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Discussion

Looking for help/advice concerning my pt. Long...

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to the med scene right now. I'll start Nursing school for my ADN in the Fall. I'm currently finishing up a CNA course, and I just started work as a nurse aide. However, I'm working privately for a sort of friend of the family type person. He's a C4-C5 quadraplegic with enough limited use of his arms to control a mechanical chair. At any rate, I get him up/dressed/fed/off to work in the morning and do the reverse at night. He's been receiving very poor care from his live-in help. This person has been with him 12 years and is now enormously obese and has a back injury that causes them to "omit" certain parts of his hygienic care. And to clarify, this person is not, and never was, a health care worker. A few examples of the poor care would be: bathed only once per week, buttocks wiped with dry, raspy, paper towels (no wet wipes or anything, just lets dry feces stick around till bath day), and spills urine from condom cath onto bed and doesn't ever change the sheets. I could go on and on about the nasty house, not washing his clothes, etc. but I'll keep it as short as possible. What I'm looking for is anyone who knows of any agencies/charities or anything that could be contacted for help with this. He doesn't expect me to bathe him or anything else. Just the above-mentioned things. It's so sad, and I cry every time I leave his house. I just wanted to see if there was anything out there for someone in his condition that is either free or very cheap. He has health insurance through his job, but his accident happened almost thirty years ago when he was very young and might be considered pre-existing or whatever, so I guess it doesn't cover him for this type of service. I don't want to pry, so I'm just covertly seeking help. He has mentioned in the past that he tries all the time to get better care, but just doesn't succeed. He doesn't have much money to offer for extra care personnel. I'm working almost for experience alone. But I have to quit this Fall when I'm in school, and I'm so torn about leaving him with just his live-in help again. I'm hoping that maybe some people on the other side of the medical fence will have seen or heard something that can help him. We're in South Mississippi. At any rate, please offer any advice or knowledge you might have. I will very grateful.

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    How often do you go and do you do a bath? how do you transfer? hoyer?

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    • Author

    I am over at his house five days a week, twice a day (morning/evening) for about 30-45 minutes at a time. He doesn't want me to do a bath for him right now. It's not that I don't want to, but he says that it's not in my job description right now. Believe me, I've offered. I can tell he says this just because he feels bad at how little he's able to pay me. Anyone else wouldn't work for as little as I do right now, and he feels he may be taking advantage of me financially. I don't feel that way, but he does, and I have to respect his opinion. Every now and again his brother will come over to bathe him, but he lives so far away it's not feasible for a daily thing.

    Yes, I have a lift for transfer, but it's built into his bedroom wall, so it can't be moved. It's not really meant to be a pt lift, it's an engine block hoist, but it works just fine with the "vest/sling" that was made for him.

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    At the very least this is adult abuse/neglect and the caregiver could be reported for such. I would start with adult protective services. Good luck. This man is lucky to have a friend like you.

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    • Author

    Ah, yes, I have thought about that often. But, if I turn her in, who will be there for him? I can't be there all time, and I will be in school in the Fall. I want like nothing else to get rid of her, but I have no alternative for his care. She lives with him, so she drives him to work, and she's there during the night if something happens. His family is very distant, so we can't count on them.

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    I just wanted to say that you're so nice and kind for doing this, you'll be a great and caring nurse.

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    Thank you so much. I do hope so.

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    If you call APS, they can help with getting him the care he needs. They aren't going to go after the caregiver and leave him high and dry. They can get him in touch with programs that can help. If I were you, I would make the call.

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    • Author

    That sounds good. I'll call Tuesday since Monday is a holiday. I just didn't want him to be left with nothing. I'll call and see what they can do. Hopefully, this can happen with as little bloodshed as possible. Keep the ideas coming! Thanks!

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    Good luck, keep us posted.

    As for people to help: another option might be to advertise at the local college or CAN school for help from people willing to take turns going in to help him? Just a thought.

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    • Author

    Definitely! He wants me to post job flyers for him when I go to nursing school this Fall. We have a couple of job bulletin boards in the nursing building, so maybe he'll get some results.

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    If his current caregiver works through an agency, couldn't you contact the agency with your concerns? And if not, I would definitely get his family involved. If he were my family member, I would sure want to know what was going on. It's a tough situation, I'm sorry you are having to deal with such a mess.

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    • Author

    She doesn't work for any agency or company or anything. She's just a regular person from off of the street who he recruited 12 years ago to live with him and provide care. She has no other job. The family knows about all of this stuff. They visit every now and then. There is no mistaking the poor care. His house smells like old urine and sometimes feces, and its got roaches, trash, and all manner of filth in most of the rooms. He smells most of the time, too. They know, there's no doubt, but I don't think they want to stick their fingers in the mess. In case I need to clarify, they are not supportive. He's their relative, but they apparently don't put too much stock in that stuff. Sorry if I rant, I'm just so upset over this.

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