My partner (who is almost 87 and very disabled through strokes) recently went into a nursing home for respite care. They sent him home with a massive bruise on his shin (I asked about this and "nobody knew anything about it"), a 3-day growth of beard, and smelling far from fresh. They have a lovely brochure boasting about their service and menu, but the level of care is far from acceptable. If I knew how to report this and who to, then I'd do it.
2006-09-16 03:14:09 · 18 answers · asked by Songbird 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Its very discouraging to go to the nursing home to see someone you love in total dis-array. I am a hospital RN and worked in a nursing home for 10 yrs before I obtained a nursing degree and also had my dad in a nursing home for 3 years before he died.
Nursing home care is definitely not what you are going to get at home. It is at the least minimal. I always tried to be as much help as possible. He called me one morning to tell me he had to "****" and no one would take him to the bathroom. I heard giggles from the nurses in the background. It was very upsetting to him and they just seen it all as a joke.
You can report it, but it gets you no where. Nursing homes are understaffed and they get a lot of call ins and basically they are overwhelmed with sick people and unfortunately the people who do care are far and few in between. Nurses assistants do not make enough money for the work they do and some of them are just there to get a paycheck and get on out of there.
Nursing homes are masters of cover ups. When the examiners come calling, suddenly they have everyone doing there jobs even the people who are in the administration part of the business who never come out of there office are suddenly so interested and helping to feed the pts lunch and working like an ant colony. They are so ridiculous in there cover ups. They suddenly are
showing how much they care. I seen it and I know. It is a fact.
I would suggest you go to the nursing home administrator and tell him how disappointed you were in the care of your partner.
Then call the payor source such as medicaide and complain to everyone who listens.
2006-09-16 03:30:27 · answer #1 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your local social services and ask for the Inspections Unit tel no, or you may find it under social services in the phone book. There very very good. I was a lay assessor for them and they dont mess about withe complaints. If you feel you are able, the manager should give you the number. But i understand this may not be possible
Every home is inspected and is given a copy of the report. When selecting a home, you should alway ask to see this report first.
2006-09-16 03:57:37 · answer #2 · answered by smiley face 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Filing Complaints Generally
It is usually best to file complaints in writing and to keep copies of all correspondence. Here are some tips for what to include in a complaint letter:
Provide very specific information in your complaint as to what occurred, including times and dates when problems occurred when possible, names and addresses of witnesses, etc.
If the problem caused the resident to receive medical treatment, provide details and indicate where the medical treatment occurred and the names of any treating doctors.
Note whether you made a complaint to the nursing home staff. If so, indicate when and who you talked to and what the response was.
Detail what action you wataken.
If there are specific laws that you believe are being violated, explain which law and include section numbers for that law.
Note whether the problem was an isolated incident or is ongoing and whether it affects more than one resident.
If the resident was injured in any way, consider talking to an attorney who specializes in personal injury law.
If he is on Medicare I have also listed a second website that might help you. Make sure you take pictures of his injuries and document any phone calls or letters that you write. Make sure to get the name of the person you talked to and write down what that tell you so you can have a record of your conversation. Also put down the date and time.
2006-09-16 03:35:22 · answer #3 · answered by lynn_from_florence 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to put a detailed complaint in writing to the manager of the care home, copy in CSCI ( address for your local office is on-line or should be displayed with the care homes complaint procedure) and your partners care manager.
The home should have records of any injury sustained during the stay which should include a body map.
CSCI may well ask the home to investigate or visit the home depending on the current rating and inspection report, if they cannot evidence how the bruising hap pended it may be referred to the POVA team ( protection of vulnerable adults)
2006-09-16 03:27:47 · answer #4 · answered by horsegal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the local social service agencies. They can give you more information on filing a report. Many states require nursing homes to be inspected regularly. A report (with evidence of abuse or neglect) may help speed up the inspection process. I hope your partner is doing better now.
2006-09-16 03:24:20 · answer #5 · answered by TJMiler 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the Commission for Social Care Inspection should be able to help ((are you in the UK that is ??)
http://www.csci.org.uk/
and even has a link for how to make a complaint
http://www.csci.org.uk/complain/share_concerns_and_complaints.aspx
Good luck with getting this resloved, a care home should be a "home away from home" with a loving, protective environment. You should take action if you believe anything is wrong, if they have nothing to hide, the Home will co-operate
2006-09-16 03:22:23 · answer #6 · answered by blue105sjm 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your local social services department will be able to advise you. Also consider contacting someone at the local health authority. If it is a nursing (as opposed to residential) home, it should be registered with them.
Sorry to hear about your partner.
2006-09-16 03:18:25 · answer #7 · answered by meynell35 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the care standards agency would be best or the social services as it sounds like abuse has taken place if nobody can justify the bruising
2006-09-16 04:12:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Local Council Health Authority & CAB to take the matter further
2006-09-16 03:21:18 · answer #9 · answered by edison 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my husbands gran a few years back was in a bad nursing home and we were complaing to the social services but if that does not work theres allways the papers , we tried to get his gran moved to a different care home but she died she was also not washed or changed her nappies i visted her and allways tried to get her clean clothes also they didnt give her her right meds hope your husband is feeling better at home , take care
2006-09-16 04:38:30 · answer #10 · answered by marie the cat lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