I'm in a bit of a predicament about my mum who has been in a nursing home since January, she has vascular dementia. When my father and myself went to look around the home we were really impressed, it's a new building, mum has a lovely big bedroom with ensuite bathroom, it's all very clean and airy and we were advised that 2 members of staff are present in the lounge at any one time.
We have since found this not to be the case. Many times when we've visited there have been no staff members in site, and as mum has a tendency to wander and fall over this obviously causes us great concern. I couldn't begin to count how many times she has fallen since January, we've had to take her to hospital twice ourselves, once when she fell and banged her head and then again last week when she fell and badly bruised her bottom. On the same day last week but on a separate occasion she fell and knocked over another resident who unfortunately broke their hip.
Dad went to see her aftern breakfast yesterday and said she was 'wearing' most of the breakfast. Dad mentioned the mess she was in and they claim that mum refused to wear an apron but they did go and change her clothes, not so sure they would have done though had dad not mentioned it.
Also last week the home arranged for a consultant from the memory clinic to visit mum to review her medication. Had dad not gone to visit her at the time the consultant was there I don't think we would have known anything about it, and I feel that this is something that we should have been notified of as I would have liked to have been present.
These are just a few things that have started to niggle me, I don't know whether we should risk unsettling mum and putting her in a different home, or are they all the same, something I wouldn't imagine you would know until you have experience of the home.
Sorry to go on, I just wanted to get it off my chest.
Thanks for reading.
Simmo
We have since found this not to be the case. Many times when we've visited there have been no staff members in site, and as mum has a tendency to wander and fall over this obviously causes us great concern. I couldn't begin to count how many times she has fallen since January, we've had to take her to hospital twice ourselves, once when she fell and banged her head and then again last week when she fell and badly bruised her bottom. On the same day last week but on a separate occasion she fell and knocked over another resident who unfortunately broke their hip.
Dad went to see her aftern breakfast yesterday and said she was 'wearing' most of the breakfast. Dad mentioned the mess she was in and they claim that mum refused to wear an apron but they did go and change her clothes, not so sure they would have done though had dad not mentioned it.
Also last week the home arranged for a consultant from the memory clinic to visit mum to review her medication. Had dad not gone to visit her at the time the consultant was there I don't think we would have known anything about it, and I feel that this is something that we should have been notified of as I would have liked to have been present.
These are just a few things that have started to niggle me, I don't know whether we should risk unsettling mum and putting her in a different home, or are they all the same, something I wouldn't imagine you would know until you have experience of the home.
Sorry to go on, I just wanted to get it off my chest.
Thanks for reading.
Simmo