seething

[madamesilverspurs]

My 90-year-old mother lives in Washington State. She has a small apartment in a facility that's not quite officially assisted living; there's a community dining room and and living room, and she gets some help with housework. My siblings live in the neighborhood, and they both spend a lot of time with Mom; she still has a measure of the independence she craves, with regular interaction and support from family. One of the attractions of the place is the pull-cords placed strategically around the apartment; those are used to call for help in the event of falls or illness. So it was a bit disturbing to get this message from my sister:


"Mom fell in the bathroom late at night. She said she only lightly bumped her head on the way down and the biggest problem was getting up. She used the pull cord to no avail and ended up using her lifeline (one of those private services). They called the EMT’s and then let both us know. ... the EMT’s determined there was no concussion and that she was fine to stay home. My concern since has been trying to get the attention of (management) about the lack of response and the fact that the EMT’s had to root around to find Mom’s hidden key since their pass key did not work and they could not locate the beeper keeper (the manager on duty to respond to pull-cord alerts). Of course, they are not answering my calls.

... It turns out these new managers are both heavy drinkers and that they were likely out drinking in their RV (illegally connected to the building’s power) when Mom pulled the cord. (Manager)showed up several hours later showing Mom some device ‘proving’ it had ‘just gone off’. Probably because it doesn’t work out in the RV… Mom was confused about why she bothered to show up so late (around 3:00 AM). I chalked it up to CYA. ... Mom was lucky to have Life Alert, most of the folks there cannot afford the service. As it was, Mom was on the floor for over an hour...quite literally a deadly situation for some."



So, yeah, I'm extremely pissed. I'm guessing that this facility has about 50 apartments, always full, and their negligence places every one of those elderly tenants at risk. The place is owned by a corporation that has similar facilities in other states, so the 'owners' likely never even see the place; and they apparently don't vet their management well at all. As frustrating as it is being half a continent away, my own health issues would only add to the problems if I went out there. So I'm looking for some way to help from a distance.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


---

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Write a letter to the owners (management company)

to suggest a change in management.

Their negligence places the residents at risk. And they put the owners at risk of a lawsuit (or several). Certainly they should be made aware of the situation.

[madamesilverspurs]

4. Letter is in process,

but I'm thinking that the management company are the same folks who hired the present 'managers'. I'm not confident about their standards...

[csziggy]

16. As part of the letter, ask who their liability insurance company is

So you will have it on file in case of a more serious incident. And if your mother has to pay anything at all on the EMT call, let the owners know she will need to file with their insurance company for reimbursement.

Even if they are so-so about their managers, the possibility of a lawsuit or even an insurance claim should scare the heck out of them!

[madmax]

10. Love ya

Works because 'you' are who you are. A good decent person, with morals, who cares.

The receivers of the letter will in 2 minutes flat have that lovely letter marked with coffee cup rings and in a few days be found and sent an equally nice letter of apologetic bullshit. :hug: ;)

I believe in patience and reason - until it involes, age and an inability to kick ass for oneself. Then all bets are off and I'm a warrior for my family.

[LiberalAndProud]

17. That would be the time to contact a good lawyer then, wouldn't it?

If I were the property owner, I'd fire these "managers" in a heartbeat, unless I had an ironclad contract stating that the handpulls are for decorative purposes, and not to be depended upon in the case of an emergency, etc.

It would be a CoverMyAss kind of a thing.

[madmax]

21. Oh yeah,

and as my life experience leads me to believe - it's 99% of a CYA thing. We know common sense, they know lawyers and the law to make it work for them. One needs to be one step ahead of them. As they retain counsel prior to need, so should we ;) Knowing ones options and the law ahead of time is a good thing. Yes, it costs but, in the long run you win - and sometimes can get costs back.

There are times that a lawyer will remember why he/she really went to law school to begin with and just get right out there and kick some ass for you - because it's the right thing to do.

[Hekate]

2. Kick and Rec. I'd want to charge in like the cavalry, and I know you do too. But what are your sibs

... doing about this now? It's really great they live close by.

So hard when parents grow frail. :hug:

Hekate

[madamesilverspurs]

7. My sibs are great, very involved.

Sister has good business acumen and helps Mom and many of the other residents with their personal record-keeping, etc. She also keeps a close eye on those residents who don't have family nearby. Bro is a firefighter with a good rep in the emergency response community. Between the two of them they know what questions to ask. I just really hate not being there.

[madmax]

11. Sounds as if you have a great family network

Was always just me and Mom. I was her mouth piece, lol.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Your brother is your asset to build a case

he knows what the responding EMTs should have put in the Narrative section of the EMS form. He might be able to informally ask questions from the two responders as well.

And you are blessed by the way.

[csziggy]

3. What kind of over sight does the state have with facilities like this?

At the very least if part of their appeal and advertising is that there will be someone on call when those cords are pulled, they are committing fraud. Showing up hours later after EMTs could not locate the person who is supposed to be on duty is proof enough that they are not doing as promised.

