You Come In-You Go Out! Medical Concerns for All Ages

I just spent another "all-nighter" doing paperwork on connections between parties tied to "non-profit and for-profit" facilities. On one side, of the paper, they urge the seniors to move-in with a enormous charge for continual care till they die.

Not only does the move-in fee usually start at $125k, but the "monthly fees" run into the thousands. Even, doing the math, the facilities are growing with those back-up charges. In order to keep the stock-owners and the church-goers happy, the facilities cut back on food, pest-control, cleaning supplies and staff.

At one facility, the toilet overan into the hallway. The Director yelled at the resident with a fury. The toilet water had soaked the bathroom rug, unbeknown to the Director. Housekeeping had taken the soaken-wet smelly rug and hung it in the shower.

The resident was totally incapapble of comprehending what was going on around him. As he went out to the main room to sit and chatter with his pals, he would have to brush off of the dining room chair, what today, still is an unknown.

Sitting on the couch meant, that one had to be very careful, and not rely on the arm rests to hold onto for getting back up on one's feet. For the wooden arm rests lifted up off the frame, as one rose.

Another well-known very nice facility, would not pay the bills at the end of the month. They made a "deal" with the maintenance supervisor to carry their amount due on HIS credit card. In the back bedrooms, the roaches scurried across the patient's faces, as they slept in the dark.

One Director was known in the "inner circle" as having given to an old man, $100 in return for his house and his car, which was still in his name. He took the money, not cognizant of the fact, that this was "not a good deal".

The old ladies move into the fine establishments and pay their dues. As they sit in the lounge by the lake, one can see the glitter upon their thin-skinned fingers. They would never "willingly" give up that ring, that they put on that finger so many years ago.

Yet, somehow, they do "lose" the sparkling diamond. The social worker talks them into "donating" their jewelry for the good of the community. The aide in the dark of night, slips the ring off of the woman's finger as she lightly snores in her hospital bed.

She was "warned". The papers that she or her daughter signed upon admittance plainly states, do not keep jewelry on property.

The 86 year old woman with faded brown hair, peppered with gray, was left in the wheelchair each day for hours. The CNA's passed by her and greeted her with "hello, grannie". Not even using her proper name.

The med-nurse "forgot" to bend down and see the woman's face as she handed her the evening meds. No one noticed that their was yellow-pus flowing out of her eyes and onto her lower lids.

The doctor did not return the nurse's calls, when they were warned that an old man was on the wrong med. The old man became ill before the doctor just happened to find the time to return the phone calls.

Meds were missing. The pharmacy delivered 150 tabs of Xanex in a three-day period. The patient only received ONE of those tabs. The other 149 just happened to "get lost".

Yep, I am "living" the Medicare Fraud scenarios. Upon making many many reports...I am told, "we are understaffed" "you go ahead and REPORT them" "why don't you go to the newspaper"? I have already heard and seen a LOT of the wrongs w/i the system of care for the elderly.

I have witnessed the disrespect. I have seen the sights of abuse. I have tried to figure out, just "what" that stuff is on the dinner plate.

I am just one little voice making noise....no one hears the little voice, until it becomes a mighty roar. there is sexual abuse in nursing homes on men and on women. There is physical abuse of women and men in assisted-living facilities, just the same as their is in the nursing homes.

"Not-for-profit" facilities become the BIGGEST joke...as they wear a cloak of respectability in the community. The local pastor visits the church sponsored facility several times a week.

The elderly LOVE to see his smiling face. Then, the social worker makes her rounds and reminds people that the churches are "having such a difficult time, now".

Medicare fraud is a truism. But, it takes a "whistle blower". It takes a visitor to "see" what is going on with their loved one. Then, make a report. It is a very scary scenario, when you see your relative go into a facility, and start a steady fast decline.

It is even harder when you get the phone call in the middle-of-the-night. Take some good free advise and check your relative....from head to toe. Look for abuse....look for skin breakdown...see if they smell. Check out the menu for meals. Hang around in the evening with your relative till they go to bed.

Stay in the room with them till they fall asleep. For what one does not take care of today, one will be the victim of a cruel system tomorrow. Not a good thought!

For the "proof" that you want, go to the search engine and play with words "nursing home abuse", "sexual assault in nursing homes", look at the websight for the state reports on nursing homes and see how the state inspectors (which are now few in number) review the nursing home/assisted-living facility.

The nursing homes just as with the assisted-living facilities are filled with workers who do not have back-ground checks upon being hired. The facilities have MRSA and now the H1N1 virus in the buildings.

There are rodents in the kitchens. Some facilities have gone so far as eliminating pest control. A nurse told me that she would not even bring her purse to work, for fear of a roach getting inside the purse.

An old woman was sexually battered with an instrument in Utah. She died. An old man in a facility was molested by teens working there. There is a case of abuse being reported right now in Tulsa, Ok of a middle-aged woman being slapped around, leaving marks all over her face.

A case in Miami made the headlines of sexual abuse on an old lady. Every state is affected by the rampant disease of mistreating the elderly. They become equal to the small children...as they get older....trusting....that someone will care.