My dad has declined mentally over the past month and is currently in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Alabama. I live in Colorado. Which makes things more difficult. He has advanced Parkinson's and has gotten to the point where he is VERY combative at the SNF. The nurse's there are saying that they cannot provide the level of care he needs (ha CANNOT take care of himself) and he would be better off at a 'memory facility'. However, he does not qualify for memory care according to the evaluations (for many different reasons...MANY falls being the mail reason). My brother and I are at a loss as to where we can place him. We are getting zero help from doctors, social workers or nursing. We are both in the medical field (as well, my spouse is an R.N.) and cannot believe the lack of help out there for situations like this. ANY advice or help will be GREATLY appreciated!! Thank you all for taking the time to read this...
Unfortunately, if you are POA you are going to have to be there so you can reach his medical team and get him placed where he can be medicated.
Sorry. Yes, it is AWFUL when it comes to this. AWFUL.
Another question, why has not the SNF doctor brought a Neurologist in for a consult. Because a Neurologist could prescribe something. A Parkinson's patient should be seeing a Neurologist.
My mother had Parkinson’s disease. So, I know firsthand how difficult and challenging this situation is. Mom died at age 95 in a hospice care home.
I can’t imagine how you must have felt after hearing this nonsense from your dad’s facility.
Surely, the nursing home knows that Parkinson’s disease is progressive and that your father is never going to improve.
There’s no miracle cure for Parkinson’s disease. Your dad will continue to struggle until the end of his life and needs skilled nursing services.
Honestly, it sounds like the nursing home just wants to pawn your dad off on others because they don’t want to deal with these issues.
So, now they are insulting your intelligence by suggesting memory as alternative care for him, which makes no sense at all.
Memory care isn’t the solution for any behavioral issues that your dad is experiencing. He wouldn’t even be considered a candidate for memory care due to his other needs.
Have they spoken to you at all about what they have tried or considered trying? Are they willing to listen to any suggestions that you may have about appropriately handling this matter? Have they discussed utilizing certain medications for his behavior?
My mom was on Ativan and Seroquel towards the end and it helped her to cope.
Is it possible to move dad to another skilled nursing facility if they aren’t able to provide the best quality of care?
Wishing you and your family peace as you continue your caregiving journey. I hope that you are able to find a viable solution soon.
Good luck to you.
Although he is quiet, strong type and never experienced any of that behavior, but during his quarterly neurological exams they always ask me about any changes, like agitation, hallucinations etc. his neurologist mentioned that as there meds to alleviate that.
Physiotherapy is very helpful and he has people coming twice a week to do exercise on stationary bike and treadmill. Keeping balance and improving mobility is important although nothing will prevent falls.
They also check his BP as it tends to be lower with Parkinson’s and often results in falls.
It is cruel disease.
Memory care to my knowledge (have looked at some but my dad is not yet there but maybe close) is like a higher level assisted living, except with more staffing/ better ratio, usually locked to stop wandering/ eloping, and hopefully staff have better experience with dementia. However generally from what I have seen they have limited medical abilty and response.
SNF by definition has nursing and nursing assiitance care so is a higher level of care
Then there would be long term hospitalization in geriatric section of a pschiatric hospital if that was determined to be the need, where they have maximal ability of psychiatric meds.... Maybe they are implying he needs more like a long term geriatric psychatric hospital?
If he does have a PoA, call the admins at this facility and ask what they would do in this situation, if it were their Dad?
For my SFIL (with advanced PD) who didn't/wouldn't assign a PoA the county came in and acquired guardianship. Then they transitioned him into a Mediaid facility (because he had no money). He was in MC because he kept verbally threatening to leave. He became combative (he was 6'4") and not joke when he swung his arms, regardless of being in his late 80s. They had his mattress on the floor so he couldn't fall out of bed or get up without assistance.
If your Dad has no PoA then I would request to speak to a social worker for the county where his facility is located and see what they say. I'm so sorry for this distressing situation.