Help! I Am Locked In A Bad Rehabilitation And Care Center Formerly Known As A Nursing Home

This article might be a little shock to you. After you are shocked, the best thing that you can do for you and for your family is to prepare them and prepare yourself for the future and cover any what ifs that could or might happen.

After doing extensive research on the topic and after being a somewhat-constant visitor to many hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes and a rehabilitation and care center, I have come to the conclusion that nursing homes are not meant for human beings. The only human beings that most nursing homes can benefit are those humans that have absolutely no family, friends, co-workers or connections. And even then, those patients are not helped either but might be the ones that are most taken advantage of.

These are statements in general about various things that can, did and will happen in your local nursing homes, rehab centers and medical centers and hospitals.

1. Nursing homes and rehab centers and some hospitals will insist that patients wear diapers --even when they do not medically need diapers.


2. Nursing homes and rehab centers will present some patients with contracts/policy admissions or enrollment papers that gives the facility practically complete control over all the assets, money an d real estate of the patient. The documents will give mass permission to the facility to investigage into the patient's entire life, financial, social, psychiatric, medical and more circumstances without even asking the patients' permission again. (They get the signature when the patient enrolls and most time the patient has no clue what the enrollment agreement /contract is.


3. Nursing homes and rehab centers, in some and lots of cases, will try to isolate the family members and co workers and friends from their relatives, patients so that the family members and friends are not witnesses to the nursing home lacks and neglects. The really bad nursing homes are those that want the patient to be separate from their immediate family members even from those family members that have been helpful, beneficial and good towards the patient or family member.


4. Nursing Homes and rehab centers, once they get your signature on Medicaid or Medicare applications, and once they get your application almost processed will ignore your requests to go home, to visit out of the nursing homes and your requests to be connected with people.


5. Rehabilitation and care centers that are bad or going bad will keep their public phones -- on the long term floors -- broken or out of order most times. THey know that is the connection with family members, yet the phones are always either busy, broken or both.


6. They will let patients sit for hours and hours in their own urine and excrement, ignoring their pleas for help and assistance.


7. They will let patients wait for hours on toilet bowls, having them wait to have assistance to come off the toilet bowl.


8. They will medicate patients that are witnesses and medicate patients who complain about conditions.


9. They will lie to families consistently and continuously. There was one case where they told the family member that a patient could walk 90 feet, yet when the family member went to watch the patient, the patient could walk only a few feet at one time and no where near 90 feet. They have lied to other patients about whether patients came out of the bed. For example, a nurse will say, yes she had breakfast in the dining room, but the truth is that she had breakfast in bed in her own room, still isolated from the rest of the population in the facility.


10. They will consistently lose patients' clothing, all the time. There are patients wearing other patients' clothing and there are tons of clothing lost for each year.


11. They will ignore your requests for help. They will make fun of patients, mimicking them when they want to do so.


12. They will take money from residents so that they can purchase cigarettes and other health-harming items for patients who are on oxygen, patients who are sick, and for patients who are not allowed out of the building.


13. Some will take your clothing and not issue any receipts.


14. Some will lose ALL the pants and some of the clothing. The method to their madness about them losing the pants, is this: If the resident has many pairs of pants then the resident can tell the place that he does not want to wear diapers. So, those facilities that want to keep residents isolated, will lose the residents pants so that the resident cannot leave his room. YOu are not permitted to leave your room without pants, of course, and it the place consistently loses their pants, the resident becomes more isolated and more unhappy.

How can you protect yourself and your family?

• Put everything in writing. Yes, write all about it. This way no one can say that you said this or said that. Keep documented records of everything that happened or did or will happen.

These are just some of the ways that these facilities are harming people. I will write more articles about this topic, at a future date,

I created this article on May 20, 2007.

Characteristics of Good Senior Home Care Providers

Home care providers and home health care are a unique breed. While training is needed to meet job requirements, home health care providers must also possess other innate qualities that enable them to compassionately perform job functions, as per patient wishes and the wishes of their families.These special qualities are what make all the difference between average home care and excellent senior care providers. This article examines caregiver characteristics that are necessary for providing invaluable services within homes and communities everywhere.

Senior home health care providers must be able to perform all of the following job functions, including:

• Assisting clients, seniors, and care recipients with daily living activities.


• Preparing meals for clients.


• Any necessary assistance with ambulation.


• Light housekeeping tasks, cleaning, laundry, trash removal, tidying up.


• Attending to all safety needs, ensuring a safe environment for patients and care recipients.


• Effective and compassionate communication with patients, family, coworkers, and all interested parties.


