Full question:
He will not be around in another month because of this. I am the wife a Korean Veteran who has Alzheimer's, severe heart condition, along with various other illnesses. I have been taking him to the VA for several years now. It's horrible. It use to be pretty good as far as the doctors. <br /><br /> Now for my story. I took my husband to a doctor because his Alzheimer's. His sundowners was having him back in the war. With us going to what he referred to as the bunker (which is our front bedroom). The doctor checked him out and thought his medication should be changed so we went to the emergency room to get him admitted. They do not have any ward for Alzheimer's patients. So they put him on the Psych ward. Just to get his medications straighten out (to make sure that no reaction, etc.). <br /></br> Well, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing over there. Everyday it was a different story from different people. So one day while I was sitting in the room waiting for my husband to come out, a nurse walked up to him not knowing that I was sitting in the waiting room and said 'I heard you took a fall Mr. Smith?'< Dead silence >. I asked and some said he fell, other said he didn't. He was on fall alert. He had not fallen at home. (They had also told me he got in a confrontation which is not him at all) So the next thing I knew they were bringing him down to see me in a chair. <br /><br /> Then I went in one morning to meet the physical therapist who had called me and asked me to come over. I really think she wanted me to see what was going on. Anyway, he was in what they called the 'quite room'. A dark, locked room with just a mattress on the floor. No blanket, no socks, and dryed vomit. That was at 9am and they said they had given him a bath at 6. No way. Next day I go in and they are bring him up from the x-ray department in a bed. I should have known something was funny when they wheeled him in the waiting room in a bed. The doctor came out and told me that he was going to release him. That he had x-rays done because his stomach was extended and he said he had extra stool so they were going to give him something for that. He was looking him over because I had complained of all these bruises, stomach, back, etc. That's when he touched his leg and my husband let out a scream. The doctor asked if he had ever done that before and I said no, not at home. So the doctor said 'I have had so many x-rays done today what's one more and he knew he would get in trouble for it. So he said he would call me and he did 15 minutes later to say that my husbands hip was broken. I am so upset. </br><br /> I don't like nursing homes and I had kept him home and lost everything to keep him home only to have them not caring for him. They cannot tell me when or how he broke it. The nurse on the floor has told the Nursing Management that she would talk with me at this time and that time. Never to show up. The last time it was a medication issue. Billing is another issue. It's a mess. So I am thinking of telling my story to the press. I cannot imagine what the kids will be going thru when they come home to all of this. <br /><br /> Now don't get me wrong. Some of the staff are caring. But not many. It's just a paycheck. I take care of my husband 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days out of the year and I do this all by my self. For 8 years now. We have lost everything. I just was able to get something to sit on myself after 18 months. Before I was sitting on the floor. I have to sleep on the floor next to his hospital bed now. Is this the way the Vets should be treated? Now his transportation is in an ambulance. He can't get in our car so I am paying for a car he can't use. And owe more on it then I can get. I have to move because he is in pain and screams all night. The people in our apartment building are not real happy about this. We live in a very small apartment and have no room for all his medical needs. This has really put me in a hurt. I can't even leave to go to the store, to get the mail, or walk the dog. This is wrong. <br /><br /> Then they send a Nurse Practitioner out and she ended up giving him a 2nd flu shot in a month. And told me that since I did not like the VA that I should find someone else. That's the answer that these people give. </br><br /> I could write you a book about all this and more of the things that they have done. What else can they do to us. The cost is killing me let alone the care. He walked into the hospital and had to be brought home in an ambulance. That's how he has to get around but instead he has to stay home.
- Category: Healthcare
- Subcategory: Patient Abuse
- Date:
- State: National
Answer:
Whether or not the nursing home was at fault for the broken hip would be a matter of interpretation for the court, based upon all the facts and circumstances involved, and expert testimony.
Any nursing home abuse or negligence should be reported immediately to a knowledgeable nursing home attorney and to your local State Department of Health Licensing or Certification office. You may also report it to the headquarters of your state health agency. It is wise to make your report by mail and keep a copy of your complaint. If you should make your report by telephone, keep a note of the date of the report and the name of the person with whom you spoke.
Please see the contact information below:
State Long Term Care Ombudsman
Sharon Wilder
State LTC Ombudsman
NC Division of Aging & Adult Services
2101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2101
Work: (919)733-8395
Fax: (919)715-0868
website:http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/ombud.htm
Office on Aging
Karen Gottovi
Director
Division of Aging - IV
Dept of Health & Human Svcs.
2101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2101
Work: (919)733-3983
Fax: (919)733-0443
website:http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/home.htm
Licensure and Certifications
Jeff Horton
Chief
North Carolina Department of Human Services
Certification Sec.,Facility Svcs.
2711 Mail Service Ctr.
PO Box 29530
Raleigh, NC 27699-2711
Work: (919)733-7461
Fax: (919)733-8274
Medicaid Fraud Unit Control
Christopher Brewer
Assistant Attorney General, MFCU
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of North Carolina
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 629
Raleigh, NC 27602-0629
Work: (919)881-2320
Fax: (919)571-4837
Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrator
Jane Baker
NC State Board of Examiners for NHA
3733 National Drive
Suite 228
Raleigh, NC 27612
Work: (919)571-4164
Fax: (919)571-4166
Medicaid Agency
Mark Benton
Interim Director
NC Division of Medical Assistance
Dept. of Health & Human Svcs.
