My Mom's assisted living facility has already given us the run-around, saying that they gave my mother a sponge-bath (it didn't happen) because they said she didn't want a shower because she was already dressed. They also said that the reason that my mother had to wait for over an hour one day to have someone respond to the call button is because she calls too much. (The reasons they gave me were weak.) (And by the way, my mother is not allowed to try to navigate on her own. She needs help.) Now, last night, I arrived at the facility at 6:10. After half an hour we decided to begin her exercise routine (walking in the hall). When she stood up at her walker, I noticed that her wrist call button was blinking. She said that she had pushed it before I arrived because she needed someone to help her to the bathroom. I helped her to the bathroom and then we sat and waited for the aide to arrive. We thought it would be rude to leave when my mother had called for help, because the aide would expect her to be in her room and we didn't want her to have to track us down. At 7:20 the aide showed up and asked what my mother wanted. She claimed that she had just gotten the message on her "pager." She said sometimes it "spins" because the message takes a long time to go through, like on the computer when it takes awhile for something to load. She tried to show me that it showed my mother as being "inactive" on her pager, but of course, I couldn't see the display well, plus the clock was not set on her pager, so it didn't give correct times. I like this aide, so I wanted to believe her, but also didn't know if she was just trying to cover for herself. If, in fact, it can take one hour and ten minutes to respond to a call for help, that is very concerning to me, especially with what has already happened in the last two weeks.
It was frustrating because my mother was considered "level 4" on the care scale and was charged the highest rates, but the facility did not seem at all prepared to deal with the needs of a level 4 resident.
I would be very concerned about the comment that your mother had to wait over an hour because she calls too much. She is, no doubt, paying for a certain level of assistance and if she's calling for things they don't normally include in her level of care, they need to address that with you and with her. If they simply ignore her calls or let her wait because they view her as a nuisance, they are opening themselves up to a big lawsuit if she ever has a fall and they let her lay on the floor for an hour because she calls too much.. Please be sure to let the administrator know that this comment was made and that you are concerned about the call response time.
It's time to call the local Ombudsman Supervisor and file a formal complaint about these issues. Call lights should be answered within 10-20 minutes, and 20 minutes is pushing the limit. Not answering the call light because mom pushes the button too often is considered neglect. Encouraging a resident NOT to drink makes for a lazy CNA. Who's to say how long it should be between bathroom visits? Try and document these issues.
You can find the Ombudsman's contact information for your mom's assisted living facility posted where the residents and their families can find it ... at least that is the law. If not, it's another issue, but you can call the Area Agency on Aging in the area and ask for the Ombudsman. Good luck.
These problems need fixing, but perhaps there are lawyers out there who would take action ASAP, as lives are at stake. I hope so and so should we all.
Good luck.
One day an aide was sent home because they didnt need her, heaven forbid there be an extra person to help out. Something needs to change the way we treat our elderly, we might start not having so many homes that are for profit. The three months my Mom was in a nursing home was an eye opener.
she said “it’s so sad” but there aren’t enough staff to toilet all the residents, and they’d rather change diapers on “their” schedule.
😢
this HAS to change!