Oral Health Care In Nursing Homes Is Appalling

jubilant · ‎06-10-2010

When we first put my Dad in a nursing home 3 yrs. ago, we thought they would see to it that his teeth got brushed. When he became more feeble and couldn't handle his toothbrush we thought surely someone would brush his teeth. Well...."nope".....they don't. His teeth started looking awful and he was complaining of sore teeth. It was a build up of food in between his teeth. Yuck!

We ended up buying dental insurance (medicare and medicaid doesn't provide it). It is rather expensive. No matter how much we plead..... his teeth never get brushed or flossed so we brush him and floss every time we are there. My sister is best at it so she usually does it....but mom and I have done it, too.

The reason I bring this up now is my Dad is recovering from Sepsis. Although it didn't come from his teeth, one of the first things the NP looked at (for infection) was in the mouth. That right there told us something! Thankfully, we had a dentist look at Dad just a few weeks ago and fill 2 superficial cavities so she could rule out anything there.

We see so many of these elderly people who no one is looking out for . Can you imagine what their teeth must look like after a couple of years? I shudder to think. My DIL works in a dentist office and she says this is very common. How sad.....especially when you read how poor dental health contributes to a lot of health problems in the elderly.

I just needed to vent about this because it is a crying shame about these forgotten elderly people. According to some articles I read today, it has been found their health is significantly improved by good oral hygiene.

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

I agree and what bothers me most - I've had 3 friends do their due diligence in finding a good assisted living/memory care facility. They visit a few times a week and things seem fine for awhile. Two of these friends had the facility their parent was in end up being sold and you walk in one day and don't recognize any of the staff. It's like they fire anyone who it appears is a long time employee (we figure it's bc those make more $) and replace staff with what we figure are those making much less and what was once a not too bad place - really begins to show shoddy care and see loved ones falling thru the crack.

Another issue - for two of my friends - their parent went into assisted living with a few memory issues but nothing too bad yet. These places are not cheap and yet when the patient's memory really starts faltering it's like it's a huge surprise and like staff has never experienced this before and they complain to family. I feel for you bc the love of my life has been in assisted living (diagnosed with moderate Alzheimers) and his daughter has similar issues as you. She's looking for another place - not the best of situations bc the one things these patients need is stability and familiar surroundings. She hired an aide to help a few hours a day with issues like yours but that's added $.

jubilant · ‎06-10-2010

@Financialgrl

My Dad's home was great at first but it recently changed hands and it seems to me there is a shortage of help. I hear that is the case in the majority of nursing homes. When they changed hands they went from doctor owned to big health care company. That's when they started losing workers. They cut the benefits of workers and the workers can get better pay elsewhere. Many of them are young women with children to support so they need the benefits. The nursing home told us they wanted that extra money "to go to the residents".....well, imo, it doesn't!

Cutting the workers benefits is not the way to get the more "quality" help and I think there lies the problem! When you do that it doesn't help the residents....at least from what I am observing.

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

Yep, my BF's daughter is looking for another facility but it appears they all eventually sell out to the big corporations.

twinkies · ‎03-11-2010

I feel bad that this happened to your Dad . The nurse in charge is responsible for checking and seeing that proper baths and mouthcare is carried out everyday especially if the elder needs help with activities of daily living , There is no reason why oral care is not done in the am and before bed . I you keep complainig and go to the nurse then someone will do it because they won't want to hear it anymore. Then thank them as often as[ possible to insure them that you appreciate itt ,

cathy from ma

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

@Financialgrl wrote:
Yep, my BF's daughter is looking for another facility but it appears they all eventually sell out to the big corporations.

I'm afraid so. Those companies owning multiple facilities can buy supplies in larger quantities and pay less per item making them more money. They can float stafff from facility to facility. They spend less and make more and the more facilities they buy, the more money they make.

Care in even good facilities can vary wildly. My mother had diarrhea in her last week in a rehab assignment after a stroke two years ago and when she was discharged I found out why. They had her getting four doses of laxative a day. Two doses of Miralax and two doses of another laxative each and every day will give anyone and everyone diarrhea.

