Re: Nursing Home for PWP

["Carole K. Menser" <ted@xxxxxxxxxx>]

There are definitely skilled nursing facilities that are good.  And there
are definitely families who "dump" family members in a facility and have
little contact with them.

Carole

----- Original Message -----
From: "Texas_Parkinsonism Advocate"
<texas.parkinsonism.advocate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: Nursing Home for PWP


> Pardon me, but my lovely wife of 24 years has worked as a licensed social
> worker in the nursing home environment for over 15 years.  So I would like
> to say one or two words on the subject.
>
> 1.  Nursing-homes are just like our homes, we all live on a budget.  Yes
it
> would be nice to have marble floors and vaulted ceilings.  With the best
> staffing money could buy.  But the reality is that most nursing homes must
> subsist on the pittance received from Medicaid for the vast majority of
> their residents.
>
> 2.  How many of you that have complaints have ever attended a care plan
> meeting of your loved ones? My wife, the social worker, takes great pride
in
> her planning and notification of a patient's care plan meetings.  And the
> reality is nine out of 10 times the family is in no show.
>
> 3.  How many of you have volunteered time and energy to be in nursing home
> ombudsman?
>
> I'll leave that that with the understanding that my wife takes pride in
her
> work and truly cares for those whose families who rarely if ever comes to
> visit them.  But shame on you that would paint the nursing-home industry
> with a wide brush of your discontent.  Just as we must be advocates for
our
> own personal struggles with this demon we call Parkinson's disease.  So
must
> you be the advocate for your loved ones whom you have institutionalized.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Terry Bowers
> -- As a young-onset patient of Parkinson's Disease,
> a progressive, degenerative, as yet incurable
> neurological disorder, Terry has become a tireless
> Advocate, speaking and writing on behalf of
> Parkinson's patients and their families and caregivers.
>
> To invite Terry to come and speak to your group,
> club or organization contact him at
> terry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or call him at 254-747-0856.
> Topics include Parkinson's Awareness,
> Activism and Self-Determination, Bioethics, and
> Stem Cells and Their Sources.
>
> "A cure by 2005"
> Texas Parkinsonian Advocate
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Maxine Krugman" <MMKRJK@xxxxxxx>
> To: <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 9:40 AM
> Subject: Re: Nursing Home for PWP
>
>
> i would like to add one comment to this thread about nursing homes or
> assisted living facilities, etc. if you have information about parkinson
in
> a
> concise form, written or are willing and able (or know someone qualified)
to
> do an in-service at the facility, that will help as well.
> most facilities would like greater knowledge about the situations with
which
> they regularly deal and a half hour session about relevant parkinson
issues
> can go a long way. discussion of how getting the meds at a certain time
will
> not only be better for the patient but make it easier on the staff person
as
> well because the meds will work better, last longer etc.
> mood issues with PD, protein in the diet and when etc. are all things when
> explained briefly but thoroughly might turn a light on for the cna who
could
> be caring for your loved one.
> even if you develop a one page list of general, key parkinson information
> with bullet points, or get one from your local caregiver agency, npf, apda
> or
> loads of others, you will be doing something significant.
> and consider going to all the skilled licensed facilities in your
area...not
> just your loved one needs this help.
> maxine
>
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