LTC-overnight visitors/family members who never leave-

[Blackcat99]

So how do you get them to leave? All they want to do at my LTC is to constantly complain and verbally abuse the nursing staff at night.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Unfortunately, if you do not have posted visiting hours, you are stuck with them unless they become disruptive to another resident.

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

Anyone who is verbally abusive should be booted out no matter what time of day it is.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately, management at many nursing homes/LTC facilities have adopted the mantra that "The family is always right."

Therefore, these annoying family members get to stay 24 hours a day and hover over staff unless they cross the line by putting their hands on you.

Seriously, if these people think the care is unsafe and feel the need to watch the staff like a hawk, they really need to take the resident home and render the care themselves.

[fultzymom]

Our facility allows families to stay as long as they are respectful of other residents/roommates. It seems to work out well for us. We have a young woman (20ish) whose father comes every night after he gets off work (2-10 at the prision). He comes in and checks on her, sits out with the night shift staff visiting, and may go back in and nap in his daughters room. We told him this is ok as long as he doesn't disturb the roommates and they don't mind. He did become belligerent with staff one night but reinforced that behavior like that will not be tolerated and haven't had problems since.

[Blackcat99]

I worked at a different LTC facility many years ago. We had a terminally ill patient and they allowed his "significant other" to stay in his room with him.The staff was very kind to this visitor and ofter brought this visitor snacks and meals. Unfortunately, his "significant other" had a fall while staying in his room and injured himself. The "significant other" then filed a lawsuit against the facility because of the fall.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked at a different LTC facility many years ago. We had a terminally ill patient and they allowed his "significant other" to stay in his room with him.The staff was very kind to this visitor and ofter brought this visitor snacks and meals. Unfortunately, his "significant other" had a fall while staying in his room and injured himself. The "significant other" then filed a lawsuit against the facility because of the fall.

Yes, unfortunately we're responsible for these overnight visitors. It's even worse if they are frail and requiring some type of medical attention.

A few months ago we had a 95-year-old patient at the rehab hospital where I work. His 94-year-old wife roomed in with him since they had been married 70 years and did not like to spend time apart. She was more demanding than him and required medications and dressing changes for a skin tear, even though she WAS NOT the patient. If something happened to her, the facility would have been held liable.

[cienurse]

At my facility, there are no posted visiting hours. We have a sign that "suggested visiting hours are 11a-8p." We do try to allow 1 overnight guest on the first night, if a confused resident is admitted and having trouble adjusting. We also allow 24 hour visitors if a resident is dying/end of life, and we usually move these residents to private rooms to accomodate the family. We do not, however, allow overnight visitors without good reason, especially verbally abusive ones. Those people are asked to leave immediately and, if they don't comply, they are told the police will be called.

[whitecat1207]

One way to get them to leave is to treat their loved one with the dignity and respect they deserve If you don't like your job, get another one and please, please get one that doesn't require care and compassion -- which you obviously do not have.

[nurse_nellie]

One way to get them to leave is to treat their loved one with the dignity and respect they deserve If you don't like your job, get another one and please, please get one that doesn't require care and compassion -- which you obviously do not have.

HAHAHA, oh right, because people always respond to respect with respect, nothing EVER gets misunderstood, and people always know how to behave rationally, especially in stressful situations, such as when a loved one is ill and/or dying! What a perfect world we live in, wouldn't you say? :)

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

MODERATOR NOTE:

Allnurses promotes a good debate as long as posts are respectful and polite posts have been edited and removed. Further posts will result in points

[laKrugRN]

When I was a CNA, our facility had no visiting hours. We had several family members who wanted to stay overnight. This was no problem. Usually it was spouses wanting to stay, which I thought was sweet. Although, we would get family members who were demanding to staff and insisting their snacks, not the actual resident, but the guest themselves snacks were more important than caring for our other residents in need. It was also annoying when I was a shower aide and guests would be using the public showers (no no) when I needed to bathe a resident. Things like these were grounds for the DON to request they only stay within reasonable hours.