Be aware of policies that nursing homes follow

Until Feb. 8, the date she unfortunately passed away, I had an elderly aunt residing at a nursing home in Fall River. She had been literality bed ridden there for just over two years. The issue I want to bring to your attention revolves around the facility's decision to remove bed rails from their long term residents at the beginning of this year, citing a Massachusetts State Law ordering them to do so.

Upon making inquires to other nursing facilities, it appears bed rails are allowed in situations where there is a medical necessity to use them for patient safety. My aunt was very fearful of falling out of her bed as she had done once before because of the decision made by the very same people who were charged with her safety and wellbeing. Her legs would no longer support her, and even getting up to go to the bathroom was no longer possible for her. She did have quarter rails by her pillows up till the end of December for helping her reposition herself to find some form of comfort from lying in her bed 24/7. Their decision to remove bed rails was made supposedly after an assessment was made of all the residents in their charge. In my aunt's case, family was not notified of what was happening nor its outcome.

On Jan. 18, I was told by the facility's administrator and director of nursing after a heated discussion that patients have the right (and I quote) "to fall out of their beds, and patient and/or family wishes are not relevant anymore in these cases." My argument with the administrator was would it not be better to be proactive to avoid such falls as opposed to dealing with the outcome after the fact? His answer was that his hands were tied because of state legislation.

Something is very wrong here in my opinion. Before placement in the nursing home, Bristol Elders cautioned family members about doing everything we could to keep our aunt safe in her home to avoid being charged with possible elderly abuse and that included fall prevention.

On Friday, Jan. 19, the facility's physical therapist started a 30-day P/T routine with my aunt, leading to reassessing her needs, bringing that decision to be made to mid-February. Family still had not been notified of their plans and only found out of this development by chance. Thirty more days where my aunt again would be lying still in her bed, in her soiled diaper and fearful of falling out of her bed.

On Jan. 29, I did submit a complaint to the Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facilities Licensure and Certification in Boston asking them to investigate this situation on my aunt's behalf.

On Feb. 8 my aunt was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital where it was determined she had suffered a heart attack complicated by kidney failure. Later that evening, she passed away. It was also mentioned at the hospital that she had a condition called mottling in her lower extremities where the blood circulation was so poor, her legs probably would never support her again no matter how much physical therapy she would of received. Mottling can also be a sign of approaching death.

My purpose here is to try to make others aware of some of the policies some nursing homes might follow. It can no longer help the woman I loved dearly, but perhaps some awareness could help others who are in similar situations.

By the way, the family has still not heard a single word of our aunt's passing from this particular nursing home.

Richard Brodeur

Somerset