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Including the social worker, some nurses, aids and director of nursing. Many have been reported by many families and some of them turn them against you.They get by with it. You cannot ask questions. Help! They plot and when you go to a supervisor that you know would get things done they become more mad. Things are missing from the rooms and they use personal belongings as if it's theirs. It's a mess. When it comes to the care planning meeting they get upset that you have to report things over and over because they keep doing the same things and you fill out a concern form and they try to use it against you.2 people are to use a lift and you catch them only with one person,beds and chairs smells at times. they become angry if they have to use a lift to put others in bed or their chair. They stand around and gossip about the families and the residents as if it's a joke. It seems as if the administrator doesn't care. What else can the different families do. They even hate to change the residents. Sometimes they have sat in their feces for hours and it turns your stomach. But at the same time they don't want the family to say a word. Turn over is terrible. It's as though they hate you without a cause. Many families are there at the NH mostly all day and every day because we love our love ones.

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All nursing homes are not like that. Maybe it is time you looked for new placement for your loved one.
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Sounds like a terrible facility, if you have a choice, move. If not continue to report, in fact step it up until bad personnel is gone. Go above their heads, contact the management. Complain to the Dept. of Heath of any other regulatory agency you can think of, Social Services, etc. Take action. It is unacceptable to leave anyone unchanged if they are soiled. Both for dignity and hygiene reasons. Be there often and for a long period of time. Don't engage the staff in petty arguments, just observe and report. Again, go to management.
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The kind of attitude you're describing can only be changed from the top. And if the Director of Nursing shares it, that whole NH has a major problem. Van's approach is the correct one: don't get mad, don't get heated, get stony-faced and doggedly report the facts as they arise. I'm afraid you have not a fight but a long campaign on your hands.
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I agree with Van. This is a situation you cannot change. On the other hand those of us who do have loved ones in such facilities, know that states regulate the numbers of patients to staff, as well as the training of social workers. I have noted over the years that this has changed. For example in Oregon the ratio of nursing staff to patient is DOUBLE to what it is in INDIANA!! Medicare reimbusement is the same, so this money goes up to the top. In Oregon, social workers had bachelors degrees and in Indiana they take a 6 days worth of training! The lack of professional staff make a huge difference in the "culture" of a nursing home. I too have been totally disgusted by nursing staff, and at other times find a great nurse who really cares. State Board of Health should be notified, you might also write a letter to the editor in your local paper.....lots of people read this......but look for another place!
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Call the Ombudsman and write to the Joint Commission on Nursing Home Accreditation. And find a new facility.
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This place sounds like you need another facility for your loved one. Do it immediately. You can also make your concerns known to the licensing board in your state which regulates standards of care for nursing homes.
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the idea of going and being there frequently and for a long time is a good one. plan your visit so you are there over the course of a few different shifts and bring your camera to record anything you see, because if you can put photos to your notes and observations this is very powerful when you finally come to assembling these and providing your report to the various entities people have mentioned here. You will be surprised by the power of photos to support your observations.
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i cannot understand the anguish you must be going through. my mum is in a care home and i have nothing but respect for all the carers, the place is spotless, no smells, and lots of respect for the residents & the families, all questions are answered. it seems the staff in the one you are stating are in the wrong proffession.( sorry i would need to be restrained) to joke about residents & family i would lose it completely. no doubt about it. if they were caught using any of my mothers possesions.( belieive me they would need a hospital bed) maybe the wrong approach i agree, but when you have a loved one in a care home you expect care, respect, and certainly not neglected. they are not getting this at all, i`m surprised families have not taken them out of this place before now, call the care commisioner and report this behaviour also the enviormental health. tell the supervisor who you think will act on this youre intentions, this may help get the ball rolling, demand another social worker, get loved ones out of here asap. if the shoe was on the other foot, would youre family leave you there? i`m seeing red just having read this, animals are treated better, i hope other families do the same, report it quickly. wishing you all the best.
