My mother lives in a free standing locked dementia unit. Essentially like an ALF, but residents are able to continue living there even after they become more total care.
Over the past yr as my mom has progressed into the end stages of her disease, she has required more assistance as expected. However, we have had to complain more & more for basic care to be done. Ex: bringing her to the dining room with feces on her hands/fingers, feces on the toilet seat/commode handles/shower seat, not putting lotion on her following her bath, etc. (things I know the average LTC would be sure to take care of & anyone with common sense would do).
Things in general have improved regarding her hygiene needs. However, we discovered a few weeks ago that at night, they do not put pajama bottoms on her, just a diaper. My sister questioned the manager who indicated that she should not have been left that way, but kind of blew it off as a fluke occurrence.
Turns out, when my sister stopped by yesterday evening at 6:30, mom was ready for bed, again with no pants. She was told by the aide that it makes it easier for 3rd shift & that's how they do it with everyone. It should be noted that mom has lost 35 or so lbs the past yr & might be about 115 soaking wet. She's always cold & they left her with no pants or socks, just a light blanket over her legs (she sleeps in a recliner).
Are we over-reacting? I know when I did an evening CNA clinical, the immobile pts often were left open to air & then changed thru the night as needed; we do the same on the floor. But mom is still ambulatory (at this point); they are changing her brief/diaper while she is in the recliner. (It didn't help that 2 male residents wandered in & out while mom was only partially dressed.)
We hate to feel like we're complaining about something almost every month, but this costs mom over $1000 per week. She deserves to be clean & dressed.
My sister is thinking of going above the facility's manager, complaining to the regional director. Thoughts?
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Very true.I think for many families the path of least resistance is the most comfortable.When they are no longer responsible for their loved ones day to day care they lapse into denial and go on about their busy lives unit they are forced to confront the reality of their loved ones decline.It takes something like realizing your mother is down to 62 lbs because the staff don't feed her or she has numerous fractures .Or you visit and her sofa is soaked with urine.They move into LTC pretty quickly after that.I have seen some horror stories come from local AL's
No, we are not taking a "wait & see" attitude. Like I said, the hygiene issue has improved with our complaints; rarely do we see that now. It was more a matter of how rapidly she has progressed & getting the staff to rexognize it; it was not an issue when she moved there just over a yr ago.
The ALF has never mentioned hospice to us; I mentioned that because her particular dx has a life expectancy of about 4 yrs (unlike Alzheimer's pts) which is where we are now (at age 68. My mother's wish was to never be in a LTC which is difficult then for my sister to consider moving her because it feels like a failure to her.
Again, mom is still ambulatory with a walker, so my concern is more for the fact that they are just changing her brief in the chair rather than getting up to the bathroom. In the meantime, we are trying the nightgowns & I have broached the subject of LTC again.
No, we are not taking a "wait & see" attitude. Like I said, the hygiene issue has improved with our complaints; rarely do we see that now. It was more a matter of how rapidly she has progressed & getting the staff to rexognize it; it was not an issue when she moved there just over a yr ago.
The ALF has never mentioned hospice to us; I mentioned that because her particular dx has a life expectancy of about 4 yrs (unlike Alzheimer's pts) which is where we are now (at age 68. My mother's wish was to never be in a LTC which is difficult then for my sister to consider moving her because it feels like a failure to her.
Again, mom is still ambulatory with a walker, so my concern is more for the fact that they are just changing her brief in the chair rather than getting up to the bathroom. In the meantime, we are trying the nightgowns & I have broached the subject of LTC again.
This is perfect and exactly what I would recommend. AL still sounds appropriate right now.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
She likely would not qualify for hospice support at this point however they can help her stay in AL until the end or the funds run out once she meets that criteria.It's a shame she laid such a burden on your sister regarding LTC.I do believe she is more appropriate for that level of support.And deserves to be cared for by specially trained certified nurse's assistants and nurses but it's up to your sister
ktwlpn, LPN
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