I need some medical care legal advice ....
I am desperate to get some advice on the care that my elderly Grandmother has been receiving but I do not know where to go . I am just putting it out here to see if anyone has any ideas . About 3 weeks ago my father found his mother (my grandmother ) on the floor and turns out she had fallen and broken her leg . Took her to the hospital and they had to replace part of her femur ( not sure exactly what they fixed and its not what I am worried about ) Since she is in her 80's the accident took its toll on her mentally . She sometimes thinks my father is either her husband or her father ( who she hates and she started punching) Anyways my father told me last night that at the rehab center he has been told that they can not sedate her or restrain her because it against the law ?? Is that true ?? The reason it was brought up is because sometime she gets violent and also they have to keep her in a sort of lounge recliner because she wont stay in bed and has FALLEN 3 times !! This does not sound like the kind of care that a women in her 80's who has just broken the largest bone in her body should be getting !??!
Also my father told me that when the nurses change shift they do not seem to pass on patient info because when he has been there the new nurses will not know things like that his mother is almost deaf or that she can not see ......
Any advice would get greatly appreciated , I am flying up next month and I want to be prepared . Should I call a lawyer or something ???
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
It sounds like that particular rehab center isn't equipped or staffed to meet her needs. She should be in a different kind of facility. Maybe you could ask the doctor for a recommendation.
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Thanks , I have never had to deal with anything like this so I am completely in the dark and being as far away as I am basically helpless . My father is old too and is not the kind of person to question a Dr or someone he feels knows better than him . I have an older cousin who has been visiting my grandmother also and I am trying to contact her to see how see feels too ......ugh
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
I am really hoping to hear from more of you !! I have been trying to Google something and I am not getting anywhere .....
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
She needs to be transferred to a facility that is equipped to handle her physical and mental issues. As far as information not being passed from one shift to the next, thats just bad nursing care.
Every hospital and nusring home I ever worked in we had to report off, going down the list of patients, and giving a general report about who they were, what their condition was, meds they were on, and anything that had happened that day that might be useful to the next nurse taking over.
In an elderly patient, breaking a leg is very devastating to their health, and recovery takes a long long time. Sometimes, they never fully recover. Its not unusual that she is becomming confused, but she needs to be moved to a facility that can handle her.
I would call around rehab centers and ask them if they are equipped to handle her case, mention that she has been becmming violent, and that issue needs to be addressed and handled appropriatly. Also make sure to ask them what their patient to nurse ratio is. A lot of times the reason why care isnt as good as it should be is just because there arent enough nurses on staff, and a nurse can only handle so much at once. I have had up to 24 patients to care for on a shift before. That is just to much. I did my best, but of course, care is going to suffer becaue time can only be divided so many ways.
Or, you might transfer her home, and call some home health care offices, and see if youcan arrange a visiting nurse to come over every day. They also usually have respite services, where a nurse can come over and sit with a patient for 4 hours or so to get the main caregiver(your father, I assume) out of the house for a few hours to take a break.
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
ok, there are nursing homes out there equipped to deal with this. When i was a CNA I worked in one that had 8 levels. One of the levels was a "hospital" type level. Where those that had physical medical conditions stayed to get rehabbed.
i don't know what the laws are in fl, but in oregon, we did use restraints but only with a dr's orders, or if the person was going to hurt themselves or another patient.
it's so hard to see someone going through this..it sounds as though she has dementia. good luck hun
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
In addition to transferring her to a hospice or another care facility (which I agree with those who have posted... ) You may want to look into applying for guardianship of your grandmother, either you, your grandfather or father so that she can not contest or try to leave the facility.. if she is confused like you state, it sounds like she is suffering from dementia. A guardianship of her would keep her safe, keep the facility from doing anything she requests, and everything would have to go through whomever has been appointed her guardian.
I used to work for a law firm who handled mainly guardianship cases, and most were elderly. It is sad that someone has to step in, but at the same point, it avoids the crappy care of your grandmother, and puts some rules into place. More than likely the facility is treating all of you badly because they know you have no legal rights.
I hope this helps and I hope your grandmother is doing better.
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kaylinn
She needs to be transferred to a facility that is equipped to handle her physical and mental issues. As far as information not being passed from one shift to the next, thats just bad nursing care.
Every hospital and nusring home I ever worked in we had to report off, going down the list of patients, and giving a general report about who they were, what their condition was, meds they were on, and anything that had happened that day that might be useful to the next nurse taking over.
In an elderly patient, breaking a leg is very devastating to their health, and recovery takes a long long time. Sometimes, they never fully recover. Its not unusual that she is becomming confused, but she needs to be moved to a facility that can handle her.
I would call around rehab centers and ask them if they are equipped to handle her case, mention that she has been becmming violent, and that issue needs to be addressed and handled appropriatly. Also make sure to ask them what their patient to nurse ratio is. A lot of times the reason why care isnt as good as it should be is just because there arent enough nurses on staff, and a nurse can only handle so much at once. I have had up to 24 patients to care for on a shift before. That is just to much. I did my best, but of course, care is going to suffer becaue time can only be divided so many ways.
Or, you might transfer her home, and call some home health care offices, and see if youcan arrange a visiting nurse to come over every day. They also usually have respite services, where a nurse can come over and sit with a patient for 4 hours or so to get the main caregiver(your father, I assume) out of the house for a few hours to take a break.
Thanks , I really do not want to bring her into the house in her current condition because 1 my dad works from 3pm - 11pm and I would be home with her which leads me to 2 I have a 9 month old . I don't expect them to treat to her like the queen of perisa because I know how hard they work and they are busy BUT damn letting her hurt herself by falling 3 xs ???
