My son who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, was transferred from an acute in house rehab to a nursing home, which they call a "rehab"center. The PT's are great, but they don't work wk.ends and the wk end staff said they weren' trained to transfer my son to a commode. My son has a fractured knee and is in a foot to inqinal area brace. They also didnot have a wheelchair he could use as he has no use of his legs and only limited use of his arms. So, I am renting a power chair to the tune of $250 per month. I also bought a commode he could transfer on for $290. One wk.end he sat in a urine soaked bed for 2hrs. they finally came and took his wet clothes off and put a pad under him but did not change the sheet or give him dry clothes. I left at 7:30pm and this still had not been done, 6hrs later. He had to remain in the brace for 3 to 4 months. At home he is very independent, needing little help at all. I've talked with PT, Administrator, and Social worker. I'm waiting to see how this wk.end goes, as the last 2 were a nightmare. I rarely see a nurse and it appears most of the personel are techs or CNAs. I was also surprised to see tech passing medications.
Sandra Hubertyof GA2:14PM August 11, 2012
I would like to find a place that has assisted living, with apartments, plus some independent living with apartments available; with meals available, cleaning and activities as well. I would like other facilities available: going from independent to nursing for dementia, alzhimers, failing health, etc.
Frances Bialekof NY9:45PM June 09, 2012
How do i find the evaluations of nursing homes in my area of SC 29576 and especially form 2567. Thank you Barbara Ennis
Barbara Ennisof SC8:20AM April 30, 2012
Nursing homes are notoriously understaffed; they don't need to follow the same guidelines as hospitals. We routinely care for 15-22 patients alone, and are lucky if we can get three aides on the hall. The nurses where I work care for and love their patients but it is impossible to feel you ever do enough because of the patient/nurse ratio. All our staff work hard and do the best they can, but it is a losing battle. Until the state steps in and mandates more staffing nothing will change. And we are considered one of the best facilities!!
astroauntof WA10:31PM February 07, 2012
My father was at St.Luke's Nursing home in Dickinson, North Dakota. The Home is very understaffed and the training of staff is poor. My father died from a fall at the Nursing Home. He fell on a Sunday morning when the Home was very understaffed.
Judy Kirschof ND5:41PM February 07, 2012
Also I forgot to mention in my comment. When the supervisor called me down I was given a three day suspension !!! I refused to violate a residents rights and was suspended for it!!!
Jane Doeof PA10:52AM November 28, 2011
I work in a nursing home in Pa. Im a nursing assistant that was planning on going to nursing school at some point. I've been a Cna for six years and have only worked in two nursing homes, the first is the one I was trained in. I have always been taught that a resident has the right to refuse anything they want to whether its care, meds, etc. I love working with people and do love my job and interacting with the residents, altho at times working short can be tedious. I have sense decided though to change my major and go for something else. Although I do like my job i have discovered that nursing homes are very CORRUPT!!! They will do whatever it takes to cover their behinds and the staff, especially the lower level, such as myself are always WRONG!!! The staff development has had several meetings about resident rights and their rights to refuse ANYTHING THEY WANT! But when it comes down to it that isn't so!!! I recently got in trouble because I refused to violate a residents rights!!! I had a resident that refused to get up out of bed, I told my nurse that she was refusing and she told me "She IS getting up" then proceeded to go to the room and attempt to bully the resident into getting out of bed. The nurse then told me that she was getting up. I thought that the resident was now agreeing to get up. I went and got her chair and went into the room and she was still refusing. I told the nurse. A few hours later, I was again told by the nurse to get the resident up. I went into the residents room and she was still refusing!!!! I told the nurse that she had refused for the third time!!! The nurse didn't say a word to me and then proceeded to turn and tell a fellow co-worker to go back with me and help get the resident up. The problem was not that I needed help getting her up AS THE NURSE KNEW!! but that she was refusing to get up. I then told the nurse that I was not getting the resident up as long as she was refusing. The nurse then had two of my co-workers go back and force her out of bed and I was called down to the office. I was told by the supervisor that I am to do what the R.N tells me to do regardless. I asked "so I'm supposed to violate their rights because the R.N wants me too?" i was then told that refusing to get up is not their right." wow!!!! That nurse should have been in trouble plain and simple!!!!! instead the covered for her and lied to my face!!!! Different things like this happen all the time and they allow it too!!! working in a nursing home has changed my perspective on the medical field forever and I can't wait to get out of it because the crap I see go on there on a day to day basis literally makes me sick!
