Mother has recently been confirmed legally blind. What help is the nursing home required to give?
Mother has been determined to be legally blind. She had cataract surgery a year and half ago, and the new lens has developed a film over it. (I believe I know the cause, have recently been told by someone who has had the surgery that the final step had not been done - grr.) Repair is scheduled in a couple of weeks. The worst of it is the glaucoma, which has gotten out of control more or less, even with treatment. Surgery is scheduled next week to put in new drainage. However, they told us in the very beginning that she would, in all likelihood, even with the surgeries, be completely blind. It was really just a matter of time.
The eye doctor sent a copy of her diagnosis to the nursing home, but we are getting nothing but trouble from the transportation scheduler about sending an aid to the doctor with her, because she is still "all there in the head" (well, mostly)
They sent an aid (was also the driver) the last two times, who clearly 1)had no interest in helping her and 2) no experience with the blind. She tripped over a curb because he did not tell her there was a curb - luckily she caught herself - and again on the way out, over the same curb, same reason, same result. He did not help her out of the van, or with her getting her things from the van, aside from setting her oxygen tank on the ground.
They do not want to send an aid inside the appointment with her, again, because she still has her cognition, but she can not see to fill out paperwork, find the door, and she does have issues with her short term memory.
The home has been helpful in some ways, with her dinner, etc., but this is a major issue, as I do not have the ability right now to go to the appointments with her.
What are the responsibilities of the nursing home in terms of the blind? There is NOTHING in the rights and responsibilities book they gave me that even mentions the blind.
Her health is terrible - quite a few other serious medical problems, many for which no cause can be found, but are being handled fairly well, but this is a big big deal.
Any help??
4 Answers
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I suppose it depends on the facility, the state you are in and the services you are paying for. My cousin, who is in Assisted living, gets complete assistance with her medical appointments. The facility maintains a notebook with her medical information from the facility, signed forms, weight and blood pressure charts, etc. and they carry it to the appointments with her. They make the appointments, transport her there, see the doctor, answer questions, get her lunch if it runs long, etc. I normally meet them at the doctor's office, but they tell me it is not required. They take care of everything if I can't make it.
They do this for all the residents not just those who are in wheelchairs or who have dementia.
I had some trouble with the first Assisted Living place that my cousin went to having available time. They would often say they weren't available, but when they were, they did it right. (I believed they lied, since they knew I would do it if they couldn't.) Anyway, the new place is much better and they always provide her great transport and care for her doctor visits.
I would ask for a meeting with those in charge to modify her care plan. They need to figure out why a transporter would be so inefficient and put a resident at risk.
If there is a Agency for the Blind in that county, they may be able to offer some advice.
We are in Florida and I want to have all of my ducks in a row before I had the meeting. I will check with our Agency for the Blind. Thank you so much! Bless you!
I would ask to see what they have in the file and the medication log. They should log every bit of medication she gets. I sure hope this can be resolved. Good luck.
http://www.floridashine.org/