nursing homes

Lots of questions. ...
are they all terrible? Is it just the one my family member is in? They don't come to bring her to the bathroom often enough. The elderly can't hold it in for so long! Then they leave her sitting in her own urine for hours. They don't give her eye drops she needs for glaucoma. I'm so frustrated and upset.

Are city/brooklyn rehab facilities better or worse than long island ones?

Bringing cookies and trays and being nice didn't work. Yelling didn't work. Is there a trick to get them to be better?

Thanks

nursing homes

In my experience they all have their own issues. The only thing that was helpful for me was to constantly call and keep on top of them as best you can, really that is all you can do. City ones may be worse, not really sure. I took a look at one or two in NYC and one of them was 6 people to a room, which was crazy to me. So sorry you are going through this, I understand your frustration.

Re: nursing homes

I think in general they are not great. I dont think all the staff are terrible I just feel the ratio of residents to staff is not the best so it is difficult to take care of everyone perfectly. However, not giving medication such as glaucoma drops there really is no excuse. All medications should be given which could include drops, creams, etc not just pills.

When my great aunt was in a rehab everyone would go and visit so often. There was someone everyday even with us being there. She fell on two different occasions trying to go to the bathroom because no one was coming and she had to go she said.

I dont have much advice such try to be present as much as possible.

nursing homes

All I know is when my great grandma needed to go to a nursing home my grandparents started volunteering at that home and were there several times a week, on purpose to make their presence known. However this was like 20 years ago.

I see a huge issue with not giving her medication and letting her wet herself and then having to sit in it. That to be is straight up negligence and I would be furious if that happened to my grandma.

Re: nursing homes

Some are definitely better than others but like another poster said, they ALL have issues.

I used to do discharge planning from nursing facilities and I can't even tell you how many people had "incontinent" written on their diagnosis list, when the real issue was there wasn't staff available to take them to do their business.


If taking the person home is an option, there are programs available. Family still needs to be involved, and the programs are not with their share of issues at times either, but still usually much better than a facility.

Talk to the social worker.

nursing homes

Definitely make a formal complaint to the social worker. The facility will then have to follow up. You can go with the fact that she didnt receive her medication. Not all nursing home are bad. Unfortunately staffing is mandated by nys and it's usually like 5 people assigned to 1 aide. So if that aide is assisting someone else, then the other people wait.
As morningcuppacoffee said, there are programs to take your loved one home if u can swing it. In Suffolk it is the family service league/ u can ask your social worker to make a referral.
Also they aren't any better in the city. They'll follow the same rules bc it's all nys dep of health.

Re: nursing homes

My grandma was in 2. We really liked Island Nursing and rehab center in holtsville. I felt like there were always people around taking care of her.

My grandmother was on a vent so when the vent unit was shut down there, she was transferred to one by good sam which we did not like. at first she was being neglected. I won't go in to details but when I confronted the head nurse, she thought i was crazy until then they saw the problem.

If there is a social worker there, I would voice my concerns to that person and see if anything can be done.

Re: nursing homes

nursing homes

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It's so sad that there isn't anything better for our elderly.

I'm going tomorrow and will try to put in a verbal complaint. If that doesn't work I'll put a formal complaint in writing.


We'd like her to eventually be able to go home but would need 24hr care and I don't know how possible that is to get.

I thought maybe long island would be better than bk/city but I guess not

Message edited 7/21/2014 3:54:13 PM.

Re: nursing homes

Message edited 7/21/2014 4:09:57 PM.