12/5/2012 – Meeting at Acute Rehab Center with entire staff.

As a result of our talk yesterday the 3^rd of December in mom’s room I decided I needed to talk about this matter some more. As I stated then I am in shock about your assessment of her current condition. Both my husband and several of the other staff have noticed a GREAT improvement in my mother’s condition and to come in to hear you telling her she was not doing well was shocking. So, I thought well it must be best if she moves on if you all do see her progress and do not want to continue to care for her.  That was when I came out to the desk and was talking to you and Orlee about Life Care Center. And who the attending doctor would be and what did he know about strokes, etc?

I was contacted less than 24 hours into moms stay by Marcia who was telling me about assisted living.  I asked her to back up and see what the rehab staff was going to be able to accomplish first. It was very disturbing to get that call. It was as if there was no hope, and or they had no confidence in the staff or my mom’s condition in less than 24 hours evaluation.

Now, all I hear is that it is time for mom to move on to the skilled nursing facility because she is not participating enough.

Let’s look at that:

Why did you wait to start the Ritalin?  We lost at least 2-3 days on that.  What else can we do to get her the help she needs? I am at the facility 2-3 times a day and it has only been since she started the drug that she has been alert and responsive. Before she started the drug she was almost comatose. You know she is not going to get this kind of care at SNF so you are essentially cutting her rehab short by discharging her now.

Other talking points re: the center are:

At a meeting with Dr. E. on the 26^th my husband and I asked the doctor to include us in his meetings with my mother because she does not understand “all” that he says and we need to be informed so we can help her understand. We also told him that we did not want her on any antidepressants or narcotics as she has had a prescription substance addiction before and we just got her off Xanax a few years ago.

He continues to meet with her and offer her drugs.  Yesterday on December 3^rd, she said she wanted to die after his little chat. It was demotivating and made her feel completely worthless.

The nurses lie to her about her baths, saying I called and asked them to bathe her. The nurse just last night lied to her and told her the doctor ordered the air bed to be inflated. I was on the phone with mom and could hear her telling the person NO, I told mom to put them on the phone and I explained she did NOT have to have the air on.

So many changes in the staff have made it very hard to get any routine for mom, she is confused enough, this had added to her burden.

I don’t know where the coordination with her other doctors is but when I asked for the records to be faxed to the Rheumatologist I was told on Dec 2^nd, by Dr. E. that I could have them at the end of her stay. Has Dr. E. spoken with her primary Dr. Carty? Who is the stroke specialist on staff? Where is the neurologist that is monitoring her? Is that Dr. E.?

Where is the support for family? I have no idea what is going on inside my mom brain right now and would like to know more. Where do I get that kind of information?