Elderly concern?

Question

I work at a retirement home serving senior citizens their breakfeast and lunch.

Now I see this resident sitting there at her table.

She sat at that table for about 6 and a half hours.
The nurses didn't pick up this resident and she can't say much because she's 99 years old.

But this kind of thing gets me mad when the nurses won't pick up a person and make her wait. I consider that neglect.

What can I do to help her out so that this won't happend again?

She is in a wheelchair.

Answer 1

I don't know what you mean by pick her up. If you mean wheel her to her room ... Go ahead you Can DO THAT.OR TAKE her to the sitting room .rec area something like that.

Answer 2

That is sad and I am not going to say it does not happen. But it is true the people who do food are not allowed to help because of liability. And most of them are understaffed making it very difficult to get everything done. But any person who sees this should have been able to find someone who could push this woman back to her room or somewhere else long before 6 1/2 hours went by. People can be forgotten or someone might have said I will get her and then got busy with another patient.I have been there on the aides side and it is very hectic and they give you a lot of tasks to accomplish with very little time to do so. Just one side track can make it next to impossible to finish all your work. That is why I got out of the nursing home.

Answer 3

This is the problem with nursing homes. Only when family members visit daily do you have staff members who make sure that certain residents are looked after fairly quickly. But everyone there deserves to be treated with that dignity and respect. Just remember, a nursing home can be where any of us end up.

Answer 4

Sadly, this happens at "retirement" homes all the time. Many times there is not much that you can do. But a few ideas are: Does she have family that visits? Ask her family to get more involved. Talk to the social worker at the facility and ask the social worker to get involved. Ask some of the more mobile residents to pay attention to her. Find a friendly nurse that will pay more attention to her. And, as a caregiver, I am sure you pay attention to her, which she appreciates in her heart. God bless you for caring.

Answer 5

Like before mentioned, DO take time of day and date of these actions. Many times the workers are "busy" and "forget" things to do. A suggestion is not necessarily take it to the admin. representatives. [you will be a whistle-blower and frowned upon!] Instead, take it to a Omsbudman and / or Social Worker. They have no employee association with the care center and are independant advocates.

In the meantime, do ask if it is "ok" to bring so-an-so to their room, when meals are over, if that is what the 'sitter' would like to do. Make sure that you leave him/her OUTSIDE of the door so that they are easily seen by the staff !! Taking her/him directly INTO the room will only add in the neglect!
Ease their comfort at least, if the workers don't.

Thanks for caring for someone in this way. There are too many cases of people 'sitting' for hours or being in bed 'for hours' without any nurturing because of being 'busy'. [ "Looking" busy that is. ]

I speak from experiance... and have "called on" workers or anyone else, even nurses...who too, were 'too busy' with not only my mom, but other residents. [like serving jello with grapefruit in it for a person taking Lipitor... you can't have grapefruit! ]

Sometimes, it made me mad that people get treated worse than pets! Thanks, again.
Good luck/God bless.

The previous answerer has it right!

Answer 6

This is really sad, but I have just read the other answers, and if you were to follow their advice, you may possibly "rock the boat" and put yourself in job jeopardy! I would recommend that you go immediately to the family and tell them what you have witnessed! Then call Social Services and tell them the same story and also be sure to let the family know that you will also be contacting S.S. From there it will be out of your hands, but you will still have a job, and will be able to continue to monitor the Home and the safety of the residents. G-d bless you for the wonderful and caring person that you are.

Answer 7

I work in a nursing home and this is one of my pet peeves. I am a nurse and feel everyone there is someone's mother,father,sister, or whatever. I am leaving this field and going back to the hospital because there is never enough staff and when you complain about it you get in trouble for your attitude so I guess I am better off doing short term nursing. It breaks my heart most of them do not have families to fight for them. Do talk to the administrator or if you want call the state. In Ohio they have strict rules about care of the elderly and trust me they will listen.

Answer 8

I know what you mean. I worked in one for a very short time, long enough to see that kind of stuff going on. It is bull that they are done that way. I don't know how it is at the one that you work at, but where I worked at, if you worked any other department than a nurse or aid, you were not allow to move or help a patience. I worked as house keeper. There was a lady in one of the rooms that I was cleaning. She asked me if I could help her get on the potty cause she needed to urinate. I told her I was not allowed to help patience's out (as far as moving them and such). I pushed her button to call her nurse. I cleaned the rest of the rooms on that side. I came back later (about an hour later) she was still sitting in her chair. I asked her if any one had come in there yet to help her. No they hadn't. She couldn't hold it much longer. After about 3 hours went by, a nurse did go in there. I heard that nurse get mad at her cause she urinated on herself. She had to bathe and change her. I also saw on a number of cases that they would have to sit in either their wheel chair or a dining chair for hours at a time. It is sad to say the least. I even tried to talk to my boss about it. She thought that I was "stepping out of line". But I personally think someone some where needs to know what is going on in those places. I have even noticed while I was there that they would put on "airs" when "guest'' where there to visit. I am not talking about the patience's family's either.

Answer 9

You have my feathers ruffled. I relize you may not want to jepordize your job but I would do one of two things. I would find out what family members come ( if any ) to see her and tell them about the incident and if that is impossible I would call human resources and ask their advice on a situation like this . Even if she is not able to go to the bathroom and wears under garments she still should have been taken bake to be changed. This kind of sh** really ticks me ( I'm not directing this towards you in any way ). It's just that someone lives through 99 years of life they should be treated with some dignity!!

Answer 10

This is unacceptable and is considered Elderly Abuse.

Do you have a good report with any of the employees that are suppose to provide direct care. Could you bring this neglect to their attention.
If not, then talk with someone who has authority and explain what you are witnessing. Give them details.

If this doesn't work or is not possible for you to do because of your position---then you should call Adult Protective Services in your specific County.
Depending where you live, they might even have a 800 Hotline number that you could call -- anonymously.

Thank You for caring so much and taking the time to find out how to help this lady. (((HUGS)))

Answer 11

First of all there is usually one or 2 nurses..{R.N. or L.V.N.}one to pass medications the other to do treatments..the others are aides. One of the nurses should be notified that the patient is still in the dining room..they usually don't have time to check there and depend on the auxiliary staff to move patients to and from the dining room and other areas of the nursing home..I agree she should never have been left there, unless she is adamant about staying there.