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just move her from an independent care facility where we had hired someone to assist with her taking medications. After a brief hospital stay it became clear that she needed assisted living and we moved her to the top location in town with great reviews from everyone we knew. Today we found out that they have not been giving her medication to her at all for more than a week. The nurse kept saying there had been a miscommunication, but we had been very clear and all the paperwork reflected that they would be administering her medication. We met with her attendant, the nurse and the facility manager today and they apologized and seemed to take it seriously, but I don't know what to do. Should we even consider leaving her there?

We had seen her almost every day during the time she has been there, but its been a scattershot as I got the flu right before she moved in and then my husband got an upper respiratory virus so it was either one of us depending on who was well or one of our college aged kids. .

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I'm speechless! Miscommunication ? Who do they say dropped the ball? We're the prescriptions properly written by her doctor?

When you say "the nurse" do you mean the Director of Nursing? That's who I would be talking to. I would also make good friends with the head of Social Work and ask her to keep a very close eye on things until you've gotten some confidence back.

What sorts of meds is she on? Have you consulted her doctor about what 2 weeks without them might mean in terms of symptoms? If she was fine, or no different without them for two weeks, does she need them?
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That's a pretty big misstep. I would imagine almost everyone in there is on some kind of medication and that medication management is a huge part of each person's care plan. I can't imagine why they would have forgotten her medication.

Now that it's been brought to their attention I would stay on that everyday. Call and make sure she's had her meds everyday. It's a shame you have to do that since your mom moving into an assisted living is supposed to help make your life easier but what else can you do at this point? And when you visit her go and find the nursing supervisor and ask to see proof that mom's getting her meds. Because this was such a huge blunder on their part you shouldn't have a problem making sure from the staff your mom is getting her meds.
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Other than a 'mis-communication' what other reason/excuse did they give you? Since you normally have to pay for this are they going to refund the money for the 2 weeks? To whom did they try and shift the blame? Was it a nurse who forgot, lost paperwork or what? This could have been a deadly mistake on their part! I agree with Eyerishlass and stay on this....but it does make me concerned what other 'mis-communications there may be. So much for the best place around....sigh...Blessings to you, Linda
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Thank you for responding. We filled out all the forms and spoke with the facilities and nursing directors prior to moving her in. We hand delivered her new medical prescriptions and instructions from the rehab hospital. The director of nursing says that my husband was "unclear" in his communication that they would be administering her medications, but at every step along the way and in all the paperwork that is what was written down and communicated. We didn't give them her unused medications from home, but they never asked and many of her prescriptions had changed. They admit they made an error and we are, after getting over the flu in a much better position to monitor.

This is the first time she's required this level of care. About 9 months ago after trying every which way to get her to take her medications we hired someone to come in and watch her swallow them twice daily so we all knew that her medications would need to be monitored.

We had the facilities doctor see her as she currently has a cold. She had been in the hospital for a UTI and altered mental status and then in a rehab hospital to regain her strength and do intensive therapy.

She has congestive heart failure and takes 11 medications daily for blood pressure and fluid retention among other issues.

We met again today with the managers and will continue to monitor her daily. This is a good facility with a great reputation. Of all the places available in town I believe she will have the potential for the highest quality of life here, but she does need daily care. This easily could have severely compromised or even killed her. I want her to have the best life she can and be safely supported in the areas where her own judgment or capabilities are inadequate for her needs. That is what she was supposed to be getting, but has not.

I hate that I was sick and abdicated her care. I thank God that she didn't die. I worry that by not reporting what happened and moving her we are being horribly irresponsible.
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Teressa, first of all don't take on guilt for their mistake. You have done all that anyone could do...and you did it right. They are the ones who messed up. My gosh with all that your mom is being medicated for I think an angel must have been there! I mean it's one thing to skip a anti-depressant it another when you are being treated for heart and blood pressure ailments. I'm glad that you are monitoring this and so should they. Hang in there you are doing everything you can and doing it well. Blessings on you, Linda
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I have this funny feeling that hubby told them you had a hired person to give the medications. On the other hand, if she did well for two weeks without the meds, she probably does not need them. Something to think about.
So if they start giving eleven meds (an awful lot) and she feels worse, you may have an answer to her problems, quite by accident.
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