Here in Florida I would be calling the Department of Elder Care. See if Washington State has a similar agency or department.

See if that facility is licensed as an Adult Family Home or one of the other categories with the state: http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/pubinfo/housing/other/#AFH

[madamesilverspurs]

9. Great info.

Thanks! I'll check into it and also forward to the sibs.

-

[uppityperson]

26. If it is an "adult family home", please let me know as they are much less regulated in WA

There was a several day in depth investigation written up in the Seattle Times a few months ago about lack of regulation and oversight with adult family homes in wa, and about how people were moved out of skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes with 24 hr/day licensed staff) to those other places.

From what you say, it probably isn't, but if it is, please pm me and I'll be happy to talk more.

Good luck to you and mom

[sandnsea]

5. WA Ombudsman

See if these folks can direct you to the agency to make a complaint. And make a complaint to board of directors too.

http://www.ltcop.org/index.htm

[madmax]

8. Excellent!!! sandandsea n/t

[madamesilverspurs]

12. Very good, will pass this along!

Thank you!

[madmax]

6. Been there, done that....

To be honest, it sucks and it's hard. You need an advocate on your side. Social Security, Senior Services, that type of organization. You can do it alone but, it's extremely difficult and you'll get jerked off at every turn. Immediately find a advocate that will work with you and bug the shit out of them until they get your Mom's situation in control. Old bullshit, but the squeaky wheel get the grease.

First be nice, give them the benefit of the doubt - after 14 -21 days if you don't feel satisfied, threaten to go to your local newspaper. Look for the writers of human interest stories and such.

Worked for me when we were pawned off counterfeit money from MY BANK! To a similar situation with my Mom although she was in a nursing home and not assisted living. It oesn't matter, it's the principles of social combat ;) with the bullshit, so called 'authority fugues'.

Good luck to you. Find an agency or advocate to take your back. You could do it alone but, it will take longer and a toll on you. :hug:

[madamesilverspurs]

15. My sis will appreciate this,

she's one of those evil liberal community organizer types. She knows people who know people...


-

[madmax]

22. There ya go, baby!

Give your Sis a hug from me :hug:

[elleng]

13. Inform the corporation, LOUDLY!

and if publicly held, be sure to push the right buttons.

[madamesilverspurs]

19. Hmm, 'publicly held'

could make a difference, couldn't it! Thank you!

-

[elleng]

24. You're welcome.

What do you think of DUers reaction, here? 30 minutes, and an entire arsenal of suggestions!

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Contact social services

you may have an elderly abuse situation in your hands.... and you may need to get law enforcement involved if this is the case.

EMTs should have filled the paperwork with the call, and if you are lucky, they added those details to the narrative. They are your primary witnesses.

[madamesilverspurs]

20. Excellent idea about the EMT notations.

I think my brother can get that answer with a phone call. Thank you!

-

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Did the job in Mexico for ten years

but when I trained in California we were told that Elderly Abuse was supposed to be reported to Law Enforcement like child abuse. It may not ring any bells to the EMTs as an abuse situation, but to my experienced eye, there might be some. Especially if the people in charge are drinking and not paying attention.

As I always told my kids (Training Officer) IF you suspect ANYTHING put it in the run narrative section.

[madmax]

25. self delete

[sinkingfeeling]

27. If it's 'not quite officially assisted living', there's little you can do. If I were you, I would

get with your siblings and move Mom to a licensed, state-regulated assisted living home.

[Brickbat]

28. All of the above, plus your local paper.

I mean call a reporter, not send a letter to the editor.

[madamesilverspurs]

29. Update

First, let me say that I LOVE DUers!!! The responses have been extraordinarily helpful and encouraging. I stayed up late last night to forward your remarks to the sibs, and have already sent along the newer ones this morning. Thank you!

So, updating the info about the facility, it's advertised as 'retirement apartments'. This statement appears in their brochure:

"Retirement communities and independent living facilities are housing exclusively for adults (normally 55 or older). The person is generally healthy and any medical or personal care can be provided by visiting nurses or a home health aide. Staff at the retirement community does not take on the general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the adult." Standard CYA?


Again, your willingness to offer suggestions and encouragement is so very much appreciated.

DUers rock!

[foxfeet]

31. Retired MSW in WA State here.

I have called the state on more nursing homes than I can count over the years (not to mention adult family homes, assisted living facilities, etc.) You have been given good advice thus far. PM me if you're interested with the name of the facility and I'll see if I can steer you onward in the right direction. Even if the facility is given only limited oversight (due to its licensing class) the presence of the call pull cords likely constitute an implied service that failed when it was needed.

All the best.

[joe black]

30. Hire a lawyer now!

He can call a meeting with the owners. You'll get some attention and results real quick. A simular situation happened to my mother in-law and she got better care and at a better place owned by the same company. The owners don't want a lawsuit.