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DiscussionCaregivers use different practices and techniques - no arbiter!
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: May 11 10:55am | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "@tsc I guess I set my expectations too high with the facility I chose for my..."
I am so sorry you experienced that. Not all facilities are like that at all! Still, you need to keep an eye things no matter where. I believe all states have facility inspectors and you can report suspected or actual, violations, negligence and abuse. Also, I believe many cities also have a local "Ombudsman" that acts as an advocate for residents in facilities. You can also contact them and report any issues.
My relative had been in assisted living for years now and while there were some issues at times overall it was the best thing for everyone. Within a short period of time after arriving at the facility they literally went from being unintelligible and immobile to being almost like they were their entire adult lives, but they are far older now.
Your experience scares me. I hope I do not have to place my wife in a home. It is so hard to fine a good one and the help changes a lot as does management. A good home today could be a poor one tomorrow.
Dementia at any age is so sad, but at 64 yrs old, how cruel. You did your due diligence and thought you had found an appropriate facility for your husband's needs. Understaffing and low pay contribute to the quality of care, but that shouldn't be an excuse for substandard care. You are a wonderful example of the most important thing a spouse or responsible relative can be....the patient advocate. And how fortunate that you (so far) have the ability/means to resume his care at home and were able to reverse his rapid decline due to neglect at the facility. Not everyone could have done what you did. It is almost a certainty that he will require more care than you are physically able to at some point, but if you have the financial means, hiring in home care (which you can more easily supervise) will allow you some personal freedom while insuring he gets the best care possible. For those not so fortunate, at least visit the facility as often as possible and be the patient's advocate to all of the staff involved in his/her care. The level of family involvement is an important factor when staff and resources are limited (which is nearly always).
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My mom broke her leg a few years ago and was put into rehab - I felt like I had to be there every day to make sure she was taken care of. Since my father died last year, two of my brothers have told me (and my mom) that if I weren't here, she would be in a nursing home. I promised both Mom and Dad that I would care for them. After your experience, I intend to keep that promise.