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Put every one of your serious complaints in writing to the appropriate supervisor and copy the administrator. Save copies of everything you write. Take your Cellphone with you and take pictures. Print them out and save them -- send them with your complaints.

This kind of attitude by staff comes from the top down. No one is being held accountable and the inmates are running the asylum.

More important! Get your loved one moved to another facility as quickly as you can.
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You mentioned that " turnover is terrible" I take it that means you are seeing different staff all the time, no one stays for long.A high staff turnover is a BIG red flag, get your loved one to another facility.
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I agree, find another facility. Seems that the powers that be aren't doing their jobs and so the employees are getting away with murder. This is not the norm. Believe me. I have a daughter who has worked in the system for almost 20 yrs. She as an LPN could write up CNAs and get them fired. An RN could write up the LPNs. Three Xs and your out. And believe me, my daughter has gotten CNAs fired. You will always have your good employees and your bad. When you come across a bad one, talk to the Director of Nursing I had one who intimidated my Mom. When my daughter came in, I told her and she went right to the DON. That CNA never saw my Dad again. I agree that the state should be called. I will lay you 2 to 1 they have fines against that facility. In Delaware where my daugher works, seems they are always inspecting.
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Start looking for a new facility immediately. I find that my nose is a good guide to many things, If it smells clean or not at all, then make it candidate for your mother's next home. Also look at the appearance of those living there, do their clothes look clean and their hair and nails. Look at the corner of the rooms to see if they are really clean.
Sloppy management often means unhealthy situations for those living there. Just move, don't fight the good fight. Your wellbeing and your mother's are the most important things in this situation. Sometimes you can't fight city hall. Good luck and tell us how it works out.
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Contact your county's AREA AGENCY ON AGING or whatever it may be called. Tell them and ask them for an OMBUDS-PERSON to visit and tell complain to the facility. Believe me, these OMBUDS people can put the SCARE into these places really quickly.
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I have often spent 24 hours at bedside of my wife and believe me the staff is on their toes when I am there. Also I find that the social worker, when confronted with problems and complaints tend to be more responsive than staff or doctor. Social worker can be a good interface with facility. AND be sure to write everything up and send to everyone concerned.
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There is no excuse for this kind of behavior. How do they treat your mother? If you can, get her out of there as soon as possible.
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Satisfactory (at the most) nursing homes are few and far between. My husband was in a rehab facility/nursing home adjacent to one of the most expensive retirement homes in DuPage County. In other words, he was in the "assisted living facility" to which residents of this exclusive retirement home are transferred when they can no longer care for themselves. It was the pits! As his advocate, to get things done and properly, I had to stand out in the hallway and yell! One of the nurses said to me, "Yelling isn't going to resolve anything." I said, "You wanna bet???" I demanded to see the head of the whole shebang, and within minutes she was at my side. When she saw what my husband and I had to put up with, she cracked the whip pronto, and everybody came running from every which way. After that, the service improved considerably. As your loved one's advocate, don't be afraid to raise the roof! They don't expect that and when it happens, boy do they hustle their bustle! Good luck! I was very glad when the day came that my husband could be dismissed from there and came home where he would get stellar care.
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In my opinion they are all bad... it's just a matter of how bad. The system is broken; not enough help, low-paid aides, and big money going to the top. Your mom is lucky you are watching, think of those who have no one. Take pictures and videos so you have proof. I don't know how to change things but the Department of Health supposedly but they're swamped.
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As Medicare? Medical, pays your loved one's bill, and you paid all the years for that, you have the right to speak up. For them it is a business, so hit where it hurts. Call Medicare/ Medical, ask for a transfer to a better caring facility. This will prompt questions by Medicare as for what is wrong, they want to know of those deficiencies, since they do have contracts with the facilities, and rate and pay them based on the clients satisfaction( provided by you). This will not benefit you directly, but the people coming into that facility after you, r drive them out of business. So do your loved one a favor, and move elsewhere.
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You need to report this to the State. Help is hard to come by in these homes and the management probably is fearful of loosing help. One thing I noticed is that the staff is only as good as the management. If the management is nasty and hard core, then that sort of runs thru the population of the help. Any group is only as good as its leader. I just think it is horrible for the elderly to have to pay SO much and be treated so poorly. What is wrong in our generation that we cannot show respect for the elderly. I told one worker once...That she had better show better care as it will come back at her and told her SHE would be old someday. Would she like to be treated that way?
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If you were treated this way in any other place, why would you stay/go back for more?
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mmills0313... People on Medicaid don't have a whole lot of choice as to where they are placed. The better homes require private pay the first years to get in.
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This is probably true. The best thing is picking a AL that has a long term nursing section. When needed, you just transfer over. But a medicaid patient should not be treated any differrent than a private pay. My daughteris not allowed to distinguish between the two.
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A lot of ppl have recommended finding a new nh. It's not always that easy. In NY, you have to be "accepted"; you can't just "enroll." I hate the fact that in some ways they have the upper hand. I would document all your complaints and take them to the nh administrator. You should get some action that way. If that person does not help, I would report everything to the department of health and Medicare/Medicaid. My mom is in a pretty decent nh, but they are understaffed at state minimums. The powers that be are on a terrible power trip. And in some ways it just sucks! My friends mom is in one of the best nhs in her county and she'll tell you the exact same thing. However, both our mothers have private rooms. We would lose that if we went somewhere else, and the care would not necessarily be better. So before you move your mom, do a lot of research to find the best place you can. Go on several tours. Talk to other family members with residents similar to your mom about their experience. Be aware that in most nursing homes, the long term unit is different than the short term unit. Make sure you see exactly where your mom would be living, including her room and roommate before accepting any opening. Good luck.
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It continues to shock me that shared rooms in nursing homes and ALFs seem to be quite common in the States - is anyone working on that? Are the regulatory authorities trying to phase them out?
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Countrymouse, absolutely not! Why, if everyone had their own room, the homes would lose money. God forbid! Who cares if an older person lives an undignified existance? They're just an old person, on their way out anyway. That's the attitude. So if you have a private room, even if you have to put up with all this other crap...that's as good as it gets. I wish we as a culture felt differently about the elderly. After all, a lot of us will be old someday.
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I agree with ALL of the above! Unless this is the only facility in your area get your loved one out of there. At the very least form a committee/action group and watch/write down EVERYthing. Report to all authorities, State, Senator, TV station. If you have to get action group to go in on an attorney. You'd be surprised what a letter will do from an attorney's letter head. Good Luck and God Bless
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Shared rooms have upsides and downsides. Sometimes it is helpful to have another person to call for help or just be company. I recall visiting a friend in a rehab facility in a shared room, and the family of her roommate kept an eye on her as well and were very nice. If the roommate is almost vegatative and snores, that's not so nice.
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But Christine that's what I find baffling about it - the development of good practice in care for older people is at least as advanced in America as it is in Europe, if not more so in many respects. On the other hand, I suppose there is more emphasis on commercial freedom of action, too, and hence more resistance to state regulation.

I also take Partsmom's point about the potential benefits of having built-in company - as Piglet would say, "it's friendlier with two" - but that seems to me like a two-edged sword at best. Vegetative and snoring is one thing; what about moaning or humming or garrulous? Or attached to a "distinctive" brand of perfume? The horror, the horror...
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VickiRuff I KNOW that. So is your remark also directed at everyone else who advised looking for a new LTC facility?
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mmills0313...You asked why they would stay, and I responded that people without money don't have a lot of choice as to where they are placed. As Christine 73 stated, in NY you don't have much choice. I also live in NY and agree with that statement. It's not as simple as leaving because you don't like it. JoAnn29... I'm sure patients are treated the same within each facility whether or not they are on Medicaid. But the facilities that do not require private pay up front (for people without money) are not usually the good ones.
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