Submitted by Richard Hetzler
When the level of care for your aging parent must be increased, it’s important for caregivers to take a more active role in how that care is delivered.
When my mother moved to the Chicago area, she stayed in an assisted living facility with which we were extremely pleased. But after a stay in the hospital, she was required to move to the rehab facility on the same campus. Since we were so happy with the assisted living facility, I made the mistake of assuming that she would be well cared for in the rehab facility.
They had made no effort to compare treatment plans from the adjacent building. For example, they had every pain medicine labeled “PRN” (Latin: pro re nata, which means taken as needed). That meant that she would receive no pain medicine unless she asked for it, but she had been on a pain management regiment for years so never had to ask before, and now did not realize the change. Once I saw the intense pain that she was in, I had to act, to get the facility to resume her pain management regiment, but it was a difficult process.
Most facilities have a certain level of care that they are prepared to offer, and sometimes do not recognize when residents require greater care. It’s important for children and caregivers to get involved and stay involved in the decision making process before a parent is moved.
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