Most of those places are just warehouses for people to go to until they die. My brother died in a rehab facility this past December when they refused to transfer him to a hospital when he started to decline. They felt they could treat him adequately there and they would lose money if they transferred him to a hospital. By the time they finally did transfer him, it was too late.

There's a lot of money moving around between hospitals and rehab facilities these days. Hospitals keep you for as short a period as absolutely necessary then transfer you to a rehab facility (ostensibly to save money as rehab facilities are lower cost per day than hospitals) but then you get trapped there for weeks/months offsetting any cost savings.

I keep getting the feeling there's a giant conspiracy going on to milk as much cash from consumers/insurers as possible with the quality of care being the least of anyone's worry.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

That is just so sad and so wrong. For the money $$$$ people shell out to be in these facilities.... they should be getting stellar care.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@jubilant wrote:
When we first put my Dad in a nursing home 3 yrs. ago, we thought they would see to it that his teeth got brushed. When he became more feeble and couldn't handle his toothbrush we thought surely someone would brush his teeth. Well...."nope".....they don't. His teeth started looking awful and he was complaining of sore teeth. It was a build up of food in between his teeth. Yuck!
We ended up buying dental insurance (medicare and medicaid doesn't provide it). It is rather expensive. No matter how much we plead..... his teeth never get brushed or flossed so we brush him and floss every time we are there. My sister is best at it so she usually does it....but mom and I have done it, too.
The reason I bring this up now is my Dad is recovering from Sepsis. Although it didn't come from his teeth, one of the first things the NP looked at (for infection) was in the mouth. That right there told us something! Thankfully, we had a dentist look at Dad just a few weeks ago and fill 2 superficial cavities so she could rule out anything there.
We see so many of these elderly people who no one is looking out for . Can you imagine what their teeth must look like after a couple of years? I shudder to think. My DIL works in a dentist office and she says this is very common. How sad.....especially when you read how poor dental health contributes to a lot of health problems in the elderly.
I just needed to vent about this because it is a crying shame about these forgotten elderly people. According to some articles I read today, it has been found their health is significantly improved by good oral hygiene.

@jubilant

I read your post and still can't figure out who you spoke to about this problem. A nurse? The Administrator of the nursing home? Your state's Dept of Consumer Affairs? Who?

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

I would rather jump off my roof than go to a nursing home. I want to stay here, in my home to the end. I have seen horrible things and really don't want to be part of it.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@gardenman wrote:
@Financialgrl wrote:
Yep, my BF's daughter is looking for another facility but it appears they all eventually sell out to the big corporations.
I'm afraid so. Those companies owning multiple facilities can buy supplies in larger quantities and pay less per item making them more money. They can float stafff from facility to facility. They spend less and make more and the more facilities they buy, the more money they make.

Care in even good facilities can vary wildly. My mother had diarrhea in her last week in a rehab assignment after a stroke two years ago and when she was discharged I found out why. They had her getting four doses of laxative a day. Two doses of Miralax and two doses of another laxative each and every day will give anyone and everyone diarrhea.

Most of those places are just warehouses for people to go to until they die. My brother died in a rehab facility this past December when they refused to transfer him to a hospital when he started to decline. They felt they could treat him adequately there and they would lose money if they transferred him to a hospital. By the time they finally did transfer him, it was too late.

There's a lot of money moving around between hospitals and rehab facilities these days. Hospitals keep you for as short a period as absolutely necessary then transfer you to a rehab facility (ostensibly to save money as rehab facilities are lower cost per day than hospitals) but then you get trapped there for weeks/months offsetting any cost savings.

I keep getting the feeling there's a giant conspiracy going on to milk as much cash from consumers/insurers as possible with the quality of care being the least of anyone's worry.

Sadly - I couldn't agree more. Both my parents were in one of the best facilities in the Philadelphia area. But there were things I missed along the way. I would try and visit them everyday to make sure they were well cared for. But still I had to fight for my Mom to be given water so she could brush her teeth etc. Or find my Dad sitting in soaking wet pants, Or no one helping anyone to eat. I used to sit and feed the entire table or else no one would have eaten anything.

So sad - especially the people who have no one. I sometimes feel I didn't do enough. But at least I tried just about everyday to help my parents.