• Confidentiality, as per the wishes of family and patients.


• Understanding and following through on all requirements for the care of the patient or senior loved one, including special needs and patient wishes.

Beyond those basic functions and responsibilities lie the real substance of a home health care provider's role; that of the compassionate personal attendant. Caregivers must go beyond handling the needs of care recipients and responding appropriately to certain job situations, but demonstrate compassion, love, caring, and thoughtfulness. When those qualities are present, you'll know you have a caregiver who not only loves their job, but love those they provide care for. Caregivers, home health care providers, and senior caregivers are dedicated individuals who have a passion for helping people, and are selfless in their desire to improve the quality of life for senior loved ones. Home health providers work as facilitators to achieve a better quality of life for elders in need of support.

Other characteristics of exceptional home care providers include:

Commitment and dedication. Families and elderly individuals in need of home care should rely on workers to be available when needed, honor their commitments, and carry out all job related responsibilities in a highly professional manner. When a family chooses to bring a home health care provider into their environment, the caregiver should be respectful of the situation, as well as any hardships the family or patient faces on an everyday basis.

Creativity. Great home care providers are always thinking of new activities and ideas to introduce to clients, designed to better their quality of life or improve a situation, helping them gain comfort and independence. Additionally, they should focus on creating new ways elderly individuals can carry out tasks and learn new skills.

Judgment. Home health caregivers should always exercise good judgment, and maintain confidentiality, but not when a patient or client is in danger.

Senior home care find their careers very rewarding, and perform invaluable services in homes and communities everywhere. A home health care provider with willingness to help elderly patients and loved ones in need and a caregiving individual who chooses to make themselves available as relief for families is invaluable.

Home care is an excellent option for seniors who wish to continue living in their community and home to feel secure, despite difficulties they may be experiencing. Home care and assisted living providers work with you and your loved one to create a specially tailored plan to meet the personalized needs and services required-and this plan can be adjusted at any point in time to ensure the proper care is provided, as conditions can change. Learn more about home health care services and find out if that type of support would benefit your loved one and improve their safety, health, and well being.

Recognizing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

All residents in nursing homes are entitled to receive quality care and live in an environment that improves or maintains the quality of their physical and mental health. This entitlement includes freedom from neglect and abuse.

WHAT CONSTITUTES NEGLECT AND ABUSE?
Neglect: Neglect is the failure to care for a person in a manner, which would avoid harm and pain, or the failure to react to a situation which may be harmful. Neglect may or may not be intentional. For example, a caring aide who is poorly trained may not know how to provide proper care. Examples include:

• Incorrect body positioning -- which leads to limb contractures and skin breakdown;


• Lack of toileting or changing of disposable briefs -- which causes incontinence and results in residents sitting in urine and feces, increased falls and agitation, indignity and skin breakdown;


• Lack of assistance eating and drinking -- which leads to malnutrition and dehydration;


• Lack of assistance with walking -- which leads to lack of mobility;


• Lack of bathing -- which leads to indignity, and poor hygiene;


• Poor handwashing techniques -- which leads to infection;


• Lack of assistance with participating in activities of interest -- which leads to withdrawal and isolation;


• Ignoring call bells or cries for help.

Abuse: Abuse means causing intentional pain or harm. This includes physical, mental, verbal, psychological, and sexual abuse, and intimidation. Examples include:

• Physical abuse from a staff member, another resident, or visitor from outside the facility -- including hitting, pinching, shoving, force-feeding, scratching, slapping, and spitting;


• Psychological or emotional abuse -- including berating, ignoring, ridiculing, or cursing a resident, threats of punishment or deprivation;


• Sexual abuse -- including improper touching or coercion to perform sexual acts;


• Substandard care which often results in one or more of the following conditions -- immobilization, incontinence, dehydration, pressure sores, and depression;


• Rough handling during care giving, medicine administration or moving a resident.

REPORTING NEGLECT AND ABUSE It is a violation of State and Federal law for any person, including facility staff, volunteers, visitors, family members or guardians, or another resident, to neglect or abuse a resident.

• Anyone can and should report neglect and abuse. If you suspect neglect or abuse, or if a resident tells you they are experiencing this problem, it is important to believe the resident and REPORT THE ALLEGATION IMMEDIATELY. This will help prevent further suffering by any resident.


• Many states have laws that require the reporting of abuse and neglect. Find out what your state requires.


• Put your report in writing, date it, and keep a copy. Convey as much information as you can about the situation. Remember to include:

WHO The name of the victim, including age and address; the name of the facility and the people responsible for the victim's care; the identity of the person who you believe abused or neglected the resident; WHAT The nature and extent of harm and any physical signs of abuse or neglect; any previous incidents; what happened;

WHERE and WHEN the place where the incident happened and time and date of the incident.

