I and my sister were providing in home care for our mother with dementia and disability factors. We did not want to place her into the Nursing facility but it became a necessity due to her combative nature and her disability has now confined her to a wheelchair. My question is, should I move her to another Nursing facility after she has been for over a year now in this same facility? She has finally stopped asking us to take her home. It was quite an adjustment for her and us to place her in the facility.
The thing is both I and my sister are unhappy with the treatment that she is receiving at this time in the facility she is in. Examples include but are not limited to: when she first moved in she was asked to give her consent to sign her bank account over to the facility Nursing home and change her bank over to theirs without informing us, the facility is constantly doing things that are insubordinate, they won't return my calls, and when asked for details concerning mother I usually get the run around, she fell about a week ago which has been a constant here lately and was taken to the hospital and we never received a call about it. In fact how we found out When we went to visit her and her arm was all bandaged. She has fallen before and had to have stitches on her face in several places. Now she is unable to see from her left eye. I know that the instability is part of the dementia but we want to be informed about it and answers to what had went on in the emergency room. My concern is my mother. Will the move be to much for her? I have made complaints to management but things continue to happen. Please help!
Don't you have POA. As such, the NH should not be talking to Mom but to you. And that should have been established at time of admitting. They were definitely wrong in having Mom, with Dementia, sign anything and I would report this to the State once you have her placed somewhere else.
Moms NH did ask to be her payee for pension and SS once she was on Medicaid. They never asked for access to her banking accts.
If ur Mom is on Medicaid, she has a Personal Needs account she is entitled to. Also, any money left in her bank account from the spenddown. Don't let the NH tell you different. That is her money and part of her estate. Also, make Medicaid aware of the move so funds will be transferred. Maybe the new NH can help you.
Do what you have to do to ensure she's receiving quality care. Check out the Medicare website for ratings on nursing homes in your area, and look at reviews on Yelp or other sites to get an idea of how other places work. Visit in person, too.
Yes, Mom will have a period of adjustment and will likely not bounce back all the way, but she certainly isn't being cared for properly at all now so it can't be worse.
I would also file a complaint about them not notifying you of your mom's fall and trip to the hospital. That's completely inexcusable unless you aren't listed at the person to notify in the case of an emergency or don't have power of attorney for her.
Your mom should be treated with respect and dignity. She should be given the best medical care and kept safe. Having said that, all falls aren’t preventable. As sad as it is, accidents happen. If you feel that her accidents are due to negligence, please file a report with the DON, speak to a social worker and your Ombudsman, if necessary.
Thoroughly research new facilities, if you decide to move your mom. Tour them virtually or in person if you can. Discuss all concerns.
I am not sure what is involved in moving your mom in her particular case, but I certainly understand that you and your sister would like her moved into another facility.
Wishing you and your family all the best.
She may well decline and the decline may be permanent or she may recover a bit.
If she has dementia the facility should NEVER have asked her to sign anything as that would not be legal. She is not competent to make financial decisions. (I do hope you have POA, or someone in the family does) I would carefully go over ANY and ALL expenses that they have put through.
Getting back to the decline. She may or may not, she may or may not be upset with the move. You can never tell how someone with dementia will react in a given situation.
But when it comes to safety and well being that is more important and worth the risk of a bit of a decline.
I would get a medical transport for her, she may think that it is another trip to the hospital. How you get her belongings to the new place will be the trick.
Or if you do take her out occasionally for lunch do the same but when you bring her back it will be to her new room. That would be easier as one of you can set up the room while the other has mom in transit.