• 0
Copy Link

James McMechan

Knowledge Areas : Becoming a Writer, Non-Fiction, Cars, Trucks, SUVs, Applied Ethics, Wine, Beer, Cooking, Restaurants, Coaching, Culture, Management, Customer Relationships, Sales Strategy/Business Plans

Reputation Score: 40

Related Questions
Answer this Question

Submit An Answer

Answers ( 1 )

 
  1. J Starr 4425 Community Answer

    This is a question which is difficult to answer for a couple reasons, the first of which is, we're people, and we tend to view issues like this subjectively rather than objectively.  That idea may seem meaningless- either your mother-in-law is receiving appropriate care or she is not!  but, without being a medical professional yourself, without having experience working in health care facilities, without understanding what is being done and why, what do you know?  Not much-  you just know you don't like it, or that she doesn't like it, or that it looks like she isn't being taken care of appropriately.  But, again, what do you know?

    First, damned few hospitals would risk a problem due to poor care because that can mean losing their Medicare funding certification-  it's why that "Hospitals are falsifying CoVID cases just to get extra money!" didn't work as any kind of reasonable claim: Hospitals don't risk Medicare audits that can lose them Medicare certification. Secondly, and I will say this as nicely as possible, given I have experience working in medical facilities AND getting older myself:  Older people aren't necessarily nice or reasonable when ill- especially if there is some cognition problems going on- and that can set up a problem for a family member who wants to help and support their loved one when their loved one is accusing people of some pretty bad stuff. 

    I have written on this subject before, so I will slide a bit of that in here because it is what is pertinent:

    "I'm going to describe your grandfather in a way you may not like, at all, but it is the way I can see him being described in nursing notes. Please realize I am not trying to demean you or your grandfather, nor am I saying this is actually what happened, just that this is how, if the Nursing Home (hospital) documented your Grandfather's behaviour, they did it like so:

    "Patient called out for help repeatedly through shift, refused to use call light which was placed to hand, other Patients nearby were inconvenienced by Patient's behaviour. CNA reported Patient had been offered toileting, assistance with positioning, hydration; Patient refused all offers and demanded to be allowed to go home. Nurse offered pain medication when Patient complained of pain to 6 on pain scale; results described by Patient as poor with increased pain 60 minutes later. Physician informed, awaiting orders. Patient continues to call out for help."

    "Patient tried to get out of bed x4 through shift, is confused, demanded to use phone to call family. Nurse provided phone, assisted Patient with calling family; Patient screamed 'HELP!' into phone over and over. Patient finally fell asleep and is now resting quietly."

    Understand, I am not saying this is what happened, I am saying, to nursing personnel, they will describe exactly what happened, with no emotional content, whatsoever."

    IF this is the kind of thing happening to your mother-in-law- she being a bit confused, and nursing unable to respond because the problem isn't medical, but her confusion, then everything that can be done is being done.  It is going to take time.

    Also, your question details indicate this facilty is a rather special one: "...currently in a geriatric facility for 30 days";  to me, this indicates confusion going on- even if she is there respite, she is not at home, and cannot understand why things work the way they work in such a facility, rather than the way things work at home. So, I'll add som elinks for you to other things I have written, and perhaps they can help you decide a way forward.

    Good luck-  this can be a difficult time.

    https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-sue-a-nursing-home-without-physical-evidence-that-an-elderly-person-is-being-neglected-there/answer/Jae-Starr

    https://www.quora.com/If-abuse-and-neglect-are-reported-in-nursing-home-why-didnt-anyone-get-fired/answer/Jae-Starr

    UTC 2021-06-18 09:18 PM 2 Comments

To answer this question, you must be logged in.

Create an account

Already have an account? Login.

By Signing up, you indicate that you have read and agree to Sage's Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy