When you lose someone, it is difficult during the holidays. Everything you do brings back memories of the person you lost. A certain Christmas carol, buying a tree, a special gift , an ornament on the tree, a specific holiday dish, and in my case ,especially eggnog.
It has been over two years since Mom died. During that time I cant think of one day I didn't think about her. Rather than forget her, and go on with my life, I have spent countless hours, going over her medical records. My brother and I spend hours almost every day talking about what is wrong with the system, and how it could be fixed. My Mom did not die for nothing, she died so that we would fight for the living, that cant fight for themselves.
I have had discussions about the lack of care in nursing homes, with almost anyone who would talk about it . I have heard stories that would make your skin crawl. I have been on the NCDHHS website, and the Medicare.gov website, it's hard to believe what they allow to happen.
The most disheartening thing of all, is the family members are just willing to let it happen. Although some of the people we have spoken with, have information that could help, they will not come forward. We have reached out to almost any agency or person that would listen, and they all say the same thing. It takes more than the death of one elderly person, to get anything done about it. I have an opportunity now, to get the necessary attention from some very important people. I will go to them with what I have concerning my Mom. I hope it is enough to get them to look at what is happening. I am certain, that if I had more people willing to act, we could make things better for those still suffering in nursing homes. I am asking anyone who reads this, who has any information that could help, to come forward .
I personally know at least two people who are currently going through issues with nursing homes. I know they have knowledge, and can prove that their loved ones are not being cared for. I cant not understand how they can stay silent. Their parents, or a family member, are suffering terrible things at the hands of these people, yet they wont help. I can only hope that when their time comes, someone will care enough to help them.
Old people die, that is the mantra of the nursing home owners and managers. They leave out how they die, some from being dropped, given the wrong medication, or just because there was not enough staff to help. They simply" fail to thrive " or suffer from an" acute coronary arrhythmia ". No one ever checks the doctors cause of death, simply because "old people die".
I don't know about anyone else, but I don't have a whole lot of faith in doctors. I cant tell you how many times I have avoided tragedy by asking the right questions, or questioning something the doctor was doing. Many times the doctors depend on some low level office clerk, to catch potential life threatening issues. That's simply not good enough. If you are a doctor and you are getting paid, do your job. Take the time to actually examine the patient, and get familiar with their medical history. Make sure that there are no potential medication reactions. If you have a patient that had there skull sawed open, expect problems, especially if they fall.
There is one doctor in Hendersonville North Carolina, that definitely has to many patients. Dr. Larry Joe Russell,he is the medical director at The Laurels of Hendersonville, and also has an office, where he sees patients. Dr. Russell is also the doctor at all the nursing homes in Henderson Count NC. At least the ones that accept Medicare and Medicaid. Dr. Russell is also the registered agent for several other medical practices in Henderson County. Dr. Russell is also partners with the owners of SanStone Health and Rehabilitation.
How could one doctor keep up with all of those patients? Simple, doctor Russell has fourteen LPN's and one PA. My guess is that he never actually "sees" a patient. Although he was supposed to be Mom's doctor, the records prove that he never even saw her. How can a doctor, that has not even seen a patient, have the knowledge to sign the death certificate?
I am using Dr. Larry Joe Russell as an example, simply because I have personal knowledge about him from Moms medical records. The same goes for Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation, personal experience. Everything I have read, and my personal experience, indicates that this is the normal.
If you wish to share any information, email me at jaemark7@bellsouth.net, I will answer you promptly, and will keep any information in strict confidence, if you desire. I just need to know more about how they operate, in order to stop them. It takes more than one dead elderly person to get attention.
Merry Christmas, and if you still have your parents and grandparents, love and hold them, enjoy them while you have them. You never know when they may end up in the hands of a Dr. Russell, or Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation of their own.
No comments:
Post a Comment