Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Inc. – Are your family members receiving the care you desire?

April 17, 2009

 

Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Inc.

Mr. Ted O’Brien, Administrator

735 West Diversey Parkway

Chicago, Illinois 60614

 

Mr. O’Brien:

 

On April 15, 2009 I met with a team of Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Inc. (Lakeview) “professionals” who profess to be involved with the services being rendered to my uncle Eddie Nance (Eddie) at Lakeview. I asked for this meeting because I was left out of Eddie’s Quarterly Care Plan process, which I had asked to be in attendance.

 

I asked these individuals to identify who they are and the service or department they represent at Lakeview. These individuals are: Mavis (Restorative), Carlos (Activities), Ruth (Dietary), Lois (Nursing), David (Social Services), Ann (Social Services), Angel (Minimum Data Set (M.D.S.)) and Sylvia (M.D.S.). I am writing this letter because I left a voice mail for you on April 17, 2009 and did not get a return phone call about my issues and complaint about this “Care Plan” process on April 17, 2009. I am also writing this letter because of the humiliation I suffered due to Carlos’ harassing and intimidating statements to me. Here is a brief account/summary of my experience.

 

Someone from this group ask me why I requested this meeting. I informed them I wanted to be part of Eddie’s Quarterly Care Plan process. I informed them that I attended Eddie’s Care Plan early in the year (January 2009), and that I should have been invited to the Care Plan meeting in March 2009. I informed them I requested in January 2009 to be part of this process. I informed them that I have been working in social services for nearly 15 years, and that I wanted to be part of this process because I did not want Eddie to suffer any negligence during his stay at Lakeview.

 

Someone from this group ask me if there were any issues I wanted to discuss. I informed them I wanted to talk about Eddie’s hygiene, diet and clothing. I informed them of Eddie’s most recent visit to his dentist office. I informed them that Eddie was dressed in dirty clothing that was not part of the clothing I bought for him to wear. The clothing Eddie had on did not belong to him. I informed them that the dentist told me that Eddie’s mouth was not healing because he was not taking his dentures out of his mouth when sleeping, and that I should tell the nursing home to assure Eddie takes his dentures out at night, which I did the very first day Eddie received his dentures. I informed them that during my visit today that Eddie’s room was dirty and that saliva was all over the floor, where I had to engage some personnel to clean it up. I began telling them how this type of service was not going to be tolerated, and that Eddie had family who were concerned about him. I informed them that from my social service experience people are not necessarily neglected by employees on purpose. I informed them that many patients/clients are not exposed to neglect when staff know family or friends are actively involved in the patient/client’s human and social experience.

 

As this staff and I discussed my issues and I would not let this staff blame the dentist for Eddie’s dentistry issues, staff person Carlos told me I did not have to get defensive. I resented this statement and began informing this staff of their responsibility to provide comprehensive and optimal service to Eddie. Staff person Lois wanted to know why Eddie was getting dentistry service outside of Lakeview’s dentist program. I informed her that I pursued dentistry for Eddie from his beginning presence in Lakeview, which was May of 2008 through December 2008. I informed staff person Lois that I asked Lakeview Social Service person David in May of 2008 to schedule an appointment for Eddie with a dentist. The reason I asked David to schedule a dentist appointment for Eddie is because David informed me that Lakeview has a dentist program for its patients. After waiting over 6 months for a dentist appointment for Eddie, I decided to locate and schedule Eddie a dentist appointment. Eddie now has dentures. Staff person Lois looked at staff person David who was responsible for this service. Staff person David gave no response.

 

Staff person Carlos began asking Eddie if he wanted me present during his Care Plan meetings. Eddie nodded his head yes because Eddie cannot speak English fluently due to his stroke. As I continued arguing my issues of neglect by Lakeview staff, staff person Carlos periodically and intentionally continued asking Eddie if he wanted me present during his Care Plan process. Eddie nodded his head yes. I informed staff person Carlos that I was going to be part of Eddie’s Care Plan process whether Eddie wanted me or not because Eddie had no idea of what was going on with his services at Lakeview and Eddie did not know what kind of service to expect from Lakeview. Staff person Carlos again told me I should not get so defensive.

 

Eddie’s stroke affected his speech and left arm. Due to my limited medical experience, I do not know or understand other effects the stroke may have on Eddie. Eddie cannot speak words that are understandable. I thought that if Eddie had teeth in his mouth, it might assist in the re-development of speech. Eddie was receiving speech therapy at Lakeview. Eddie’s speech therapy was stopped. I was told by some “professionals” at Lakeview during Eddie’s January quarterly care plan that the speech therapy was to assist Eddie in swallowing his food. I was told that once Eddie was able to swallow his food without choking, his speech therapy would be stopped because his insurance would only pay for a particular period of time for the development of speech for a stroke victim. I was also provided another explanation. I was told that Eddie’s speech therapy would not help him speak again because if he was going to be able to speak after a stroke he would have started speaking by now. Empirical and statistical data does not support this prognosis.

 

This is what I have done for Eddie since I have been engaged in his services due to his stroke:

 

I had to engage and obtain Eddie’s Medicaid status with the State of Illinois’ Department of Human Services. As of August 27, 2008 Eddie’s Medical Assistance was approved. This approval was supplemented with medical eligibility back-dating to February of 2008, which covered his Warren Barr Pavilion experience/cost also. This should have been navigated and facilitated by Lakeview nursing home or his initial nursing home (Warren Barr Pavilion on Oak Street, Chicago Illinois) and/or the Veterans Administration (VA) on Taylor Street in Chicago, Illinois when they knew they would not be paying for Eddie’s medical bills due to his stroke. Eddie was in a real war. Eddie was in World War II. Eddie’s brother Otha reports the VA told him that Eddie had to go to a nursing home because his illness was not serious enough to acquire a bed.

