American Healthcare for Older People Sucks

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over the last week. I can't believe that I've only been here a week. Dad is doing okay but is itching to get out of the rehab facility. They orginally were going to release him on Tuesday, but the docs couldn't figure out why his blood pressure was so volital. One minute his blood pressure would be 144/80 lying down. They would have him sit up and it would go down a bit. Then he would stand up and it would plummit to 60/40. Scary stuff and a recipe for a stroke. It seems some of the medication the cardiologist had prescribed after his pacemaker was having a bad reaction. Of course they didn't seem to figure this out until two days ago so he has been pretty unsteady on his feet all week, especially after he ate. You know how they say no swimming after you eat. Same reason, blood goes elsewhere besides your head.

I had the horrible task of looking for a nursing home for my father this week. The rehab facility seems hell bent on getting him out of there. I thought I had found one that wasn't full of drooling people in the hallways that the insurance covered. It was called The Terraces.

NOW HERE THIS!!! THE TERRACES RECEIVED A "D" ON THEIR HEALTH DEPT. INSPECTION!!! DO NOT SEND YOUR LOVED ONE'S THERE!!

The place looked like a spa and I was ready to put my dad there. Then I got a tip to ask to see their state survey. They got a D because some of their patients had fresh bed sores and an entire wing had urinary tract infections!! They only had 1 staff member for every 16 patients. Unbelievable!

I pray that none of you ever have to be in this position. But unfortunately because no one wants to even think about this time in their lives is the exact reason elder care is in such shambles. The Arizona Republic did a big story this past weekend about nursing homes where people died from neglect and were being sued by families. Would you believe that on the "preferred" Blue Cross/Blue Shield list actually had those same facilities listed!!!!

I can't believe that any company who is interested in profits as much as insurance companies are would want their name associated with any sort of establishment that was such a liability.

Unbelievable.

But I found a solution. A wonderful organization here called ElderOp took me to different group homes. I was a little surprised to hear about group homes. I always thought group homes were for troubled teens or people who just got out of jail. I found this amazing care home (better name) that is a couple of miles from dad's house. It is beautiful. Dad would be the 5th resident in this gorgeous huge ranch home. There are two staff members there at all times. The decor is very art deco/ frank lloyd wright. Their meals looked wonderful. They have a pool in the backyard that the residents can use, a brown, fat toto dog named buddy and a giant parrot named xena. It is in no way a nursing home, but a place where he can recoup with 24hour supervision and not feel like he is in an institution. Insurance doesn't pay a dime, but clearly not having them associated makes for a much better environment.

The gal that runs the place is in her late 30's and went to the same high school as I did. She is my new hero.

My internet connection will in theory be up at my dad's house tomorrow so postings I hope will come more frequently.