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sassysummer
ok, there are nursing homes out there equipped to deal with this. When i was a CNA I worked in one that had 8 levels. One of the levels was a "hospital" type level. Where those that had physical medical conditions stayed to get rehabbed.
i don't know what the laws are in fl, but in oregon, we did use restraints but only with a dr's orders, or if the person was going to hurt themselves or another patient.
it's so hard to see someone going through this..it sounds as though she has dementia. good luck hun
THanks , My family is not in Florida they are in Massachusett's so thats why I am on here trying to get answer instead of at the rehad yelling .....ugh I am so pissed . To me it was just common sense that in a place of healing (hospital or otherwise) that the staff can take measure to prevent someone from hurting themselves even if it means restraints ......in a mental hospital don't they sedate people ?? They actaully told my father that it was ILLEGAL to restrain her ?? WTF I just don't by that for instint ...the poor women and she is humilating herself by being able to act like this .....maybe I should fly up sooner .....
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gynger
In addition to transferring her to a hospice or another care facility (which I agree with those who have posted... ) You may want to look into applying for guardianship of your grandmother, either you, your grandfather or father so that she can not contest or try to leave the facility.. if she is confused like you state, it sounds like she is suffering from dementia. A guardianship of her would keep her safe, keep the facility from doing anything she requests, and everything would have to go through whomever has been appointed her guardian.
I used to work for a law firm who handled mainly guardianship cases, and most were elderly. It is sad that someone has to step in, but at the same point, it avoids the crappy care of your grandmother, and puts some rules into place. More than likely the facility is treating all of you badly because they know you have no legal rights.
I hope this helps and I hope your grandmother is doing better.
I wonder about this because my dad keeps telling me about a few papers he has signed ......
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yekhefah
It sounds like that particular rehab center isn't equipped or staffed to meet her needs. She should be in a different kind of facility. Maybe you could ask the doctor for a recommendation.
Very true. If she is a threat to her health or anyone else, she CAN be restrained.
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Ok I talked to my Dad last night and he told me that my Grandmother was brought to the local hospital because she was freaking out more than normal and they could not handle her . My Father went to the hospital and to his surprise she was FINE ! She was sitting up she had color in her face she knew who he was BUT she did not remember having out burst or anything crazy that had happened . The hospital seems to be doing things right because like someone on here suggested they had someone stationed by her bed at all times and also my father said that she was really clean and even smelled good . I told him that he needs to talk to her Dr and explain everything and see what they recommend as far as where she should go next . I am even more convinced that that Rehab she was at is not the right place for her since as soon as she was out of there she was almost 100% again .....Thanks to everyone who has offered help here and if you have anymore advice I am listening !!
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
OK, I've only read your post, none of the other responses, so if I'm repeating or anything, bear with me.
First of all, I'm soory that your gram has to go through this. My elderly great-great-aunt just went though the same thing, except her leg is only fractured. Anyhow, the fall seemed to make her dementia go from OK to TERRIBLE in the matter of seconds. She doesn't remember any of the family and doesnt understand why she was in the hospital and now a nursing home. Sometimes, she even tells me that she just got home from work (even though she's in a hospital-type bed!). Anyway, b/c she forgets where she is and who the nurses are, she is constantly yelling at them to leave her alone, get out of her 'house',etc. She was also trying to pull her IV's out and walk on her bad leg. They eventually did have to restrain her and literally tie her to the bed. They did it with soft terry-cloth arm restraints and she has a helper stay in her room at all times to watch her and take out of bed as needed.
So, maybe the law varies state by state, maybe the place where your gram is at just can't handle her. You could try to call the Attorney General's office, or try to get some referrals of other places from friends and other family.
Either way, I understand what you and your family is going through. I wish you the best and hopefully your gram will have a quick recovery.
EDIT: I just saw your recent post .... definitely sounds like it was the rehab place. What my family is planning on doing is getting at-home care for my aunt. We have to wait for her leg to heal and then they'll allow us to take her home once we can prove we'll have 24hr care. It's about the same price as a nursing home: $100-110/day.
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Ugh so now my dad calls to tell me that my Grandmother is in the ICU at the hospital because "somehow" she got food in her airway and was not getting oxygen !!! She is ok now but I have not gotten any answer as to how food got in her airway and I would really like to know since she is being hand fed ........Then a few days later my Dad gets an early AM call from one of the Dr's asking to him un-sign the paperwork he had sign originally that would allow the Drs to anything they could to revive her if something happened BUT when he went to the hospital later that day to discuss that the Dr's did not bring it up but instead they where telling him how good she was doing and insisted that her wake her and she seemed fine to him ......this whole thing is driving me nuts and I can not wait to get my ass up there to talk to these people myself . Augh
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
I think you should firstly speak to the manager or whoever is in charge of the facility before going to the expense of getting lawyers involved.
ALso find out who is the industry regulator for health facilities such as this in your state and you could give them a call and find out some information on the standard of care and relevant law from them.
If you do this and you are still not satisfied then maybe get into contact with a lawyer.
My mum is a nurse who works in aged care and her patients pretty much all have dementia. It sounds like your grandmother unfortunately might have it and she needs to be in a facility that specialises in this type of care.
If patients are violent however they get moved from my mum's facility to a psychiatric facility that is more equipped to handle those patients.
I hope everything works out.
Re: I need some medical care legal advice ....
Yes she does have dementia and it is being treated . We do not have many mental health places in this country anymore , they did away with most of them 20+ years ago so unless you are REALLY sick then you go into a nursing home or whatever . I am just more or less venting right now until I can get up there myself and since we do not have power of attorney I am not sure how seriously they will take me ......ugh oh well thanks for the support