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There are definitely skilled nursing facilities that are good. And there are definitely families who "dump" family members in a facility and have little contact with them. Carole ----- Original Message ----- From: "Texas_Parkinsonism Advocate" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 8:09 AM Subject: Re: Nursing Home for PWP > Pardon me, but my lovely wife of 24 years has worked as a licensed social > worker in the nursing home environment for over 15 years. So I would like > to say one or two words on the subject. > > 1. Nursing-homes are just like our homes, we all live on a budget. Yes it > would be nice to have marble floors and vaulted ceilings. With the best > staffing money could buy. But the reality is that most nursing homes must > subsist on the pittance received from Medicaid for the vast majority of > their residents. > > 2. How many of you that have complaints have ever attended a care plan > meeting of your loved ones? My wife, the social worker, takes great pride in > her planning and notification of a patient's care plan meetings. And the > reality is nine out of 10 times the family is in no show. > > 3. How many of you have volunteered time and energy to be in nursing home > ombudsman? > > I'll leave that that with the understanding that my wife takes pride in her > work and truly cares for those whose families who rarely if ever comes to > visit them. But shame on you that would paint the nursing-home industry > with a wide brush of your discontent. Just as we must be advocates for our > own personal struggles with this demon we call Parkinson's disease. So must > you be the advocate for your loved ones whom you have institutionalized. > > Sincerely, > > Terry Bowers > -- As a young-onset patient of Parkinson's Disease, > a progressive, degenerative, as yet incurable > neurological disorder, Terry has become a tireless > Advocate, speaking and writing on behalf of > Parkinson's patients and their families and caregivers. > > To invite Terry to come and speak to your group, > club or organization contact him at > [log in to unmask] or call him at 254-747-0856. > Topics include Parkinson's Awareness, > Activism and Self-Determination, Bioethics, and > Stem Cells and Their Sources. > > "A cure by 2005" > Texas Parkinsonian Advocate > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Maxine Krugman" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 9:40 AM > Subject: Re: Nursing Home for PWP > > > i would like to add one comment to this thread about nursing homes or > assisted living facilities, etc. if you have information about parkinson in > a > concise form, written or are willing and able (or know someone qualified) to > do an in-service at the facility, that will help as well. > most facilities would like greater knowledge about the situations with which > they regularly deal and a half hour session about relevant parkinson issues > can go a long way. discussion of how getting the meds at a certain time will > not only be better for the patient but make it easier on the staff person as > well because the meds will work better, last longer etc. > mood issues with PD, protein in the diet and when etc. are all things when > explained briefly but thoroughly might turn a light on for the cna who could > be caring for your loved one. > even if you develop a one page list of general, key parkinson information > with bullet points, or get one from your local caregiver agency, npf, apda > or > loads of others, you will be doing something significant. > and consider going to all the skilled licensed facilities in your area...not > just your loved one needs this help. > maxine > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn