Re: Regression when moved out of familiar surroundings

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I don't know of any article about this that would be convincing to a care

facility. Is this a dementia care facility? I'm guessing not because a

dementia care facility would be more in-tune to this possible reason. (There

are, of course, many other reasons why your MIL has declined.)

Whomever is the primary person to work with the care facility should have a care

conference regarding your MIL. Hopefully an agreement can be worked out to move

your MIL back into the AL section, with the maximum level of care provided by

the ALF (paid for by the family) and perhaps supplemented by some private

caregivers hired by the family. There should be an agreed upon timeline -- say

2 weeks -- to determine if she can remain at the ALF.

In most states, the dividing line between ALFs and SNFs is that in an ALF the

person must be able to transfer with the assistance of no more than one averaged

size aide (assume it's a young woman, about 115 pounds). If your MIL requires

the assistance of more than one person, it will be too dangerous for the aides

and your MIL to have her remain in an ALF.

This is what we did with my father. After 2 weeks, he did have to move to a

SNF. At that point, it was obvious to everyone that this was the right move.

I don't understand why not getting out of a wheelchair is a concern to the

hospital staff, and how the ALF staff found out about this.

Robin

>

> I'm hoping someone can help me. My MIL developed a UTI and had some bleeding,

so she was moved from the assisted living facility to the hospital for tests.

She's been in hospital for two weeks now. She hasn't been moved back to her

facility because she is not cooperating with hospital staff with things such as

getting out of her wheelchair, etc. Now the facility wants to bring her back but

move her into the nursing section and not back to the assisted living section.

They say it's because of her regression. I have read many times in this group

about people with LBD regressing when moved from familiar surroundings but

recovering when moved back. We want the facility to put her back where she was,

the assisted living, then evaluate her after a few days. She was doing very well

until she went into hospital.

> Does anyone know of a good article on the subject? We'd like to give it to the

facility to back up what we believe - that the regression has been caused by her

being in unfamiliar surroundings. Even emails if you have experienced this would

be very helpful.

>

> Thank you,

> Donna

>

[Guest guest]

Donna, I wonder if they are talking about the nursing section as a permanent

solution or just for rehab? I'd actually suggest the nursing section on a

rehab basis and then the care conference after a couple of weeks. If the

assisted living staff or administration isn't comfortable with her being

there right now, they are probably worried about liability. This is not a

selfish motive. If they worry about liability, they are saying that they

don't believe that they can safely care for her at this time. This is for

more than her safety. They also need to be concerned about their staff and

the possibility of a staff member being hurt while providing care - not

because of anything she would do, but because the care might be too

physically challenging. There are good reasons for each type of facility.

I know it is difficult to face the time when you need to move a LO to an

SNF, permanently or even temporarily for recovery. An SNF is nowhere near

as pleasant as one's own apartment. It hurts every time I have to leave my

mom at the SNF. But it is the only place where she can be cared for

properly. If you have a dementia unit available, there are even activities

specifically suited for those with dementia.

Find out whether the AL is talking about the SNF for rehab or as a permanent

move. Then decide whether you can accept it or not. Realize that, if after

investigation you still believe that she belongs in AL, you may need to look

for one that will accept her.

Kathy

> **

>

>

> I'm hoping someone can help me. My MIL developed a UTI and had some

> bleeding, so she was moved from the assisted living facility to the hospital

> for tests. She's been in hospital for two weeks now. She hasn't been moved

> back to her facility because she is not cooperating with hospital staff with

> things such as getting out of her wheelchair, etc. Now the facility wants to

> bring her back but move her into the nursing section and not back to the

> assisted living section. They say it's because of her regression. I have

> read many times in this group about people with LBD regressing when moved

> from familiar surroundings but recovering when moved back. We want the

> facility to put her back where she was, the assisted living, then evaluate

> her after a few days. She was doing very well until she went into hospital.

> Does anyone know of a good article on the subject? We'd like to give it to

> the facility to back up what we believe - that the regression has been

> caused by her being in unfamiliar surroundings. Even emails if you have

> experienced this would be very helpful.

