My mom has Alzheimer’s/ dementia but she was doing fine until they switched out one of the roommates. This happened a few weeks ago. The new roommate is rude, loud and blasts her TV. I believe the staff doesn’t really like dealing with her because she is difficult to deal with.
Anyway, this is totally unfair to my mother who is easily distracted by the TV because she thinks people are talking to her. The other resident in the middle bed cannot advocate for herself. She is bed ridden and barely speaks but I can see it in her eyes that she is upset. What can I do about this????
My sister’s and I already filed complaints with an ombudsman, director of nursing, the supervisors to no avail. What can we do??????
Please advise!!!! I believe this abusive to deal with this jerky roommate.
When she became crazier, started hoarding and shouting obscenities, I wrote to the DON, SW and executive director, telling them that my mother was being subjected to an abusive living environment and that legal consequences would be forthcoming. I cc'ed mom's lawyer.
The offending roommate was moved the next day.
Paper trail. Actionable "threats"--legal action and reports to the Joint Commission on Nursing Home Accreditation.
Making phone calls and being polite will get you no where. Put it in writing.
My mom's next roommate was not only rude, she was combative & disturbing. She became angry & my mom felt threatened. She was afraid to go to sleep that night. We called the director & she was moved that day.
Your mother has a right to dignity and respect. This includes a safe health care setting, free from mental, verbal, physical or sexual abuse; neglect; exploitation; and harassment. Inform them that you will contact an attorney if the problem is not addressed.
I meanwhile might tend to look into some board and care if this is still an option for living and if there are any assets to cover?
I wish I had a better answer. Were I your Mom I would be quite desperate.
The residents at my brother's ALF became very creative about the communal TV when a particular HOH resident took it over, disturbing the entire one end of the cottage living facilities. There was no end to "lost" remotes and other odd occurances.
DHs Aunt had a roommate that did not like TV, she chose not to have one so complained about Aunt having one. We bought Aunt a headset with a long cord. The handyman took the cord from the TV up into the drop ceiling and down to Aunts chair. That way the woman could not hear it. But then she complained she still could see it. 😏
That’s ridiculous for her to complain that she could see the tv.
When my mom was in rehab, mom and her roommate were hard of hearing. They both played their television loudly! LOL 😆 They cancelled each other out but neither of them complained. They got along well.
2. When you visit, as you enter Mom's room , put on the call button ( call button response times are recorded, as required by medicare). When staff com into the room tell them in a very soft voice that nobody can hear anything with all this noise and it disorients you Mom. If they do nothing , call again and ask to speak with DON, again very softly. After 14 days you can ask for a case management meeting to review how unresponsive the staff is. You are entitled to know how long Mom has to wait for responses and what is being done.
3. Also you can record the loud tv, and roommate. Then ask to speak with DON, or higher. Play the recording while you are in their office. Ask them how long you should sit there before they realize the conditions unhealthy.
with one roommate like this ??
why allow that to continue ??
i’d move mother asap !!! Find a decent place for your mother.
If they aren't willing to group the quiet folks together and the noisy folks separately, then your only option is to move her. You might be able to find a place that has 2 people per room and cares enough to group folks that aren't going to drive each other crazy.
Good God there is nothing easy about this stage of life!
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