| In September, 2008, I had half a day to find a | | | | internet thinking maybe they were truly ignorant. I |
| Long-Term Facility for my mother, who had suffered | | | | didn't accuse or get angry. I couldn't believe they |
| an episode where she lost her memory and the | | | | were ignoring the facts. I was told not to talk about |
| ability to follow simple instructions. She did not know | | | | scabies by the administrator out in the parking lot |
| me or where she was or even know for sure who | | | | one day. She said, "it upsets everyone". She later told |
| she was. I was completely ignorant as to the rules | | | | my mother's case worker, that I had self diagnosed |
| and regulations pertaining to Long Term Care in | | | | the problem. Everyone was itching, help even itched, |
| Oregon. Also, I did not know that the hospital was to | | | | but no one addressed the problem. No one would |
| give me a 72 hour notice before releasing my mother | | | | discuss it with me. It was like I was speaking to the |
| from their care. I trusted that what I was told was | | | | wind. My mother continued to itch...she is just getting |
| correct and the care my mother would be receiving | | | | over it one month after being moved out. I imagine |
| would be for her best interest. I wanted to simply | | | | everyone has itched or will itch soon at this facility. |
| place my mother and assume that all would be | | | | They told me it was "Institutional Rash". That term |
| satisfactory without my having to get incredibly | | | | doesn't even Google. It was reported as abuse. In |
| involved. I wanted to visit my mother, bring her a bit | | | | August, there was an attempt to clean all rooms and |
| of cheer and have the facility take care of her | | | | cover all furniture with cloths without ever addressing |
| medical, social and physical needs | | | | the little bug for what it is: Scabies |
| Thinking that the more I was involved, the better | | | | I was about to go into the Ombudsman program in |
| would be the relationship I had with the facility. I | | | | August. I reluctantly consented to the move to the |
| volunteered for everything, brought in artwork and | | | | other unit in April or early May. I knew our time there |
| items to cheer up the space. They even asked me | | | | was short. I would know enough with my training to |
| to hold their activity time each Thursday. I soon | | | | get her out of there and how to find a better place! |
| discovered that this wasn't going to create a more | | | | She did OK in the unit settling in with little notice of |
| open communication. I felt I was simply being used. | | | | being uncomfortable. She did not decline. She actually |
| By the spring of 2009, I no longer volunteered or | | | | started showing recovery of memory. From nothing |
| took part in potlucks or other activities. I was finding | | | | to lots of things! From April to the time she left in |
| myself mostly disgusted that the facility ignored or | | | | October, there was at least a 65 per cent |
| brushed away everything I was concerned about. | | | | improvement in lack of dementia. She complained |
| I remember my first concern was a simple one | | | | often of being bored silly in the facility with nothing |
| involving the lack of nail care. My mother complained | | | | to do but sit and wait and then sit and wait for |
| about her nails needing to be clipped. My husband and | | | | more. She talked about a fellow resident that she felt |
| myself asked the administrator only to be told that | | | | sorry for as she had "lost it". In comparison, my |
| "the family took care of nail care". In my inner | | | | mother had much less dementia than anyone else in |
| thoughts, I knew this could not be true as many | | | | the unit she was placed. No mention of this was |
| residents have no family, but I said little knowing this | | | | made by staff or anyone else. I would say |
| is something I would have to look into for myself. At | | | | something, but it was mostly ignored or brushed |
| this same meeting, we brought up our concern that | | | | away. I have close medical professional friends who |
| we could not make sense of the billing statement. My | | | | were as shocked as I with her improvement. No one |
| husband and I are both educated and intelligent, but it | | | | at the facility saw her improvement or wanted to |
| was "Greek" to us. I have to say that months later | | | | recognize that maybe the unit was no longer suitable |
| the bill was simplified and easy to read. From day one | | | | for her. |
| of our relationship with the facility, it was clear that | | | | I discovered in my training that I could see my |
| questions and concerns were not welcomed. There | | | | mother's medical records and log charts. They made |
| was an avoidance of answers and usually no action | | | | no sense with what I observed with my mother. |
| to correct any concerns. | | | | Support hose were prescribed, on the care plan, |
| At the next Care Plan Meeting, I came prepared. I | | | | logged in the records, but never on my mother. I had |
| had made a list of all questions on the computer. | | | | to believe the worse. If this was falsified, what else? |
| With each question, I backed up the question | | | | I reported this to the authorities. My mother insisted |
| concern with data from my mother's assessment | | | | that no one ever helped her take a shower; yet it |
| from Senior and Disabilities stating her needs and | | | | was checked off and the assessment stated "full |
| expected care. On that list it was clearly stated that | | | | assist". Who was right? The pills prescribed by the |
| she should receive nail care three times each week. I | | | | doctor at the facility on top of what my mother's |
| plan to attach these notes to my finalized report. | | | | primary physician had already prescribed continued no |
| My effort to make sure that my questions/concerns | | | | matter that I had questioned this practice. My |
| were clear and not misinterpreted was in vain. I | | | | mother's doctor reported that he had never received |
| walked away from the meeting knowing I would not | | | | any report of medications being added to her daily |
| be able to get any clarification on what I asked. I | | | | pile of drugs or any other communication from the |
| was actually told by staff after this meeting that | | | | facility doctor. The facility told me that they would |
| they should not talk with me. They had been friendly, | | | | call my mother's doctor and never get a call back. |
| helpful and listened to what I asked and tried to | | | | Who is at fault? I found it incredible that very small |
| answer any questions if they could. They also | | | | insignificant concerns would be either lied about or |
| complained to me about their schedules and long | | | | discounted. It didn't matter what it was. |
| hours of work. They told me about better facilities | | | | Right before I gave notice that my mother was |
| where they were soon to work. They confided in | | | | leaving, we had another Care Plan Meeting. For the |
| me. I am an open friendly person. It was often | | | | first time, my mother attended without wearing her |
| stated by the administrator and RN that my mother | | | | support hose. Residents are to be invited to all Care |
| would refuse services while at the same time, she | | | | Plan Meetings. It was more of the same. When the |
| was not confrontational and clearly would voice her | | | | question was asked about the support hose, they |
| needs to me. The staff did not voice these same | | | | said her pair was being washed. I replied that she had |
| concerns. The help would sometimes forget not to | | | | two pair because I had been told she had to have |
| talk to me. It was clear when they had been | | | | two pair so one could be washed. There was no |
| reminded once again. Questions/Concerns were | | | | reply. I did not expect more. When I brought up that |
| clearly seen as an attack and were to be avoided or | | | | the case worker had been told that I had diagnosed |
| discounted. If my mother could tell me, I felt they | | | | the scabies, the RN replied while the administrator |
| needed to find a way for her to tell them or they | | | | remained silent. The RN had no knowledge regarding |
| needed to listen to me and act on what I said. She | | | | this situation but insisted that she had not told the |
| reported that she hated to ask or that someone had | | | | case worker as if it could only be her. The RN didn't |
| been rude when she did. It seems not expecting | | | | bother asking the administrator what she knew |
| anything is the desired behavior. | | | | about it. The administrator remained silent. As a |
| My mother has profound hearing loss as documented | | | | Certified State Ombudsman and a legal |
| by professionals. They would actually tell me that she | | | | representative for my mother, I expected more. The |
| seemed to hear well and made little effort to find | | | | Ombudsman assigned to this facility attended this |
| ways to maintain her hearing devices or have her | | | | meeting. The case worker was not invited. It is a rule |
| wear them. I took the small one away after she | | | | that he must be invited/notified of Care Plan |
| washed them with soap and water and bought her a | | | | Meetings. He had no notification. |
| very good $200.00 large device. It was never on her | | | | In the year my mother lived at the facility, I |
| no matter what I said. When I would place it on | | | | remember three different RN's. Each one was overly |
| mom, she would marvel at her ability to hear and go | | | | enthusiastic about the facility to the point of almost |
| on about how wonderful it was to hear. They told | | | | laughable with what I had grown to know. They |
| me she wouldn't wear them. I was also told if they | | | | were singing praises to the choir that had vacated |
| were lost, they could not be responsible for the lost | | | | the church. I tried to hide my embarrassment I felt |
| device. I was told this on numerous occasions. In | | | | for their need to do this. I have run into former |
| early 2009, her partial disappeared. It was with her | | | | employees including at least two RN's. Not a positive |
| when she was admitted, but like hearing aids, they | | | | comment comes from any of them. One former RN, |
| seemingly were not considered important. I would | | | | pleaded with me to do everything I can to get some |
| have taken them home if I knew no one was | | | | results with my report of infractions I found. The |
| protecting my mother's personal belongings, as the | | | | facility needs a wake up call. They must know that it |
| regulations demand. When I mentioned a lost item, | | | | would take less effort to run a good facility than to |
| the staff and administration would say, "she must've | | | | continue their useless dance of smoke and mirrors |
| lost it", "maybe she threw them away". | | | | hoping no one notices. It must be exhausting to |
| Her finger nails and toenails often were in horrible | | | | spend valuable time covering for their lack of |