>

> Thank you,

> Donna

>

>

>

--

Kate Knapp

Office of Information Technology

University of Minnesota

knapp@...

* " Nobody's right if everybody's wrong. " Now I know. It's from " For what

it's worth, " written by Stills and first recorded by Buffalo

Springfield*

[Guest guest]

Hi, Kathy

Thank you! I should have mentioned my MIL is in Wales, so healthcare is a whole

different ballgame than here. My two SIL's are in Wales

I believe they mean permanent. The facility she is in has bot AL and SNF. It is

new, small and has a great caregiver to patient ratio. Her decline happened so

swiftly, a matter of four days, that's why we are questioning moving her to SN.

She's in the hospital, NOT in a private room. I believe there are four beds on

her ward, had a lot of poking and prodding done in the first couple of days

there and just, generally, having a lot of strangers and noise around her. And,

of course her regular caregivers, who she likes, were not there. The day before

she went into the hospital my husband spoke with her and she was quite chatty,

so much so, that he emailed his sisters to tell them how good she sounded. We

are aware of how quickly things can change from day to day but just feel like

it's worth a shot to see if she improves back in her own setting.

My husband wrote a strongly worded letter to the facility saying we want her

moved back into AL then an assessment done in two weeks. Robin emailed me with

the suggestion of two weeks. Don't know what will come of it.

This is my first posting and I've been so grateful for the responses! I joined

the group last year and get daily emails. I've learned a lot and I pass the info

onto my husband's family.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond and for caring.

Donna

> Donna, I wonder if they are talking about the nursing section as a permanent

> solution or just for rehab? I'd actually suggest the nursing section on a

> rehab basis and then the care conference after a couple of weeks. If the

> assisted living staff or administration isn't comfortable with her being

> there right now, they are probably worried about liability. This is not a

> selfish motive. If they worry about liability, they are saying that they

> don't believe that they can safely care for her at this time. This is for

> more than her safety. They also need to be concerned about their staff and

> the possibility of a staff member being hurt while providing care - not

> because of anything she would do, but because the care might be too

> physically challenging. There are good reasons for each type of facility.

>

> I know it is difficult to face the time when you need to move a LO to an

> SNF, permanently or even temporarily for recovery. An SNF is nowhere near

> as pleasant as one's own apartment. It hurts every time I have to leave my

> mom at the SNF. But it is the only place where she can be cared for

> properly. If you have a dementia unit available, there are even activities

> specifically suited for those with dementia.

>

> Find out whether the AL is talking about the SNF for rehab or as a permanent

> move. Then decide whether you can accept it or not. Realize that, if after

> investigation you still believe that she belongs in AL, you may need to look

> for one that will accept her.

>

> Kathy

>

>

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > I'm hoping someone can help me. My MIL developed a UTI and had some

> > bleeding, so she was moved from the assisted living facility to the hospital

> > for tests. She's been in hospital for two weeks now. She hasn't been moved

> > back to her facility because she is not cooperating with hospital staff with

> > things such as getting out of her wheelchair, etc. Now the facility wants to

> > bring her back but move her into the nursing section and not back to the

> > assisted living section. They say it's because of her regression. I have

> > read many times in this group about people with LBD regressing when moved

> > from familiar surroundings but recovering when moved back. We want the

> > facility to put her back where she was, the assisted living, then evaluate

> > her after a few days. She was doing very well until she went into hospital.

> > Does anyone know of a good article on the subject? We'd like to give it to

> > the facility to back up what we believe - that the regression has been

> > caused by her being in unfamiliar surroundings. Even emails if you have

> > experienced this would be very helpful.

> >

> > Thank you,

> > Donna

> >

> >

> >

>

> --

> Kate Knapp

> Office of Information Technology

> University of Minnesota

> knapp@...

>

>

> * " Nobody's right if everybody's wrong. " Now I know. It's from " For what

> it's worth, " written by Stills and first recorded by Buffalo

> Springfield*

>

>