five or more times in moms nursing home pressed help button and no one comes till i have to go to nurse station and then wait another twenty minutes. Is this acceptable or am i over reacting? Mom is usually in a dirty diaper.
2007-01-02 10:23:53 · 13 answers · asked by Candi R 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
gotta wait in line....only so many helping hands for those in places like that. normally its best just to lend a hand yourself, things get down quicker.
went through it all with grandma for 2 yrs.
2007-01-02 10:27:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not acceptable. For one thing, when the help button is pushed, if it's like nursing homes I am familiar with, the nurse/attendant has no way of knowing if it's an emergency or a bathroom call. What if you mom was choking, or had some other serious, time sensitive problem. I assume this is the same reaction she gets when she is alone.
I don't know where you are from, but in my area I have found the care in nursing homes is horrible. Action is needed, and the only way to improve the care is making noise, keeping after people. Mind you, often it isn't the nurse/attendant's fault, they may be understaffed. But that is no excuse, then more staffing is needed, I realize funds are limited, but cuts should not be made that affect patient care needs. Someone has to take action or it won't change. If necessary go to the board, write letters, call your health department. There is no excuse for elderly people to be treated this way, it's too bad we don't respect our elders the way they are in some countries.
2007-01-02 19:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by Joy K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not over reacting but this is common. The nursing homes are usually understaffed especially on the evening and night shifts. The fact that you are there at all will get you help faster usually than someone else. I would document how long you have to wait, what time of day and the number of nurses and assistants on duty...and the dates. Turn this in to the day shift nursing director personally and keep a copy. To be fair you might want to observe if you actually see anyone "sitting around" instead of working. If they are working hard and you feel they are understaffed this may help get more staff. Also, if you get no results you have the right to call an ombudsman and complain. The nursing home should have their number posted where you can see it without asking. If not, then ask. Good luck!
2007-01-02 18:33:40 · answer #3 · answered by bethybug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are to respond as soon as possible, but they are probably understaffed as all the ones I've worked at. Yes, 5 minutes is too long. It is illegal to have the alert button out of a patient's range but they are done that way purposely sometimes. Document the times with a witness. See who's at the desk. The range of nursing home care is is very wide. I had a patient that would press that button every 2 minutes all night long. They had thrown her out of every nursing home and two hospitals in the area. I quit and never went back to nursing. I was taking care of 30 patients at the end because everyone was leaving. That gave me less than 2 minutes per client. Keep looking.
2007-01-02 20:21:01 · answer #4 · answered by lyyman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, your not over reacting, but sometimes they are under staffed.
My father used to be in a nursing home before he passed away
(3-22-06) and we would have the same problem as well. We
would do the same thing, get up and go look for a nurse just so
he can get the proper care. And we would feel sorry for the other
patients when they would have to wait for a long period of time.
my sisters and I would sometime just would just help each other
out and change him ourselves, because we didn't want him to get a rash. My sister that had power of Attorney would speak to
the high nurse regarding this matter. Just let them know that you
don't want her to get a rash. And if they still continue then speak
to someone high then all of them. That is their job and they should try to keep up with all their patients.
2007-01-02 18:42:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are NOT overreacting at all. . I just read this horrible article in the newspaper about just this thing. How there are sometimes up to 30 patients per care-provider . . . and how this negligence can cause major medical problems (bedsores, infections, etc) . . . and how this is totally unacceptable because almost all these nursing homes operate in the red and there is no excuse for it at all. I would make sure you show up there pretty frequently to observe the standard of care your mother is receiving. I'd also document any sub-standard care you feel she is receiving . . . and if it happens enough I'd move her to a different facility. The dirty diaper issue is not a good sign.
2007-01-02 18:32:39 · answer #6 · answered by Freedspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it's not acceptable and for the ones saying how awful it is,well yes it is...nursing home are notoriously understaffed,with a heavy work load for the staff that do work there...think about it how many people who answered this would want to work there for low pay,long hours,difficult work...i have been a nurse for 20+ years and have worked in nursing homes with myself being the only nurse with 2 nurses aides working an overnight shift with a patient load of 30 people..the only way to guarantee proper care is to get involved,yes the staff are being paid to do the work but family participation is always welcome and greatly appreciated..only other solution is to take her out of there into your home and provide all the care yourselves,not an easy task....people tend to forget that their family member is not the only person who may have a need at the same time and if you have 5 people asking for help and only 3 staff members available someone is going to be waiting
2007-01-02 19:31:08 · answer #7 · answered by charmel5496 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. What they are doing is illegal. You can always talk to the director of the nursing home. If all else fail, you should call the local newspaper so they can do an article to inform other people around your area.
You can also sue the nursing home for neglect after you warn them a few times.
2007-01-02 18:31:31 · answer #8 · answered by The Doctor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's everywhere! My 100 year old grandmother fell out of a chair and no one came for 10 minutes! Nursing homes are overrated. You are defiantly not over reacting. If your paying thousands of dollars a month and receive shitty service then theres a problem. Go to the head administrator or manager and complain. They might for a second go out of there way. who knows. sick lazy people these days if you ask me.
2007-01-02 18:30:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No you are not over reacting. You need to make a complaint on this situation. Your mother should be attended to immediately if she pushes the help button. She should also be kept clean. File a report and check in on her at different times. I would be livid and would demand answers........
2007-01-02 18:31:31 · answer #10 · answered by autumn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get your mother out of there. what's the matter with these people? contact the better business bureau, local news stations, or her social worker. i just don't understand how lazy, and heartless people can be to the elderly. what they don't seem to realize is that what comes around, goes around, and one day they may end up in a nursing home.
2007-01-02 18:48:48 · answer #11 · answered by lidakamo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