Expert: Paula Damgaard - 9/11/2005

Question
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Hi Paula, I did not even think about the Social Services being connected to the skill nursing facility, they are. The offices are in the same building. I'm also changing her doctor, he insisted on putting her in there after her surgery. I was in the process of looking for a skilled nursing, she was moved without consulting me, he insisted she stay there.
The day I got her out of there, I told their admissions office ( I said this nicely, not in anger) because of the problems with Social Services here, if there's any problems with her bill, my mother is judgement proof. You can't sue her she has nothing, I'm also judegment proof and I'll argue any charges on her bill. Both women in the office got an "OH NO" look on thier faces, they got up and pointed down the hallway saying "Go talk to Social Services!" I thought that was odd, my mother has insurance to cover the bill (Medicare supplement F). What's going on?  I went in there on Wednesday and told them I want a line by line item of her bill. I was told they would mail it to me. I thought that was strange, most places have the bill ready when you leave.
I'm in Orange County, Calif.
I'm glad I made the video of the conditons she was held in.
Last Friday when I was arguing with Social Services, I told them my mother was not in a secure place. They said she had a moniter on her wrist that goes off if she goes out the front door. (but she still had access to everything on the floor). I went in on Sunday with my camera, looked at my mother's wrist, no moniter or name tag, nothing to identify  her. She could have wheeled herself out of there at any time.
I took pictures and a video. They took care of it after I pointed it out.

         John
Followup To
Question -
My mother has dementia, recently had surgery. She was placed in skilled nursing. I went to visit her afew days later. The skilled nursing had her sedated, strapped to a wheel chair in the hallway. I was getting calls from the nurses to take my mother to another place, they could not deal with her. My mother had been in an Alzheimer's/ Dementia unit of assisted living since  Feburary. I wanted her out of there, called the doctor to release her, two days later he called me. He went to see her, physically she was fine, she can leave. Social Services refused to release her. They said she needed more physical theapry, said if I took her out now, Medicare might not pay.
I finally got her released 4 days later. I took pictures of her condition in there.
What rights do Alzheimer's/ Demenita patients have in skilled nursing? How can Social Services try and take control even though I have Power of Attorney and the doctor gave a release?
My mother is doing great now (this all happened last week). She's walking again, happy to be in her own room and with friends she knows.
Answer -
John, I am not sure of the laws for where you live.  This sounds really odd to me.  

What Social Services?  Were they connected to the place she was staying or was it the outside government SS?  If it was just connected to the home then I would contact the SS department in your community and ask them what is going on.  Or I would contact a lawyer and find out who governs what and did the SS people act out of line.  

Good luck with this.  I am glad that your mom is doing better.  Doesn't seem like she was getting much physical therapy if was stapped to the wheel chair!  Paula

Answer
John, this sounds like such a mess!  I hope that you are able to take those people to task.  How sad is it that the people that have paved the way so that we can live the way we live now have to be treated this way?  

Everyone is so set on "saving the children" what about the elderly????  

I wish I could be there to help you, but being in Virginia doesn't make that possible!  So just consider me your East Coast cheering squad!  Good luck!  Paula