At the beginning of the year I found out Gulfshore increased mom's Exelon patch to 9 mg from a Humana statement - n.h. NEVER told me! AS a result, I hired a Nurse Care Manager to advocate for mom. At the introductory care plan meeting I guess the home felt "threatened" becasuse almost the entire staff were there & I was the one threatened!!! Anyway, Director of Nursing, said "she could live another 20 yrs"!!! I heard that & realized I may be doing this for the next 20 yrs - both wonderful news AND not so wonderful - I love mom more than life itself but that would make her about 115 before she passes & I'll be working my butt off for the next 20 yrs. I know some people DO live that long, but I really think he just blurted that out & depending on where I (or anyone) am in the caregiving journey, I could've went home & committed suicide!!! I just think he could've left that out!!! The latest care plan meeting was worse, though. Even my Nurse Manager said "my uncle lived to 120" & ALL I said was I hope John is right about mom living 20 more yrs - next time I'll keep my mouth SHUT - they were all saying my grandmother lived, etc., etc. Thanks for listening.
You didn't clarify how old your mom is, but I would think anyone that lives past a hundred -- much less to 115 or 120 -- would be an *Extreme* rarity. I suspect "John" was indulging in a little attempt at psychological manipulation through use of hyperbole.
What is the issue here? Pardon my relative lack of familiarity with specific elder pharmaceuticals; but what is an "Exelon" patch? what does it do, and what are the implications of the dosage being raised that high? Whatever a "Nurse Care Manager" is, it's fortunate that you have the resources to hire someone professional, who knows how to navigate the minefield, and who can go to bat for you.
In my own experience, I personally have found it extremely frustrating how facilities apparently feel free to make medical decisions regarding a (dementia) resident patient's pharmaceutical regimen without any consideration to the family (or legal designated HPOA/DPOA) whatsoever. You communicate your family's preferences, along with concerns about significant side-effects, chemical dependency, alternative therapies and other important related issues, while they smile and nod their heads, but nothing ever changes; and it's like constantly pulling teeth to be kept in the informational loop. :( I honestly don't get it, either.
Karen, they are intimidating you and putting you down. Is that you're sitting home the only place it's available? I mean, what's going on? They ALL should be supporting you, not making you feel worse, but psychologically they're probably doing it because they felt threatened by you and that was probably the only stupid way they could "get to you". They certainly didn't tell you that because you had been sitting around talking about hoping your mom would die. I know you don't feel that way - that you want her here as long as you can have her, but who in their right mind would think that could mean living until 115, when virtually no one does that.
Those comments at that meeting remind me about times when a group of people sit around and talk about tragic accidents. Everyone jumps in, like Lord of the Flies, and comes up with their most gruesome tale. I think you're paid nurse manager just chimed in along with the rest of the idiots, led by the nose, and nobody had their thinking cap on. They what capable of thinking compassionately because they exist in their own little world. Yikes!
is that NURSING HOME the only place available
they WEREN'T capable of thinking compassionately
I feel for you, I think that the above comment was totally inappropriate and even unethical. As far as Exelon patch dose, you might want to discuss it with your mom's doctor. Also discuss the possibility of the doc's office notifying you about the changes in meds since you are POA.
Considering how you felt at the moment, I wouldn't be shy at telling the DOA to refrain from irrelevant comments in the future. I would even put it in writing, and mention that it is highly insensitive and unethical. NH employees have to take care of your mom, but have no business speculating about something that is clearly not their field. You might want to google "nursing diagnosis", but longevity isn't one of them.