Print

Print


Good morning:

I visited my brother, Sherman, yesterday.  He is doing fine.  But my
sister and I had to visit the administrator of the nursing home he is
currently in.

(A brief history) In June, Sherman, 73/8, returned to our hometown after
two years out of state and entered a care facility. He doing so well
that the Doctor has him on 6 mo. appointment schedule.  But, with PD and
a history of alcohol abuse, Sherman does have some impairment in his
reasoning skills.  He is not capable of living alone, which he of course
wants to do. He is also indigent.  My sister did all the paper work to
get him on assistance so he would be in the care facility and not on the
street). Enough history.

Last Monday as my sister was pulling into the driveway of the facility,
she saw Sherman trying to get into a car with a stranger, a 30ish woman.
The woman was very unkempt and in a "wreck of a car".  My sister, ask
Sherman were he was going. He said "with my niece Cindy".  Sherman does
NOT have a niece Cindy.  He was taken out overnight.

My sister went inside and found that the woman had signed Sherman out as
as being his niece.

This is what Sherman told my sister.

A young nurse in the facility has told him that he does not belong in
the facility.  He should be out living in HER house. The nurse lives
with her two children and mother and does not have a room for Sherman.
But she said that he could live there for less than in the facility and
he would have some money. (We are not talking large sums here, he has
only Social Security and welfare).  The trip overnight was to show him
her home.  He said he had five drinks.  The Cindy that picked him up was
a friend of the nurse.

Now Sherman is trying to figure out how he can move in with her and get
out of the facility. He doesn't want to be there. I don't blame him for
that. I don't want him to be there either, but I don't want him dying in
the street drunk.  As soon as he has money he will drink.  Welfare now
cares for all his needs and my sister and I furnish the candy, phone
cards, etc.

So that is the story.  What do you think.  My sister stewed about it
since Monday. She, nor I, wanted to break Sherman's confidence, but how
many times have we told our children "its for your own good".  We
thought of confronting the nurse to explain Sherman does need to be
there.  But we decided we should tell the administrator.  She was
appalled! She will take care of the situation.  The administrator said
that she had had complaints about a nurse that was spending too much
time in my brother's room. She was planning to talk to the nurse about
that anyway.

If Sherman leaves the facility he will lose his welfare benefits and
would not be able to get back into the state health care system.  He
children for varies reason refuse to help.  My sister and I do as much
as we can to make this easier, but can not take over his care.

My question to PWP, Caregivers, and whomever, is did we do the right
thing in telling the administrator, breaking Sherman's confidences.

Chris

PS: Sherman said the nurse told his he was "cute" and kissed him on the
cheek.  He was thrilled.  What is it about you old codgers that make you
believe anything a sweet young things coos to you? ;·)