Make Your Report To:

• The nursing home's administrator, director of nursing, and social worker


• The state or local Ombudsman


• The local police or State law enforcement


• Adult Protective Services agency - which is part of the Department of Social Services


• The state survey agency that licenses and certifies nursing homes (often in the Health Department)


• A citizen advocacy group or other church or community group that visits regularly.


• Keep trying until you get the assistance you need. You can locate the above resources in:

AFTER THE REPORT:

• Follow up with the resident and facility to make sure the neglect or abuse has stopped.


• Follow up with the person or agency conducting the investigation. Ask for written copies of investigative reports.


• If the perpetrator is charged with abuse or neglect, the charge will be referred to the state licensing authority. If the guilty person is a nurse aide, the charge will be reported to the state nurse aide registry. This registry is used by nursing homes to prevent abusive aides from working with the elderly. Nursing homes are required to check the registry before hiring a person.


• If all the safety options fail, you may have to contact the local media, the U.S. Justice Department, or seek private legal assistance.

3 Tips for Preventing Isolation in Nursing Home Patients

There are plenty of instances of nursing home patients who never get visitors. Perhaps they are in a facility that is far away from any of their family members, or maybe they have no one left. Whatever the particular situation, it is important for the patient's health and well-being to avoid feelings of isolation. Fortunately, there are a number of things the staff and community members can do to alleviate this problem. Using the available resources as well as getting creative and coming up with additional ways to keep all residents as involved and engaged as possible can play a vital role in their overall wellbeing and sense of pride and happiness.

Encouraging patients to engage with other residents, both at meal times and during social activities, is an important way for them to maintain friendships and keep from isolating themselves. By gently encouraging patients who tend to want to be alone to leave their room, you can help them bring a sense of hope and enjoyment to their life. Whether it is a simple encouragement for them to share meal times with other residents, or enticing them to join in on a game or some entertainment, such as a television program or movie night, getting out amongst others can be extremely beneficial in eliminating feelings of isolation and loneliness.

There are often community groups, such as churches and day are centers that are willing to come in to a nursing home and provide some entertainment and social interaction for the residents. Young children can be a wonderful enjoyment for seniors and their innocence and exuberance are often a welcome addition to the daily routine of nursing home care. Inviting these groups in to share some music, cookies and an hour or two of visiting with the residents can be an excellent way to prevent isolation, especially for residents who normally do not receive visitors.

In addition to community groups that are willing to come in and provide entertainment for the nursing home residents, there are often individuals or families who would welcome a chance to come and visit with a particular resident. This one-on-one interaction allows the resident and visiting family or individual to forge an on-going relationship. In fact, families who are far from their own grandparents often enjoy adopting one of these seniors as a grandparent figure for their children. It can turn into a very mutually rewarding relationship that everyone can benefit from. This type of arrangement is particularly effective in preventing isolation in nursing home patients because it gives them meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging. This is an excellent way to help isolated seniors become more involved in the world around them.

Regardless of why a particular nursing home resident is becoming isolated, it is important for those people around them to do what they can to bring enriching and stimulating opportunities to help draw them out. Residents who become isolated are at a greater risk of depression and other health related issues.

Discussing Elder Care With a Senior

When it comes time to decide on elder care arrangements for you or your loved one, it's best to get the family involved in the process. Besides giving advice and understanding the situation, they can also provide moral support to the individual who is moving. Family meetings give everyone a chance to get together to air thoughts and share information.

Calling a Family Meeting

If you or a loved one has concerns about an elderly family member, it is time to call a family meeting to discuss his or her situation and future. The best time to call a family meeting is before the situation turns critical and quick decisions must be made. The aging individual has more input at this stage and more options available in terms of elder care. It's smart to put a plan in place even if it is not immediately needed. Hold a family meeting when:

• There a decline in health


• Finances are a concern


• There is medical emergency


• The primary caregiver needs help


• The aging individual asks for help


• There are concerns about him or her living alone

Who Should Attend?

It doesn't matter who calls the family meeting. It could be a caregiver who provides day-to-day support, or an adult child who lives out-of-town and wants an update about what's going on. The importance is communication and making sure that everyone involved is on the same page so that there are no misunderstandings in the end.

Family meetings typically include adult children or grandchildren, siblings, and other close family members or caregivers affected by the situation. Depending on the elderly individual's current physical and emotional being, he or she may attend the family meeting. However, these meetings are for family members to speak candidly about the elderly relative. Therefore, you may not want him or her to attend as to avoid hurting feelings or being offended. Typically, after an initial plan is in place, the affected individual joins the meeting.

