I'm looking for productive suggestions on what I do about finding my mom with serious facial/neck scrapes and bruising and nobody will tell me what happened, Mom doesn't have access to her clothes and had new/ anti-slip socks on so I know somebody knows something, I saw her and have pics from 12 earlier. We've seen her Dr. to check her jaw because from the bruising you can see that wherever she fell, her jaw took the impact.
I understand that the CG's at moms MCF can't watch them 24/7 and accidents happen but I want to know if this is being documented. I have asked for the notes for my mom's care for the last week; I was told that it wasn't a hospital and they don't take notes like that. I explained that there must be some documentation on a daily basis of incidentals with patients, Medicine taken, whether they're eating, problems with incontinence (if not normal), when they're bathed etc.... Am I asking for too much? What do I do? I just want to know what happened to my mom, I'm starting to feel like they're hiding something. So many other things weren't taken care of that should of been in just that 1 day. I'm frustrated and quickly losing trust in them. If anybody has any input, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Yes, they are required to document injuries, meds and such. This is a clear sign that something is very wrong.
When you contact your area on aging tell them that you need help asap because your mom has sustained substantial injuries and it appears that the facility is hiding something, whatever that is whether lack of care, aggressive treatment from caregivers or??? Be sure and tell them that you were told that they don't document anything.
You should start looking for a new facility, this is the kind of issues that will get a facility shut down.
I am sorry that your mom is being treated like she doesn't matter.
I'd be worried this is code for "in my opinion you should get your mom out of here ASAP". Staff can't come right out and tell you that there are ongoing problems that are affecting the quality of care (at least not while they are on the job), the perpetual staff shortages could point to larger issues.
I would talk to the Director of Nursing if u haven't already. Tell her you have been given the impression no incident report was written. You need to know what happened to Mom. Also, that you weren't called. See what she says and if getting the run around tell her ur are calling the Ombudsman. That you have been told State law requires an incident report be written and ur called. Be firm, but get the point across.
What?!
Long term care ombudsman, now.
I am with between four and ten different clients on a working day. In every one of those people's houses are our special folders - you quickly learn to spot them across a crowded kitchen, like you can smell 'em. In these folders are our care plans, plus Daily Notes sheets. Every visit must be logged: time of arrival, time of leaving, means of access. Every activity, recording what the client did and what you did. Every concern must not only be logged in the folder but reported back to the office and loaded into the main system. As far as is possible: if it happens, document it.
I'm not bragging - this is NORMAL. And a residential facility is trying to tell you that with their clients handily in the building 24/7, they don't keep care journals? WHAT???
I just can't believe it, on reflection. Who told you this? Have you taken it higher up the food chain?
I am really surprised that the facility didn't give you a call, as when both my parents finally went into assistant living, I was the contact person, and every fall I was notified. I appreciated the calls, but I knew there wasn't a whole lot the facility could do to limit these falls as that was now the norm with my parents.
And there will be times when the Staff wouldn't know how a person had gotten bruised. I know for myself [a senior] I will find black/blue/green marks on myself not having a clue where they came from.... must have bumped into something and didn't think twice about it.
Oh, I found those non-skid socks are not good for seniors. I threw all of mine out years ago, because I noticed if I was walking on carpet and transferred to a wood surface or tile surface, the socks would come to a complete halt making me feel like I was being thrown forward. At that time I was still young enough to catch my balance.
I like what the other posters suggest - go with your gut on this. My mom's in a NH and there have been problems that go unexplained. I stay with it because it's close and I can be actively involved, and the positives outweigh the negatives. Admin and staff turnover can create havoc, so I try to be fair.
But your mom's case is different; they didn't call you, they deny any knowledge and won't provide documentation (was she examined immediately for injuries?), and they are weirdly hostile when you ask questions that any concerned person would ask. Maybe a talk with the ombudsman is needed.
Hope mom heals up nicely - I'll send some healing vibes her way :)
https://ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/Field_Ops/CAU.shtml
Make a formal complaint and copy it to the Memory Care Unit.
Sounds like it's time to look for another MC home for your mom :(
This could very well be a jerk Executive Director that people are not willing to work for. Be sure and do a time line and state that you were happy with the care and the caregivers, be sure and explain how you have spoken to the administration and what you see has transpired. It is okay to state that you feel like you are being listened to in the moment but feel like nothing is being done to address the problems as they persist.
I think you are right, moving mom should be a last resort, but facilities can and are closed down for violations, these issues are the kind that can result in a shutdown. So have a plan B, just in case.
Hugs, not like this whole thing isn't hard enough we have to deal with greed that interferes with the ability to hire and retain good caregivers. You can do this!