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My mother lasted about 2 weeks in a so-called "skilled nursing facility" after being transferred there from a hospital. She had CHF and they let her get way overdosed on potassium . . . and I believe dehydrated also. The LVN and I couldn't figure out what was happening as she had been doing so well. I wanted to slap silly the sassy, smart mouthed little CNA that was on the day shift. She made it clear she didn't want to be bothered with the inconvenience of having to clean up any messes made by the patients. God forbid that any elderly sick people should make a mess (!!!?????) It was definitely all about what was easiest for her. It was a constant battle and an infuriating experience. A scenario that is repeated who knows how many times every day in this country. Carole ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Wilson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 3:58 PM Subject: Nursing Home for PWP > This is Larry Wilson...one more time...and I am closing. I will not be > sending or receiving messages after this one. And thank you to the many > that sent condolences. I just got back from the funeral. > > For those that are thinking of putting a loved one into the nursing > home...don't. > > For PWP patients this has been a most frustrating experience. My brother > John continually had "bed sores", lack of checking for his incontinence and > bowel movement, lack of exercise, lack of medical care, and just in general > lack of attention. If it is necessary to go into the nursing home there > must be a caretaker to look after the PWP...and this must be daily for some > time....probably an hour or two a day. > > Nursing homes will take you in...and promise you care...but the reality of > it is they just do not have the personnel to take care of you individually. > I really liked some of the personnel, but again, they did not have the > capacity to fully maintain John...even though they said they did. They have > a schedule and if you don't fit their schedule they will let you just exist. > They are essentially a holding place for you. They medicate you on their > schedule...as the nurse goes down the hall medicating everyone - one by one > down the hall. If you require medication that does not fit their schedule > they will eventually fix it so you fit their schedule. > > Do not believe what the director says...verify it. I hate to say it but > nursing homes are for people that are dying. My brother died in 9 months. > The mistake I made was to agree with my sister-in-law that it was the best > thing to do to put him in a nursing home. Wrong...in so many ways! If the > PWP does not have a caretaker that cares then PWP loses...and with his life. > > I saw physical exercise as giving him life. They saw it as preventing > death...or immobility which is easier to take care of...for them. > I saw medicating him properly as necessary for movement and mobility. They > saw it as a nuisance...time consuming. > I saw .......... > > Larry Wilson > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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