Talk about "a change of plans"

[sasvermont]

Today I had plans to go visit my Mom in the nursing facility where she has lived for about 3 years.

I got a call at around 7:30 this AM from a nurse at the facility. "Could I come and get her"....... W H A T?

My Mom is totally dependent on medications and injections and uses a walker, wears depends (TMI) and has dementia. She is pleasant enough, just totally dependent on care from others. She cannot go up and down steps.

Here's the deal. There was a fire down the street and the power on their block has been cut. There is no heat in the house. The facility is an old Victorian house converted to handle around 10/12 ladies in need of nursing care.

My response was "And do what with her"?

I did ask them if they had an emergency generator and their response was that they we thinking about buying one. I suspect the fire department could come up with one in a hurry if they would just ask.

Anyway, I left it that they would have to deal with the situation the best they can. My Mom pays dearly for this arrangement and they should be better prepared. I don't think they were thinking when they called me - as I have not taken care of her medical needs for years now. I am not a pansy, just think she deserves her independence just like I do. I have never given her an injection or tested her and can't learn on the fly like they expected me to do today!

Yikes.

I feel a tad guilty about letting them deal with it, but I don't have much of a choice.

Also, we have about 10 inches of snow on the ground from yesterday and the sidewalks and drives and roads are still a mess. She wouldn't be able to make it beyond the car with her walker to my front door.

Happy Thanksgiving. I will not be eating dinner with my Mom today, but am still grateful for all I have and that my Mom is ok and will not remember this event anyway, as she has short term memory loss!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here on Pet Talk. Be safe. Be happy. Be thankful.

Sas and her campers

[Karen]

Wow, you would think a place like that would have a generator as a matter of course! I hope everyone stays safe!

[dukedogsmom]

They put you in an awkward position. I wouldn't have been able to do that, either. Strange that they're not better prepared for emergencies. Maybe you and your mom can be together soon for a visit. I think its natural to feel a little guilt but she's where she can get the best care.

[lizbud]

Well, they have a working phone, they called you. Wonder if they called
the fire dept or police for help in getting a generator? I can't imaging them being
turned down for help considering their ages & the bad weather. Maybe they
called you as a first impulse without considering all of their options.

I imagine leaving her place would be very confusing to your Mom and all of
the other older folk. I did wonder if the workers there made it into work
in spite of all the snow on the ground?

I hope this all works out for you & for all of the patients. Prayers for them
all.

[pomtzu]

OMG - what a horrible situation to be in. I can understand completely, you not wanting to upset your mother's applecart more than it already has been. I think it's rather careless that the staff of the home would ever expect you to do it anyway.

And I'd say that they certainly have fallen down on THEIR job and responsibilities. Considering your geographic location and the unpredictable weather that you may get more often than the rest of the country, you'd think it would be MANDATORY that they have an emergency generator, or a backup plan for somewhere to take the patients in a situation such as this. I know it must cost an arm and a leg to live at such a facility, and to have them not be prepared, is totally ludicrous IMO!!! WOW - just WOW!!!

I hope that you get to see your Mom soon, and that she understands (even maybe a little), why you couldn't be with her today.

Go give Prue a big hug - and feel better.

[Asiel]

Quite incredible that something like this would happen in a nursing facility. And too call you and expect you to be able to take over on the drop of a hat is rather silly IMO. I thought all places like that were required to have back up services, something sounds weird, almost like they might have wanted to unburden themselves of some patients. Like you say, those homes cost a lot, I know when we had to get my mom in a home I was thankful she had money to pay for it because I'm not keen on government run places.

It is sad that you couldn't spend Thanksgiving with your mom but a blessing she won't remember the day and what went on. I hope everything is back to normal by now.