Jane Doeof PA10:48AM November 28, 2011
Each nursing home is diffeent. I placed my father in one home. the nursing care was horrible and they were poorly understaffed. The administrators were constantly apologizing for the poor care. After 2 weeks, I removed my father from that home and placed him into another home that is fully staffed. This new placed is not as aestetically pleasing to th eye as the first home, but the care is better.
RNof NY1:07PM February 08, 2011
really pay attention to staffing numbers. i work in a large nursing home. the nurses take care of 28-32 patients, the cna's have a minimum of 12, often more. visiting during mealtime and on weekends are wonderful tips. visiting in the early am is great. sit down in a corner and really observe the staff answering call bells. if everyone did this facilities like the one i work at would be empty.
J. doeof PA9:30PM December 28, 2010
Once you've put your loved one in 'a place', be sure to visit ALOT.
This means going in early and watching how the staff gets your loved one up for breakfast. Check to see how engaged your loved one is during morning activities (is she supervised enough so that she doesn't drink the paint?). Check to see who they're sitting with at lunch. (Remember that, when in a facility, every other patient's problems (behavioral, medical, etc.) become something your loved one has to deal with).
Is there a 'programming gap' between lunch and afternoon activities? Is it long enough that your loved one nods off into a deep sleep and later walks the halls at 2am?
The marketing literature 'three healthy meals a day': With lunch (ussually the biggest meal of the day) and the afternoon activity behind you, just what is your loved one going to eat for dinner? Will it be left over Chateu Briand from lunch? Underwood Deviled Ham (cat food) served on white bread? Is the temperature of the food reasonable or did it come out of the freezer and not get zapped enough?
Dinner is can be one of the most stressful meals. Many Alzheimer's patients 'sundown'. Their behavior can consume the staff - leaving little coverage to make sure residents eat their food.
Sunday afternoon and Sunday Evening staffing - in my experience, these can be two of the hardest to staff shifts. Make sure the facility lives up to whatever ratio of residents to caregivers they claim in their marketing literature. (Marketing literature lies.)
Be sure, at least once a month, to do an 'overnight' (11pm-7am). You'd be amazed at what you can find! Is the staff watching TV or highly engrossed browsing youtube or are they checking residents? Talk to the overnight staff. You'll learn alot. Count how many pills your loved one has left (this may tell you whether meds are being administered as prescribed but beware - some LVNs just throw away pills if residents refuse!). (Also beware of LVNs who think they're doctors!)
Be aware of 'unauthorized' drugs being administered to your loved one. (Anti-psychotics are popular - they're used to make your loved one into a zombie - makes it easier for the chronically short-staffed facility to manage). (A call from an LVN to your loved one's doctor can ellicit a prescription for some pretty powerful mind-altering drugs! (Note that many LVN programs are only 14 months - this means that the ghetto youth who took vocational nursing while in detention could be your loved one's 'nurse'!))
If a particular program claims 'greater mobility, better attention, etc.' be sure you know the metrics that the program uses - real measured numbers - not just some touchy feely 'oooh your Mom did really well today!'.
And finally, Chains. Not all Atrias, Aegis's, Sunnysides, or Silverados are created equal. Its the people who 'touch your loved one' - the care givers, the CNAs, the LVNs, the RN (if you're lucky) who make the difference.
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Sandra Huberty of GA 2:14PM August 11, 2012
Frances Bialek of NY 9:45PM June 09, 2012
Barbara Ennis of SC 8:20AM April 30, 2012
astroaunt of WA 10:31PM February 07, 2012
Judy Kirsch of ND 5:41PM February 07, 2012
Jane Doe of PA 10:52AM November 28, 2011
Jane Doe of PA 10:48AM November 28, 2011
RN of NY 1:07PM February 08, 2011
J. doe of PA 9:30PM December 28, 2010
A.C. Mendiones of CA 2:14PM December 04, 2010