What Should Be Discussed

Whoever plans the meeting, should make up an agenda of concerns that can include:

• Information about the individual's health


• Feelings about the situation


• Daily care giving needs (in-homecare vs. assisted living)


• Financial concerns


• Who will make all decisions or given power of attorney


• What roles do family members want to take

Schedule subsequent meetings if all the topics aren't covered. Follow-up meetings are also good to discuss how things are going at that time.

Problems The Elderly Face Living At Home Alone

For the elderly, living alone can be a tough thing. With children grown up and moved out and increasing problems that come with age like loss of mobility, maintaining independence can be a struggle. There are a number of common, everyday obstacles that the elderly face, each requiring a solution or attention. Family who are worried about older relatives living on their own should task themselves with creating a more comfortable and safe environment for them.

Trips and Falls

Physical limitation is one of the most common problems that the elderly face. Older individuals are always at risk of injury from even a minor trip or fall - with nobody there to tend to them afterward, any accident can be a serious one. Alert necklaces and watches are one of the top selling safety solutions to at-home accidents by providing the individual with simple, one press alarm that calls for an ambulance in the event of a serious accident.

Restricted Mobility Around the Home

Physical limitations and disability can also restrict basic movement around the home. Stairs, entranceways and ledges can become difficult to navigate with disability and poor mobility - especially if the person in question relies on a wheelchair. Nobody wants to have to move home to keep their independence, especially if they have lived there for years.

There are many solutions to breaking down the barriers that poor mobility can cause. Stair lifts are a fantastic way to make all levels of the home accessible while platform lifts can make wheelchair access easy both inside and outside the home. These new technologies are fantastic alternatives to concrete ramps and often a lot more affordable than expensive construction work.

Difficulty Getting Out of the House

Maintaining independence in the home also means successfully completing day-to-day activities and errands like grocery shopping. Physical and mental impairment can cause issues, especially poor mobility, hearing and vision loss. Mobility scooters are one solution that makes travelling to the store a breeze while some carers offer errand running and shopping services to take the stress out of day-to-day life. Those who are a bit more tech savvy might be able to find solutions online through internet grocery shopping - a service that many supermarkets offer - or with a simple food box delivery set up by a family member.

Maintaining independence is incredibly important for a lot of elderly people. Age can bring with it all kinds of problems, but most of these obstacles are easy to overcome. Create a more friendly home life for your relative by seeing to these issues as they develop.

Deficit Reduction Act Changes the Way We Think About Medicaid - Nursing Homes

I'm still dumbfounded that Congress determined it was necessary to take away much of the Medicaid Planning that was available to the public.

What is Medicaid you ask? Well, it's complicated.

This is a federal and state funded and state administered medical benefit program which can pay for the cost of the nursing home if certain asset and income tests are met.

There are basically four ways to pay for nursing home care:

1. Private Pay. This is the method many people are required to use at first. Quite simply, it means paying for the cost of a nursing home out of your own pocket. Unfortunately, with nursing home bills averaging between $4,000 and $4,500 per month in our area, few people can afford a long term stay in a nursing home.

2. Long Term Care Insurance. If you are fortunate enough to have this type of coverage, it may go a long way toward paying the cost of the nursing home. Unfortunately, long term care insurance has only started to become popular in the last few years and most people facing a nursing home stay do not have this coverage

The first two methods of private pay (i.e. using your own funds) and long term care insurance are self-explanatory, our discussion will concentrate on Medicare and Medicaid.

3. Medicare - This is the national health insurance program primarily for people 65 years of age and older, certain younger disabled people, and people with kidney failure. Medicare provides short term assistance with nursing home costs, but only if you meet the strict qualification rules.

4. Medicaid - This is a federal and state funded and state administered medical benefit program which can pay for the cost of the nursing home if certain asset and income tests are met. Since the first two methods of private pay (i.e. using your own funds) and long term care insurance are self-explanatory, our discussion will concentrate on Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicaid has traditionally been the way many people paid for long term stays in skilled nursing facilities. For instance, if a loved on is facing a nursing home stay due to an illness such as Alzheimer's, Medicaid may pay for these costs. But the rules are much tougher now than they have ever been, due to changes in the law that occurred in 2006 under the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA)

The main thing to note is that there are many ways to still qualify for Medicaid paid nursing home care, and many planning techniques that may still be available, even under these tough new laws. But you need a qualified Elder Law Attorney to help you navigate through the ever rising riptides.