I am placing my mom in a dementia unit in a nursing home. It is a 96 bed facility. I am worried about her getting infections(mrsa and such) For 2 years I have taken care of her in my house and she as not been sick one day. My mom has severe dementia now and becoming difficult for me to care for her. How do you deal with their roomate? Can you request changes? I just need some advise to those who have had there loved one in a facility. I read about bad experiences in these facilities and it scares me. Has anyone had positive experiences in such a facility? I am really tore up about placing my beautiful mom and putting her in others care. Thanks to those who respond!
My dad was in a nursing home the last 6 months of his life. One thing I learned was that no one could have taken care of his as well as I did. He got my undivided attention everyday. That's not the case in a NH. Your mom will be one among many as my dad was. There are other patients the staff have to tend to.
Another thing I learned was to pick my battles. If my dad complained about the seating arrangements in the dining room that would be a battle I'd choose not to pick. If my dad's meds were changed for some reason that's something I'd choose to address.
Be extra-special nice to the staff and your mom will be the one who benefits. Unfortunately it also goes the other way, complain and hound the staff about stuff all the time and your mom will pay for it. Not that she'd be abused or anything but generally the patients who have families that are nice and appreciative are the patients that get as much attention as possible in a NH.
If you begin to see problems or issues with staff or the treatment of your mom begin to document it. Time, day, staff member, etc. Don't go running to a supervisor every time something goes wrong because you don't want a staff member whom you've just complained about being your mom's aide for the day.
Nursing homes are institutions like hospitals and occasionally infections break out. It's inevitable. Sometimes a certain hallway or wing will be in isolation to prevent the spread of disease. This is necessary. My dad was in a NH for 6 months and this happened once. If your mom is in isolation you can still see her but there will be a cart outside her room where you'll have to don a gown and gloves and a mask. The staff do everything they can to prevent illness from spreading to the well folks but our loved ones health is compromised just because they're elderly. If your mom gets an infection it's not necessarily because the facility is dirty or unsanitary it's because NH's are a breeding ground for infection. You get one resident who has stool under their fingernails and they go to dinner and touch the salt shaker and then your mom picks up the salt shaker.....It happens.
But they have activities suited to their mental capabilities, music and guests. Sometimes there's someone who brings in dogs for the residents to pet. Your mom will be less isolated than she is with you and it will be good for her. And you.