1985 Umstead Drive
2517 Mail Service Ctr.
Raleigh, NC 27699-2517
Work: (919)855-4100
Fax: (919)733-6608
Quality Improvement Organization
Charles Riddick
Executive Director
Medical Review of North Carolina
5625 Dillard Drive
Suite 203
Cary, NC 27511
Work: (919)380-9860
Fax: (919)380-7637
website:http://www.carolinaqio.org
Protection and Advocacy System
Allison Bowen
Interim Director
Governor's Advocacy Coun./Person w Disab.
2113 Cameron Street
Suite 218
Raleigh, NC 27605
Work: (919)733-9250
Fax: (919)733-9173
Adult Protective Service Agency
Rosalyn Pettyford
Program Coordinator
APS and Guardianship/Social Services
N.C. Division of Aging & Adult Services
693 Palmer Drive
2101 Mail Service
Raleigh, NC 27699-2101
Work: (919)733-3818
Fax: (919)715-0023
Citizen Advocacy Group
Bill Lamb
Board Chair
Friends of Residents In Long Term Care
883-C Washington St.
Raleigh, NC 27605
Work: (919)782-1530
Fax: (919)782-1558
website:www.forltc.org
Local and Regional Ombudsmen
Twilla Chavis
Regional Ombudsman
Lumber River Council of Governments - AAA
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
4721 Fayetteville Road
Lumberton, NC 28358
Work: (910)618-5533
Fax: (910)618-5576
Area Served: Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland counties
Armeta Coley
Regional Ombudsman
Upper Coastal Plains COG
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Drawer 2748
Rocky Mount, NC 27802
Work: (252)466-0411
Fax: (252)446-5651
Area Served: Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northhampton, and Wilson counties
Terry Collins
Ombudsman
Land of Sky Regional Council
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
25 Heritage Drive
Asheville, NC 28806
Work: (828)251-6622
Fax: (828)251-6353
Area Served: Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties
Cassandra Hall
Regional Ombudsman
Western Piedmont Council of Governments
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
736 4th Street, SW
P.O. Box 9026
Hickory, NC 28603
Work: (828)485-4266
Fax: (828)322-5991
Area Served: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba
Kimberly Hawkins
Regional Ombudsman
Region K Council of Government
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Box 709
Henderson, NC 27536
Work: (252)436-2050
Fax: (252)436-2055
Area Served: Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties
Alex Jernigan
Regional Ombudsman
Region D Council of Governments
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Box 1820
Boone, NC 28607
Work: (828)265-5434
Fax: (828)265-5439
Area Served: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and
Yancey counties
Sabrena Lea
Regional Ombudsman
Piedmont Triad Council of Governments
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
2216 West Meadowview Road
Suite 201
Greensboro, NC 27407-3480
Work: (336)294-4950
Fax: (336)632-0457
Area Served: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Guilford, Randolph and
Rockingham and Montgomery counties
Debi Lee
Regional Ombudsman
Centralina Area Agency on Aging
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
1300 Baxter Street
P.O. Box 35008
Charlotte, NC 28235
Work: (704)348-2714
Fax: (704)347-4710
Area Served: Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg,
Rowan, Stanley, and Union
Sheila Lewis
Regional Ombudsman II
Eastern Carolina Council - AAA
LTC Ombudsman Program
P.O. Box 1717
233 Middle Street
New Bern, NC 28563
Work: (252)638-3185
Fax: (252)638-3187
Area Served: Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow,
Pamlico and Wayne counties
Sara Melton
Regional Ombudsman
Southwestern Planning Commission
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Box 850
Bryson City, NC 28713
Work: (828)488-9211
Fax: (828)488-3950
Area Served: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain
counties
Jill Passmore
Regional Ombudsman
Triangle J Council of Government AAA
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
PO Box 12276
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Work: (919)558-9401
Fax: (919)549-9390
Area Served: Chatham, Durham, Orange, Johnston, Lee, Moore and Wake counties
Alison Phlegar
Ombudsman
Mid East Commission
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Drawer 1787
Washington, NC 27889
Work: (252)974-1838
Fax: (252)948-1887
Area Served: Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin and Pitt counties
Harvin Quidas
Regional Ombudsman
Cape Fear Council of Governments
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
1480 Harbour Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401
Work: (910)395-4553
Fax: (910)395-2684
Area Served: Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties
Andrea Reese
Ombudsman
Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
400 West Fourth Street
Suite 400
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Work: (336)761-2111
Fax: (336)761-2111
Area Served: Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties
Debra Sheard
Regional Ombudsman
Albemarle Commission
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Box 646
Hertford, NC 27944
Work: (252)426-5753
Fax: (252)426-8482
Area Served: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank,
Perquimans, Tyrell and Washington
Lori Simpson
Isothermal Commission
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Box 841
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Work: (828)287-2281
Fax: (828)287-2735
Area Served: Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford counties
Andrea Wright
Regional Ombudsman
Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
Long Term Care Ombudsman Prog.
P.O. Box 1510
Fayetteville, NC 28302
Work: (910)323-4191
Fax: (910)323-9330
Area Served: Cumberland, Harnett, and Sampson counties
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
