My mother moved in an assisted living facility in Feb.2014 after a long hospital stay that left her unable to walk for the first time. The community was small and the staff did all duties from baths to washing dishes. Mom began to decline both mentally and physically. I would visit her at least five times a week. Many times there were undesirable occurrences, a few really made me question our decision for her to be there. Accidents happen and I assumed the facility knew best since they were professional. By OCT., Mom should have been somewhat adjusted to her new environment and staff but the staff was still falling short in my eyes. (6 mos. is enough time to remember fresh drinking water and to open blinds in the morning.)Mom was getting worse; she was unable to work the telephone ,t.v.,and her voice is so quiet no one seemed to her talking so she about quit talking all togethere.After Thanksgiving but before Dec, Mom agreed to move in with me.(she was reluctant to burden me)We decided on Feb; it being the one year mark. Mom wanted to wait to inform the director so she would not be treated differently Around the 15th of Jan I informed the director mom was moving and she stated that I had to give 30 day in advance written statement about her moving or she would be charged for the following month. Two of our occurrences happened in Oct and again in Dec, The facility did not turn in the invoices to the insurance agency on time for mom to receive her reimbursement at the beginning of the following month. This took $3000.00 out of her budget, twice. We did get behind and I acknowledge we owe a bill but their bill is much higher because they included the fees for Feb 2015. THE HANDBOOK I RECEIVED ON HER LIVING THERE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 30 DAY NOTICE. Once the facility was notified her care did change. When we left they handed us her meds in a paper sack and offered no addition information or assistance. They also contacted HHS and filed an abuse charge on me due to her leaving with a bill. On the written notice of moving I addressed the issue and stated what I believed we owed and how it could be paid and received no response. So the state HHS investigates me, drags my whole family through it, and decides there may have been a financial issue and wants the POA to be changed to a son and not me. Conflict of interests with I being the caretaker and POA. After finishing up all that, a collection agency contacts me with a bill and whether I dispute the amount. After all this has been said and done :Can I now pay an even lesser amount than I stated in the 30 day notice due to the insufficient and inconsistent, and for lack of a better term low quality of care she received? which caused numerous incidents in which meetings with the director were required. I regret not logging the details about each instance. I am going to add: Mom is well and learning to send e-mails on her new smart phone while enjoying tennis on the TV!
However, if you'd like to file a complaint about poor treatment write a letter to the director of the facility once the bill is paid. If you write it once the bill is paid it won't look like you're trying to get out of paying and the letter will carry more weight.