every week. Today, though, was special.

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Specializes in Home health.

I would approach your social worker and request a family meeting with everyone present so, you can clear the air and work on resolving the issues. It's important to show that the health care team is being proactive on behalf of the patient by requesting such a meeting.

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I would approach your social worker and request a family meeting with everyone present so, you can clear the air and work on resolving the issues. It's important to show that the health care team is being proactive on behalf of the patient by requesting such a meeting.

I'll mention that to my DON.

Thanks.

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

Does your facility have a social worker? If so, he/she should definitely become involved. What is the DON doing to solve this issue?? You have enough to do...

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Does your facility have a social worker? If so, he/she should definitely become involved. What is the DON doing to solve this issue?? You have enough to do...

Suzie, we have two social workers. This is a rural area and everyone knows everyone else. The DON has spoken to them numerous times. So has the admin. So has SS. So have I.

I fear that it may simply be unresolvable. They seem really unable to accept that their mother is not in their care nor under their control.

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Specializes in Home health.
I'll mention that to my DON.

Thanks.

You're welcome, that way you don't have all of the responsibility on your shoulders.

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

My heart goes out to you, they are probably channeling their guilt of putting mom in a home by this behavior...If you can get a Social Worker as others have recommended, I'd talk to them about counseling the children and define their expectations...It borders on harrasment, they are impeding the ability of the staff to do their job.

I wish you luck and let us know what happens with the Family from Hell.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I suspect that the family members of this elderly lady have a great deal of misplaced anger over the circumstances that have landed her into a nursing facility. They possibly feel a lack of control. They probably have unrealistic expectations on the natural processes involved in death and dying. Their mother is at an age where she will not live forever. People fail to realize that human life is temporal.

Their anger is misplaced and being projected onto the nursing home staff. Keep in mind that the facility is not the real problem.

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