When I questioned head nurse about who was caring for him, was a struggle reported etc... there is never anything in the notes. He has dementia. However, after this last tear he told his private M-F caregiver that someone had 'hurt him" over the weekend. The investigation has dragged on for 5 days with no real answers. Does nursing home ( in CT) have to report to State since the family requested an investigation?Also, I have resisted installing a camera in his room due to my concerns for his privacy (I'm his niece and shouldn't normally see personal care being given) However I need to see what is happening in the overnight shifts (when last tear occurred) so will be researching that now. Any recommendations on camera? He is in a private room so it will be allowed by nursing home. This home came highly recommended 4 years ago but in the interim they have had to turn to outside agencies for CNAs in the overnight and weekend shifts. Their oversight seem to be way less. I can't move him at this late stage but need to do somethingThank you for any advice :)
Your relative is 99. If he's touched on his arm he's likely bruised.
Elderly people have skin tears no matter where they live. I can pretty much assure you that no one is sneaking around the nursing home ripping skin off of old people. They don't have time, even if it were a "thing." My mother died at age 95 after years of skin tears, and she had a private live-in 24/7 caregiver who was the best and who loved her. Mom could scrape against her wheelchair in the slightest way and her skin would tear. My dad had skin tears for years, living at home alone until he got a live-in caregiver and died at 92. He was hale and hearty and walked a couple of miles every single day, but his skin tore and bled nevertheless. My husband was in my care at home, and he was having skin tears long before he had dementia. I couldn't know what caused all of them, he'd be out in the garage or on a walk or putting his clothes in his closet, and there it would be. I patched them up and that was that.
You may be making too much of this, but go ahead if you must and install the cameras and begin an inquisition, but uncle will still get skin tears. Also, if you get a reputation for stirring up trouble when it isn't warranted, there may be no place uncle can go for care, since somehow word gets around and no facility wants troublemakers. I'm not talking about something where you SHOULD stir up trouble, such as if you have proof that they are locking residents in their rooms and starving them! But some things, though sad and regrettable, cannot be helped.
Changing facilities will not solve this problem. I am surprised this has not been explained to you. Its really no ones fault.
It is difficult to rely on someone with dementia to self report and just as difficult with age and fragile skin to tear from a small bump. Residents do not have 1 to 1 staff contact.