My 89 year old dad recently has had to stay at a nursing home while he received an intensive antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection(UTI).

At first I was very impressed with the nursing home staff and the quality of care they provided.  He was supposed to be there for 7 days.  It's 6 weeks later and I finally get to bring him home this Sunday.

My biggest complaint is with the doctors that cared for him.  I started noticing that he was becoming weaker and weaker each time I saw him.  I mentioned to the Dr. that I thought he might be dehydrated.  Two days later the Dr. came to me and said she had ordered tests and he was dehydrated.  Then a few days later he developed a C-diff infection which is sometimes a side effect of the antibiotic treatment.  Another 5 day treatment.

Then the UTI came back so they had to use a different antibiotic....  a few days later I noticed no urine in his catheter tube.  I mentioned this to the nurse and said I thought it might be clogged, sure enough it was clogged.

A few days later, clogged again and I had to point it out once again to the nurse.

He also was having trouble holding anything in his hand.  I brought the Dr. in showed her, and she ordered blood work.  His potassium levels were low.

Yesterday, when I went to see him he was the color of a tomato all over his upper body.  The nurse was changing his clothes and I asked why he was red.  She hadn't noticed it....  turned out to be a reaction to the latest antibiotics.

There were a lot more problems with his care, but I think you see where I'm going with this.

I'm writing this as a caution.... I expected the staff and Drs to be good at treating their patients.  Unfortunately, it seems just like mechanics, contractors, RV dealers and other professions we should be able to trust to do their jobs right....you can't, you have to keep watch over them and make sure they do a good job.

What happened to good quality service ????  I want the fifties back, even the sixties...products were good and service was good.

The Bear II

I am glad your Dad is home. I see no problem in your mentioning the nursing home by name and its city, state location.

Truth is the best defense against libel.  So you have nothing to fear, but one or more of us might contact this place inadvertantly. 

I am so glad that your dad is home now! We had a similar experience with my mom a few years ago when she was in a nursing home facility for "rehab." I agree with you, what has happened to pride in one's work and doing a job well just for the sake of doing it well? We all need to be aware of these facilities as we may also be faced with either having our parents in one of them, or even ourselves. Gotta be thinking ahead. Enjoy time with your dad!

I'm glad you finally get to bring him home, and hopefully he will recuperate much better and faster now.
gypsy

I'm sad to say that your dad's story is probably the norm as far as treatment from Nursing Home staff is concerned based on what I have heard from many people.

My only experience w/ a nursing home was my 101 year old grandmother had had a few mini strokes and her 85 yr old daughter (my aunt) was no longer able to care for her because of my aunt's rheumatoid arthritis.  Prior to entering the nursing home, my grandmother was mobile with the use of a walker.  She was having trouble sleeping so she would want to get up and walk around at night.  The staff's solution to this was to tie her to her bed.  Within a few weeks she was not able to move on her own (I know...she was 101 but I still believe she didn't deserve to be tied down like some animal).  Anyway...the last time I visited her she was sitting in a wheel chair in the hallway all by herself.....other people were scattered around the nursing home in a similar fashion.  It was very depressing.  My opinion is that these nursing homes do not care about their residents......it is very clear.   Having said that, I'm sure there are some good ones out there.

-Colleen

Please don't paint all nursing homes with a broad brush as bad.  There are many excellent ones out there.  That's like saying all RV owners are bad because one left trash at Wal-Mart after an overnight stay.

My wife is a nursing home administrator, and works extremely hard, long hours to ensure her residents have the finest care and the best service humanly possible.  70 plus hour weeks and phone calls at night are the norm.  The results are a spotlessly clean, award winning first class facility with a waiting list to get in.

So choose carefully, but know that there are good people out there that really ensure other's care as if it was their own loved one.

Best Regards!

Paul,

I apologize for grouping most nursing homes under one label.  I also know several nursing home staff and realize that they are doing the best they can with the resources they have available.  Nursing homes tend to have high turnover rates due to the demands of the position and insufficient pay for the work load.  There are excellent nursing homes out there, but you do have to look for them (and many times pay more for them).  The residents should be thankful to have your wife caring for them.

Colleen  

Colleen, No worries, I understand perfectly how people can be frustrated with nursing homes, or mechanics, RV salesmen or Old Snipes, etc. Alot of the problems stem from Medicare payments, or lack there of. Always sems like beancounters that administer those payments look for ways to disqualify charges. My bonnie bride loves her work and her residents. She loves it even more when we get out in our RV and leave all that stress behind! ;c) Best Regards!

My almost 95 year old Dad passed away a month ago.  He spent the last 2 years in a nursing home and there were issues but my brother and I kept an eye on him and things went pretty well.  He remained mentally and physically active. The first of July he went into the hospital for 10 days and was discharged sicker than he went in due to poor care, (a very long story) and that was with us staying with him as much as we could. My brother a chiropractor and me a nurse so we do have some medical knowledge. He was discharged with pneumonia and bedsores he had never had before.  The Dr. asked if we wanted him back in the hospital and we said "No way".  He died peacefully 5 days later. He had a rather long history of renal failure and the Dr. said he would have to start dialysis if he recovered and Dad didn't want to do that so we had to let him go.  So......it's not just nursing homes, it is also hospitals !!! 
I am trying very hard to stay healthy so I don't have to go to either one !!!!!!

I'm sorry that you lost your father.  How wonderful that he remained mentally & physically active up to that time.   My sympathies are with you.
gypsy

Update Time..... First of all thanks to all of you who responded. I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. Dad has been home for a couple of days and is snapping out of the malaise created by the nursing home. Here's a couple of more issues I've discovered: They puree'd his food, hand fed him and smashed his pills into powder so now he can't swallow anything larger than a pea. Plus he is having trouble using silverware. They did not take him to the bathroom to do his duty.... instead they just left him in bed and then cleaned up after him. So now he doesn't realize when it's time to do his duty. He looks good and is responding to our re-training so hopefully he will get back to a normal routine quickly. He is weak due to lack of exercise, so we are working with him to build his muscles back up. I learned a lot while he was in the nursing home. If there's a next time, I'll know what to watch for. Thanks again.... The Bear II

Sorry your Dad is having a rough time.  I'm also going through many similar problems with my Mom's care at her "home".  It's good that you are there to keep an eye on things.  Ask to speak to the nurse or director and discuss the care plan and what they should be providing as far as evaluation, care and treatment.

Just a point I need to make, when you see people at nursing homes, very few of them are Nurses (registered nurse or licensed practical nurse). Most of the caregivers are nurse's aids or care techs who have limited education and are there to provide basic pt care. The nurses usually (but not always, depending on the state) give meds or do treatments. 

Hope your father steadily improves.

Judy, RN of 30 years

Just a thought, it your Dad is on Medicare and he's had a change in condition you could probably get limited physical therapy for him to assist with his weakness and loss of muscle.  Also ask about OT for help with the eating and utensil use.  They can often do wonders in a short period of time.  Check with the doctor.
(I'm no Medicare expert but have had a bit of this experience with Mom)

-- Edited by Judy the Other at 18:59, 2008-08-27

I just reread this thread and had skipped Colleen's post yesterday.  That hits the nail on the head; I couldn't agree more. The mid-range for aids is $24,000, some jobs may not include healthcare as a benefit and if it does the employee will pay a large portion.

Healthcare should be on our minds as we head to the polls next month.  (Whoops, I meant Nov.  The election hoopla has been going on so long it feels it should be over next month!!)

Judy

-- Edited by Judy the Other at 19:10, 2008-08-28