This facility gets all the stars for appearance. I kind of wish the grounds keepers were the care givers for my dad. They would have done a better job. He was admitted from Mayo to finish an anti-viral med and get strong enough to go home. Instead, he was neglected, and digressed.
I can confidently state that had we been allowed in, his circumstances would have been far better. I respect the fact that, due to COVID, we can not enter the facility. They should take this into consideration, and up the staff and care of their patients.
We were forced to visit through the window, and again, I understand that is out of everyone's control. He was in a South facing room, and the outside temperature was usually over 100. (August/September)
The first day he arrived, I called to ask how he was adjusting and to see if he needed anything.
The only reason dad's nurse returned my call (over 4 hours later) was to inform me (she was obligated to do so- her own words) that dad had fallen trying to get to the restroom unassisted. She assured me he was unharmed, and safely back to bed.
She would make the same phone call a few days later- from her personal cell phone. I don't answer unknown, out of state numbers, and I feel it's rather unprofessional for staff at such a facility to call family from their personal cell phones. She left a message at 5:30 in the morning, . I then called the facility directly and it sounded to me as if someone in the background was helping her to figure out how to check her messages.
Dad had stated that the suppers were "barely edible"
So we took turns (my sister-in-law) and myself bringing him foods we knew he would enjoy.
We did have to remind the attending staff to open the blinds so we could see that dad had gotten the food we brought, and we had to remind them to put it where he could get to it. They were pretty good about setting it out of his reach. And he was tucked into the bed so tight, he couldn't get up for a fire drill if he wanted to.
I question why the blinds were closed once we got to the window and they came to help him move from the bed to the chair by the window. One male nurse did NOT close the blinds, and he seemed very kind and gentle. Dad even said this nurse was very pleasant and helpful. He didn't remember his name
We were told daily that he needed clean clothes- so we dropped off a few sets of every thing he might need. I promise you - he did not get into clean clothes on a daily basis here.
Dad's last day at the facility, the blinds were open, and we could see the food we had brought for him, but we couldn't SEE him, so we called the front desk to see if he was out of the room for PT/OT. Heather told us they stay in their rooms for that, and he should be in his room. His restroom door was open, and we could see that he was NOT IN HIS ROOM. We peered in the window and FINALLY he was moved by wheelchair closer to the window. He was in very bad shape. He couldn't lift his head to see us, and he couldn't talk on the phone. We left, really discouraged, thinking he must have been pretty tired. Low and behold - the facility tried calling- three times. I called back and finally spoke to Regina, who was noticeably upset, stating that my dad was unresponsive and she was calling an ambulance to get him to the closest hospital - he needed a brain scan (her words)
Within a very short time, the ER concluded that he was dehydrated. He was then transferred to Mayo for treatment of pneumonia and COVID.
This was Tuesday afternoon. I went back the following Friday to get his belongings, being certain he would NOT be going back to this facility. I kid you not - we received enough clothes for him to go on a month long cruise and never have to wash anything and THE GRILLED CHEESE AND TOMATO SOUP WE BROUGHT HIM ON TUESDAY.
I would give a few more stars for the folks that answer the phone, and the one male nurse that was attentive and kind. But I can not get past the fact that DEHYDRATION - caused at the hands of my dads caregivers, was misdiagnosed as a stroke. read more