Video Transcript
[0:00] Welcome to Caregiver SOS by Bay Alarm Medical. My name is Haley Burress. I’m a caregiving expert here to talk about the ugly side of caregiving that no one talks about — the most frustrating and challenging parts of caring for an aging family member, and how to get through it.
[0:00] Let’s talk about senior living and neglect. Our question is: “We’ve had mom in a skilled nursing facility for the past few months after she broke her leg in a fall. The goal is to get her back home eventually, but she still needs lots of therapy and support. Anyway, the last few times I’ve visited her, I’ve noticed she is always in soiled clothes. She’s just sitting in dirty clothes in her recliner in her room. No one’s visiting. The radio isn’t on. The television isn’t even on. I’m worried that she is getting poor care.”
[0:29] This is a tough situation, and your first step is to talk about it with the staff at the community. You can start with the nurse on duty for your mom’s unit. Tell them your observations and your concerns. See what they have to say and what their solution is.
[1:01] If you’re not satisfied with this, or if you come back the next day and nothing has changed, you want to speak to someone in leadership — either the director of nursing or the administrator. If you are still not getting the response you need, or if care isn’t getting any better, it’s time to call the Ombudsman. The phone number should be posted throughout the facility, or you can find it online.
[1:31] You can also elevate your concerns by filing a complaint with the state Department of Public Health.
[1:47] Like and subscribe for more caregiving advice.
