Regarding my other cousin

Iris L.

My cousin is finally back home. She is using a cane in the house, and will be getting physical therapy at her local PT facility which is on the next block. I wanted to let everyone know that there has been a satisfactory conclusion to this saga.

Iris

eaglemom

This is the best news yet. Thanks for sharing Iris.

eagle

Jo C.

Did not see this until today. Iris; you are a gem! What a wonderful support you have been for your cousin. So glad to hear that all is going well and recovery well underway. What a dreadful story re the first rehab facility - As I was reading the Posts, I was really feeling quite uncomfortable and worried on your cousin's behalf.

I was also wondering why, if awake, alert and eating with no swallow issues, why she was getting her acetaminophen, (Tylenol), intravenously . . . that makes no sense. The bathroom and sink bit - so dreadfully unacceptable; and certainly reportable for the length of time the toilet and sink were unusable. Wonder if the facility was out of rooms to transfer her to? However, rehab has discharges every day, so they could have made a transfer to a different room. It makes no sense.

Why not a bedside commode? It also makes no sense whatsoever that there was no walker for your cousin to use in a rehab hospital setting. If they had run out of available walkers, one call to a DME provider would have one there for her use within an hour or two. Or; did P.T. feel she was unsafe to use a walker? I also wonder how P.T. did not pick up on the knee swelling and decreased ability for the joint to function and report to the surgeon. Truly odd. Do you think that your cousin, as bright as she sounded on the phone, may also have had a little temporary cognitive downturn for awhile secondary to anesthesia and possible pain meds? Even though your cousin is not there, I would be sorely tempted to report that facility any way since they will probably continue to operate in the same manner exposing others to risks who have no family to assist and advocate for them.

No matter now re your dear cousin; all is well. So glad it finally turned out the way it did. You must feel a great relief.

J.

Iris L.

Jo C, several times I told my cousin what she was telling me about her care didn't make sense to me. I also told her niece. Her niece and nephew were attending to her every day. I also sent my brother, who works in health care, over to check things out and to see what he could do. All of my cousins are professionals and know how to address complaints. So I thought. They were given the runaround. There is no dementia. I really don't know why they all were so passive and accepting of this poor treatment. I prefaced my thread by saying I didn't want to be a long-distance busy body. Frankly, this whole episode has seriously stressed me. I had already talked to her about making an official complaint, but she was not interested. Perhaps after she is more settled at home she may think again. If I were hospitalized and couldn't speak for myself, I would not want my advocate to passively accept poor care. Indeed, this has kept me up at nights.

Nevertheless, she is home now and ambulating in the house with a cane. Outpatient PT will begin in a few days. She is on a good path to recovery now.

Iris

loveskitties

Iris, so very glad to hear that your cousin was able to get home after such an arduous process with the health care system.

It does leave us all with fears of what can happen if we are not able to advocate for ourselves.

Reporting unacceptable care and facilities is not just for oneself, but also for those who follow in the same facility. There may be some there now or in the future who have no family or friends to speak for them.

Hope your cousin's recovery at home goes smoothly.

Iris L.

I understand exactly what you mean.

Iris