| condition. She looked like she had come out of the | | | | services and record keeping. |
| woods after way too long. She sat with little | | | | I did bring my mother home. After requesting her |
| expression on her face. She wore no makeup, cared | | | | medications, I googled all of them and removed most |
| little about what she wore and became less my | | | | of any mind altering drugs. I have attached |
| mother every day. About this time, they told me | | | | descriptions of these drugs to this report I will be |
| that she was hard to handle in that she wondered | | | | submitting. I conferred with my mother's primary |
| from room to room where she was not welcomed. | | | | physician. He agreed that she had been overly |
| She wet her bed, had a bowel movement in a corner | | | | medicated. He also suggested that we go on a road |
| and other proofs of her decline. They suggested that | | | | trip in the spring for her to visit her sister in |
| she be moved to the unit in their building for | | | | Wisconsin. He thinks she is doing just fine. |
| residents with severe memory problems. She had | | | | Her pain patch was not in with the medications given |
| been in a unit with less help, but more social and | | | | me. I believed that they needed to be ordered, but |
| beautiful surroundings. I didn't like the idea that she | | | | upon going to the drug store, they told me that they |
| was to be with people who communicated little with | | | | had been delivered a few days before I picked mom |
| blank faces and inabilities to partake in many social | | | | up to take her home. I immediately went to the |
| interactions. I could see my mother just sitting | | | | facility to retrieve the controlled substance. The staff |
| waiting to die in this other unit. She actually told me | | | | member handed it to me commenting that "Oh, I |
| that they sat to wait for the next meal not thinking | | | | meant to call you. Your mom probably wouldn't |
| about dying. | | | | notice whether she had it or not" or close to that. |
| With my continual distrust in what I was hearing and | | | | One more reality check! How could they be so |
| observing, I looked for answers. In the process, I | | | | ignorant and insensitive to think one can't feel their |
| found the State Ombudsman Program and applied to | | | | pain? They also had another medication that they |
| become a Certified Ombudsman. I really hoped with | | | | had failed to turn over on release from the facility. |
| this in my pocket, I would find a more transparent | | | | Would they have ever notified me that they had |
| and honest communication with the facility. I also saw | | | | them? I don't think they would have. It had already |
| the extreme need for all Long Term Care Residents | | | | been 5 days. I was two days late in putting it on her. |
| to have an advocate to be at their back helping to | | | | She has blossomed remembering more every day. |
| be sure their rights were protected. In the program, I | | | | After a month home and after a year of long term |
| learned that many of the practices at this facility | | | | care, my mother is again:putting on her own makeup; |
| were clearly against regulations and that my mother | | | | which was never thought of while in long term |
| had little rights she could claim as her own living there. | | | | caredressing in her best clothes to go out insisting on |
| I learned also that the audits from the State were | | | | black shoes to go with black pants |
| not favorable. I requested this audit from the State. I | | | | Making sure I remember to take her to The Senior |
| was surprised that some of what was in there, still | | | | Center once a week to see friendsasking for her |
| wasn't being corrected although the report was | | | | jewelry she hadn't worn for a year and never |
| made months ago. I reported to the Ombudsman, | | | | missedtalking about family and friends she hadn't |
| who managed to improve one of the infractions. | | | | remembered to ask aboutcalling her 95 year old |
| I made it known of my new position, but it did not | | | | sister in Wisconsin to have a meaningful conversation |
| change the smoke and mirrors I would experience at | | | | Remembering to tell me that she is about to take a |
| each corner. No answers to valid concerns. Deceit | | | | shower like I asked her |
| was rampant. I could not believe that it would be so | | | | Taking responsibility for the care of her dog |
| blatant. Who did they think they were dealing with? | | | | She wonders where her memory went. I wonder to. |
| Only a very ignorant person would not recognize | | | | I think she could have been recovered much earlier |
| what was being done. | | | | before the influx of drugs to keep her complacent, |
| In February, my mother came down with a rash. It | | | | quiet, in a blank world where she could have |
| drove her nuts. I took her to a medical clinic twice | | | | remained for years. My concern is for those who still |
| and finally to her primary physician. He stated clearly | | | | sit there waiting for nothing. Is anyone else |
| that it was Scabies. I reported this to the facility | | | | screaming to be set free? I wonder. She showed |
| along with placing the prescription for eliminating | | | | signs of improvement even while on too many drugs. |
| scabies in their possession. It was ignored although | | | | She is now like a bird that has been let out the cage. |
| the medication temporarily cured my mom's problem. | | | | She is soaring, happy and looking forward to life. |
| I attempted to even bring in information off the | | | | |