Torture of An Otherwise Lucid Individual

This is what I don't like about Assisted Living Facilities.......A gentleman client at a well known facility is discharged from a rehab facility back to his ALF apartment and while acclimating him several staff members pass in front of his door smirking at a note posted on a neighbor's door.  Three days later when I arrive to complete an assessment I find him agitated concerned about how they are placing a neighbor in an insane asylum and he is going to be the next one to lose his rights.  When I ask him to elaborate he points to the sign on the door across the corridor from his room. Ok, I am horrified at a note which states that if you are looking for the owner of this apartment she is in the insane asylum.  I immediately call the nurse on duty, have the note removed, and explain to my client how it was all a bad joke.  We close the door so that I can begin my assessment when a key is inserted into his door and a nurse walks right in without even a knock on the door.  What happened to the right to privacy?  What happened to knocking on a door first?

Two days later our nurse visits and find his oxygen saturation levels at 83 and speaks with the director of nursing who promises portable tanks will be delivered tomorrow.  Next day no portable tanks arrive so I leave a message with this D.O.N.  The following day this client calls the paramedics and is taken to the E.R. When our nurse arrives at the E.R. she is told by the ER nurse his oxygen stats on arrival were at 78 and dangerously low.  No call back from the D.O.N. as to the status of the portable tanks which would provide some semblance of a quality of life for our client.

Following day I received a call from the nurse on duty stating the medical equipment company refuses to deliver oxygen tanks without payment.  Client is now very anxious.  Payment?  This client has Medicare.  Following day I receive an email from out of town family member stating dad was complaining about thoughts he couldn't get out of his head in a conversation yesterday.  At 9:40 am, I receive a call from our client, now agitated, visibly suffering with hypoxia, who states he is going to blow his head off.  Called the nursing station and spoke with nurse on duty.  Called Medical Equipment company to determine what is causing the delay of his portable tanks.  I still have not heard back from the D.O.N.  Owner of the oxygen company clearly informs me that 5 portable tanks had been delivered yesterday to the facility for him.  What?  Why has nursing not filled his tanks?  Why are we being told there was no delivery of portable oxygen tanks?  Owner of medical supply company states that the only missing piece is a missing nozzle and understanding the client's mental status he agrees to personally deliver the nozzle.  Still have not heard back from D.O.N.

Two days later, a nurse calls stating client is having shortness of breath with jerking movements and is sending our client out to the E.R.  She also states she can't make him compliant and wants the E.R. to send him back to a rehab center.  Once tests come back as normal, E.R. sends him to a rehab center. Still have not heard from the D.O.N. 

Three days later I answer my cell phone with the caller ID coming from my client's apartment number. I answer the call and the caller is the Director of Nursing, wanting to know if I ordered so and so and why or why not.  I informed her that the only reason I picked up this call was because it was from my client's apartment, informing her that I am at an MD appointment with another client and will call her back. 

Two days later I meet with the Medical Director of the Assisted Living facility defending his decision to recommend long term care placement for my client and confirming a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.  When was this client neurologically evaluated?  By whom?  What tests were done to confirm Alzheimer's.  He scored normal on my Mini Mental Status Exam. Ten days later I meet with the care planning team at the rehab center plus a family member and learn he is being discharged from physical therapy with 24 hour care back to the ALF. 

This is what happenes at institutional living everyone.  Read it and weep!  A male senior, independent of activities of daily living is hard of hearing and suffers from anxiety issues because of chronic pulmonary disease.  Instead of meeting his needs, the staff plays a cat and mouse game, controlling how they want his oxygen administered. You see, a standard licensed facility does not have the ability to track when a resident leaves the premises so to control him, they devise a plan to make him dependent on an oxygen concentrator in his room, preventing him from leaving the apartment for any reason other than meals.  He now loses the ability to go for a walk around the premises because doing so will give him shortness of breath.  Every attempt he makes to walk outside of his apartment sends him to the emergency room.  His anxieties build.  A former brilliant scientist, now lacks control over his own life.  And the powers that be play cat and mouse in obtaining a simple piece of quipment that could give him some quality of life.  They hatch a plan to keep him in long term care instead. What is wrong with this system?  What is wrong with a facility who hires such incompetent individuals and staff who lack basic compassion for human beings?  Because he requires too much work?  Because losing his hearing ability is too much work for staff to communicate effectively with him? Because possibly they are too overworked to cater to one person's needs?  Because perhaps they are not trained as to the core values one needs to work with a frail population?

So think about this family members, when you think Assisted Living is a panacea for mom or dad.  This is a true story and one that has not been resolved.  We are still working hard to provide resources for him to age in place while meeting his needs.  And he will have a second opinion with a Board Certified neurologist who will do the proper testing to determine if this client deserves a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.  Will update you when that happens, I promise.

Clinical Trials for a higher dose Exelon Patch

Clinical Research Studies in the College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University is currently enrolling patients with severe Alzheimer's disease for a study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a higher dose of the Exelon Patch than is currently available by prescription.

Subjects are closely monitored by the study doctor.  Eligible subjects will receive payment to offset any travel expenses.

To refer a patient, please ask the caregiver or responsible family member to call the Clinical Research Studies Department of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University's Dept of Integrated Medical Science in Boca Raton at 561-297-0164.

10 Mountains 10 Years - Downtown Boca Film Festival, April 14 - 1pm Boca Museum of Art

New posting below:

Backlight Productions would like to share information on a special Alzheimer's / Parkinson's Film screening in Boca Raton on April 14th.  The Downtown Boca Film Festival will be showing "10 Mountains 10 Years", a documentary feature film chronicling the worldwide epic of an international team of mountain climbers who are climbing 10 mountains in a decade to raise awareness for Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease, and the caregivers who care for loved ones battling these diseases.  Ann Hathaway narrtes; Music contribution by Bruce Springsteen.  A remarkable story that honors all caregivers in this world and also provides great support in the Alz and PD communities.  At the Downtown Boca Film Festival, Thurs., April 14th at 1:00 pm at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza REal, Boca Raton, Fl.  33432.  Tickts may be purchased same day at venue or in advance by calling 877-733-3032.