They keep all her medicines to prevent overdoses etc, but if she needs pain relief at night they say the staff cant give it her, as they arent qualified?! Also I have problems finding out who has responsibility for her overall.
2007-12-16 07:56:56 · 13 answers · asked by Joan W 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
I work in two care homes, I do day shifts, I do night shifts. I know that medication has to be kept away from some residents because they are at risk of overdosing, but there should ALWAYS be somebody there 24/7 who can administer pain relief. I can't believe that a care home would employ only unqualified night staff. (Not that I'm doubting what you say).
Overall responsibility for your mother belongs with the home manager, and if he/she won't or can't do anything, go to CSCI and get them to inspect the home ASAP. This sort of thing should not be happening anywhere.
People in care homes, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices etc are all vulnerable and they all need the highest degree of care, day and night.
2007-12-16 08:37:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear about the problems you are experiencing.
Your loved one should have had a full assessment to determine her suitability to self-medicate or not. If they feel she is not suitable to keep her own medicines, then this should be documented in her care file and care plan. This however, should not prevent her from obtaining pain relief when required, assuming she has been prescribed this by her GP, the care staff should be trained to give out prescribed medication when required, they should also have some "home remedies" that they can give out for pain relief, although this can only happen twice before a prescription is needed. Speak to the manager of officer in charge, tell them about your concerns, if you get no joy then contact your local regulatory office of Commission for Social Care Inspectorate, just type in CSCI in your search engine and this will take you to their site.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not take her any medication in an envelope, this could have some contra indications with other medication she may be on, and could prove more harmful.
Good luck in your venture, and dont give up til you have the care for your loved one that she deserves and has a right to.
2007-12-16 08:12:52 · answer #2 · answered by missjugded 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Legally they cannot take these medicines away from your Mother. It is a care home not a nursing home. Ring your local social services and tell them in polite but no uncertain terms that you want it sorted.
If you get a negative response report to the social care ombudsman.
After a lot of bad publicity all social services are running scared so be firm.
Whilst in the home she should have a copy of the care plan which should be updated every week or on change of condition. If she hasn't got a copy kick up stink.
2007-12-16 08:44:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The staff who administer drugs will have undergone training and an assessment in order to be able to do this - there should be someone who has undergone this assessment on the nightstaff - if there's not then you want to know why - your parent should have access to analgesia at all times.
The person in overall charge will be the manager of the home, but your parent will also have a Social Worker - known as a Care Manager - ask the manager of the home for her name and telephone number.
I hope you get some resolution to this problem.
2007-12-16 08:06:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Complain to the Registered Manager. They should give you an answer imediatly. If not contact CSCI. They are the Commision for Social Care Inspecterate. They have responsibility for ALL care homes in th UK. they would send out an inspector that day who would investigate the complaint.
The home should also have a Policy fo complaints, but it would be worth going straight to the manager.
Nursing homes should have a nurse in charge on each shift, they should be qualified to adminster medication.
http://www.csci.org.uk/
2007-12-17 06:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the home doesn't have the staff to deliver the level of care necessary for your parent then they are failing both morally (as needlessly leaving a vulnerable adult in pain is morally wrong) and legally (under various Acts of Parliment and case law).
Your priority will be to get pain relief to your parent, so speak with the relevant healthcare professionals.
You may then want to weigh up the choice between re-housing your parent in a home that is better suited to meeting her biomedical and social needs, and/or making steps to have the provision at the current improved, e.g. contacting CSCI.
2007-12-16 08:11:13 · answer #6 · answered by mRNA 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sit down and make a written list and then go to the facility and find someone who will address all your questions.
If you have to....Put a few of her pain pills in an envelop where only you and she knows where it is....so if she has a problem at least that one is covered.
I've heard good things and really bad things about care facilities. Be sure to drop in often. If they don't know when you are going they will not be able to hide abuse. And watch your Mom's reaction to some of the people, so if she won't tell you things you will still be alerted.
2007-12-16 08:02:29 · answer #7 · answered by Lyn B 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Speak with your mother's physician. See if you can get a signed letter from your mother in order to do so legally. Find out what she can have and when. The doctor can "order" pain medication to be taken as particular intervals (even if it's just tylenol) on a "prn" (as needed ) basis. So, the physician should "prescribe" even Over-the-counter medication, that way, the people dispensing the medications can see that is part of her prescription regimen, even though the rest of us are on our own as far as taking these meds.
Good luck
2007-12-16 08:03:43 · answer #8 · answered by Helen DDS 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whomsoever is running the place, (the director, the manager, the contact person, whatever the title) is the person you need to speak to.
can't get the answers you want? There are agencies that can and will step in.
My FIL is in a facility that is very responsive to his needs and we have had no problems
2007-12-16 08:30:36 · answer #9 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No parents in a care home, I am a nurse however, she should be able to receive analgesia at night if she needs it. You can see her Dr and the pharmacy that supply her tablets, they can arrange to have the analgesia added into a blister pack as pain relief.
2007-12-16 08:03:08 · answer #10 · answered by milly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