skilled nursing facility issues

Texas16

Unfortunately, my mother has been relocated for long-term care to a skilled nursing facility (TX.). Not our first experience with a s.n.f. Issue is how to hold facility accountable. Have found out firsthand that filing a complaint with health and human services is a waste of time. My mother suffers from both ALZ and dementia. ALZ has also altered her thirst so she doesn't voluntarily consume enough fluids on her own. Thanks to covid, she also lost her mobility. At the moment I'm able to spend a significant time every day with her which allows for fluid intake. However, will have to go back to traditional employment soon. Twice I've walked in to find her water mug on a table across the room. Twice I've arrived to find her water mug left behind in the dining room. Three separate days I've found medication on the floor/furniture. Two of those days the med being her anti-psychotic. I've talked with multiple staff members to include director of nursing. Conversations didn't fill me with confidence the situation would be resolved in a positive manner. Short of winning the lottery and being able to afford a lawyer, I don't know what else to do.

Marta

Your goal is that your Mom receive adequate hydration.

Obstacles in the way of that goal are: 1, Mom cannot access water on her own. 2. Staff are not providing access to water in a manner that you deem appropriate.

Number 1 cannot be changed, unfortunately, and even if she could access water, she may not take it on her own.

Number 2 CAN be changed.

You could request a meeting with higher ups You would approach this meeting in a collaborative manner, keeping in mind what your goal is: to get water to your mother. Ask for their input on how to make this happen. Negative input from you will not get the job done. Ask what their protocol is for making sure residents get adequate hydration - your Mom is not the only resident with this issue. You are not there 24/7 to see how much fluids she actually receives. Have you seen any signs of dehydration? At the meeting ask how residents are monitored for dehydration. You want collaboration, not antagonism.

If the above approach is ineffectual, you don’t get a lawyer- you move Mom to another facility.

BassetHoundAnn

At my mom's former memory care facility I often found her anti-psychotic meds sitting on the table by her bed. I would take a pic of them and e-mail it to the head nurse and the facility director. You don't leave meds sitting on a table anywhere, not in a memory care where other residents might wander in the room and swallow the, and not in a skilled nursing facility. It's just not done.

They would always promise to remedy the situation, but still I would find the meds on the table.

These facilities are required to record who exactly is administering meds. So they do have a record of who's leaving meds on the table.

I do know my mom sometimes refused to take her meds. Different strategies would be tried. Crushing them into pudding, applesauce, grape jelly, etc. Usually those tactics worked. The aid who was leaving meds on the table just didn't want to bother ensuring that she swallowed them.

loveskitties

Since you don't seem to be making any headway with the facility regarding these issues, you might want to try this:

https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/your-rights/complaint-incident-intake/how-do-i-make-a-complaint-about-hhs-service-provider