Question:
My brother Doug, is still slowly showing more signs of movement. He is now
in a nursing home and we feel that we have to watch his care 24 hrs. a day.
Have any of you had much experience with nursing homes? Were any of you
moved to a nursing home before you went to rehab?
Answer:
My son Jon was placed in a nursing home while still in a coma. Jon
was in a mva 10/94. After the acute stage Jon was brought to a sub-acute
rehab hospital Dec,94. There was no progress so therapy slowed down after 3
mos to maintenance. At this time, the hospital told us that they could not
help Jon anymore and that he needed to be placed in an extended care
facility ( nursing home ). After 2 mos , we placed Jon in a nursing home
which we felt was appropriate for him. Unfortunately, there is no nursing
home that is appropriate for someone in a coma. Jon went from a coma
program at the rehab facility where there was one room with 4 patients in
varying degrees of coma with a nurse stationed in the room at all times to
tend to the patients needs. There was also therapy daily until the end of
Jon's stay. At the nursing home Jon was placed in a semi-private room with
one other patient. Nurses made rounds and if you needed help you had to
call and wait. You tell me how a patient in a coma can call for help.
Luckily, Jon had a good neighbor who called for help on Jon's behalf. There
were times where the nurses ignored the call because of S & S (
shortstaffed and stupid ). There was no therapy for Jon even though we were
promised therapy upon admittance. Therapy was refused because he did not
respond. They only gave him maintenance. The nursing homes definition of
maintenance was turning in bed, changing his clothes and getting him into
his wheelchair and back to bed. You have to fight for the patients rights
all the time. You have to look after his care, and don't just check the
nurses notes because they can easily falsify there papers. Check the
patient yourself. Ask questions. Get answers that you understand. And don't
take no for an answer or we'll get back to you later. It's now that you
need to take care of your loved one, not later. Any problems, go to the
head of the home, or the State Health Dept who oversees them. Keep a
journal and write everything down especially names and dates.
I am sorry to rattle on but there is no nursing home that is appropriate
for coma patients. These patients need constant care, supervision, therapy,
stimulation and most importantly love. Jon was brought home July/96. It is
hard work, but well worth it. We bucked the system and won. They did not
want him to go home. Jon's home to stay until he awakens and decides to go
off on his own
