My grandmother is 91 and is in a LTC facility. She has significant physical health issues and limited use of her limbs. She uses an electric wheelchair to get around and can walk a few feet with a walker. Cognitively she does okay although her memory is poor (days run together and she forgets a lot) and she finds it hard to make any decision - it is too stressful. She is very anxious / worrier in general. She is also fiercely independent. She is incontinent and in diapers and does all her own care (not well). The home has reduced her diaper quota to 3 per 24 hr period and recently stopped carrying her size so she is 110 lbs in a size 16 diaper. She is stressed out and upset almost every day over this. There is leakage everywhere. She has started putting towels on her bed and chair and her clothes and room smell. I often come in and find soiled towles and clothes in the room. She also has been getting rashes / blisters in her groin area and I really don't think she is able to do any peri care. She really isn't able to manage it all on her own. She receives no personal care other than bathing. Partly because she is defined as independent care and so no staff time is allotted to her and partly because she her finds the idea of someone changing her diaper and cleaning her up completely humiliating. I have raised these issues with the home director of care and she is pretty much indifferent - basically infers that incontinence and soiling and smelling is part of being in LTC.
I have contacted the next people up in the chain and they kind of make me feel stupid - as in you want to make a complaint about diapers??? I however think that this situation is worth attention from someone and there has to be some discussions around getting the proper size and quantity of diapers and also getting the soiled towels / clothes taken out of her room on a regular basis.
I intend to keep working my up until someone listens - am I taking this too far - is this really typical for LTC?
Report this immediately and then find another facility. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should be "rationed" incontinence products. Not only is this a dignity issue but she is at such risk for skin breakdown and infection.
Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.
I worked in a facility that limited briefs too. Would have to call in the manager of the supply room to get us more and she got pretty irate. Acted like the $$$ came out of her pocket; I didn't care, residents were my priority not $$$
3 in 24 hours in unrealistic, no wonder shes breaking down. I feel so bad for you guys. I'd report the hell out of that place, the state takes things like this very seriously.
add my name to the list of answers advising you to report and consider a better facility. We too try to limit diapers to 3 a day (Q8H) and allow a 4th for PRN/BM. BUT, we stock multiple sizes and if a pt needs more 3, it is allowed. Esp. a pt who is trying to care for herself, this should be encouraged and remind the staff how much they save in staff time by her self-care and how much is wasted in laundry and changing by her current situation of dirtying her entire room.
This is inhumane ( abuse, neglect etc) and I am surprised that the SW doesn't have what to say about this.
While writing a letter to the local paper (even anonymously) might make you feel better in the short run, it can make things uncomfortable in the LTC should you decide to keep her there, and the truth is there is little they can do,
Better to report it to the proper authorities who CAN actually help and Heaven Help Them if the staff start treating your Mom differently because of the report, as then you will report them to the police etc. If you need help finding phone numbers, ask the SW or check on line for your states hotline.
I am SO sorry your Mom and you have to deal with this, not all facilities are like this although budget cutting measures would like us to be!!
Thanks all for validating what I thought. I have reported it both to the VP of the company that runs the LTC facility and to the provincial body that governs LTC and have had calls back from both. The company has one week to resolve the issues or the province will step in and mandate what needs to be done.
I am very hesitant to move her as she doesn't handle change. She has been in this place a long time, knows everyone and the area and doesn't want to move. Last time we moved her rooms within the facility she became very disoriented and upset and it took 2-3 months to get her settled back down. The good news is that she is 'with it' so if they treat her any differently or casue her any problems - she'll tell me!
Just to add - I do think the staff could do more for her but for the most part the nurses and the majority of the PSW's who work there have been great. It is management / admin and their policies that I have the problems with. Staff are scared to do anything as they get in trouble alot. They also no longer have access to the room where the extra briefs are stored. Management there does NOT treat their staff well and they are always short staffed.
I am sure that must have been a difficult move but a brave one, and you are right, it is not the nursing staff or the CNA's but management at the core of this specific problem and I understand your reluctance to move your Mother...
BTW when management doesn't treat the staff "right" I have to wonder what else they dont treat "right" believe me it doesn't end with the staff. (example- short cuts in the kitchen..., limiting the doctors regarding what treatment they can do...)
I have seen facilities ration out briefs too, but not 3 in 24 hours! Our facility rations out wipes.... always..Which is bad too. If you are out of wipes, you use tp. Even though I personally explained that these incon. patients have looser BM's and the outcome of using TP just results in toilet paper poop balls...but that is another story.
My concern with the posters facility is that no one is taking her seriously, or addressing the issues, just making her feel stupid.
While it is a sad situation, the facility I am currently employed in tries to pull the same thing. The clients have enough briefs to wear, however, when we run out, we are out, until the person ordering decides we need more.
Of course, you see..... we need 10 cases of trach care kits (for ONE person with a trach) instead of briefs, kerlex, lancets, insulin syringes..... you get the picture.....
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PennStudent
34 Posts
Report this immediately and then find another facility. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should be "rationed" incontinence products. Not only is this a dignity issue but she is at such risk for skin breakdown and infection.