 

I have bought clothing, labeled it and documented it in Eddie’s Lakeview file. I bought enough clothing for Eddie where he did not have to clothe in other people’s clothing. Eddie has had many appointments with the dentist. I have met Eddie at every one his dentist appointments. This is where I have seen Eddie with other people’s clothing on. Not only did Eddie have other people’s clothing on, the clothing was dirty and smelled. When I met Eddie for his dentist appointment on April 9, 2009 I reported to you by phone message and through a return call you initiated to me that Eddie’s right shoe had dried food on it, and that Eddie was wearing other people’s clothing that was dirty and smelled.

 

I decided to write this letter and post it on my blogs because of how I felt humiliated and embarrassed by the harassing remarks of Carlos, your Activities employee. He gave my service in the field, my credentials and professionalism no respect. Discussing this on April 15, 2009 with your team of “professionals” was too much for Carlos. All he could think to say is I am being “defensive” for addressing these issues. Carlos was not going to let the staff of Lakeview take any responsibility for their acts of negligence. It appears that Carlos was attempting to deny me access to Eddie’s Care Plan process, thus shutting down any possible future analysis of service at Lakeview. At one point, I had to explain to your staff that I have been involved with personal litigation as I ask them to stop asking Eddie leading questions to get answers that would invalidate my issues and their neglect. I ask your “professionals” to ask Eddie questions that would elicit Eddie’s answer, not the answers they desire. I informed them that we were seeking the truth, not protection for Lakeview. I informed them that we are humans and we make mistakes. I informed them that making mistakes is common. I informed them that I requested this meeting to stop the mistakes, not to blame someone for error.

 

Lois and Sylvia were the most responsible staff you had at the table on April 15, 2009. The others seemed irritated with my discussion of their responsibility to the residents of Lakeview and their families. There was talk by this team of “professionals” and yourself of the re-organization of Lakeview. This supports my report. If it were not broken, you would not be fixing it.

 

Sir, your staff never talked about what was discussed and agreed upon  when they held Eddie’s quarterly care plan where I was excluded. This is why I requested the meeting. What does this tell you about your staff? This meeting was not supposed to be about the issues I present here. It was supposed to be about the ongoing “professional” care of Eddie, and how is that being demonstrated, facilitated and generated in his care plan for this quarter. WE never reached this objective. Your staff resented my presence and request. This was demonstrated by their behaviors.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

Counselor/Therapist, Social Policy Analyst

 

cc:

 

http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/

http://click.townhall.com/

http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/

Nursing Homes: Practices, Policies and Procedures – Do they have any and are they followed by staff?

Update: December 24, 2008

 

My uncle, Eddie Nance, is a veteran of World War II. When he had his stroke he was taken to the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital at 2122 West Taylor, Chicago, Illinois. His brother, Otha Nance, informed me that the VA hospital told him that Eddie Nance had to leave the hospital because they needed his bed and he was not sick enough to keep his bed at the VA hospital. Otha Nance states that is when Eddie Nance was transferred from the VA hospital to Warren Barr. Warren Barr Nursing Home housed Eddie Nance until they transferred Eddie to Lakeview Nursing Home.

 

The VA hospital should have kept my uncle. This is the way the United States of America treats its veterans.

December 23, 2008

 

Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Inc.

Mr. Michael Elks, Administrator

735 West Diversey Parkway

Chicago, Illinois 60614

 

Re:         Eddie Nance – Patient

 

Mr. Elks:

 

On December 17, 2008 LPN nurse Ms. Marie called informing me my uncle Eddie Nance (Uncle) was scheduled to see dentist Dr. Horace Broy on December 23, 2008 at 8:30 am. Ms. Marie requested I accompany my uncle due to lack of personnel for transportation trips from Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Inc. (Lakeview).  At approximately 8:15 am, I arrived at Dr. Broy’s dentistry office.

 

At approximately 8:20 am, I received a call from Ms. Marie stating my uncle would not be coming to his dentist appointment because there was no transportation for him. No one from Lakeview called Dr. Broy’s office informing them that my uncle was not going to be present for his dentist appointment. I informed Dr. Broy’s assistant that my uncle was not coming in for his dentist appointment.

 

 Ms. Marie informed me that Lakeview had engaged the transportation services of Lakeshore Medicar (Lakeshore), located at 2640 West Touhy Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60645. Ms. Marie informed me Lakeshore stated that taking my uncle to Dr. Broy’s office was “too far to go”. Mapquest reports this trip would be 11.24 miles and approximately 22 minutes travel time.

 

I called Lakeshore. I spoke to a person who informed me he was one of the owners. His name is Jimmy Syfu. Mr. Syfu informed me he received a fax from Lakeview reporting the pick-up for my uncle was 7:30 pm on December 23, 2008. Mr. Syfu states he immediately called Lakeview upon receiving this fax to inform them that Lakeshore closed at 6:00 pm, and that they could not fulfill the duties of picking my uncle up at this time. Mr. Syfu faxed me the document Lakeview sent to him. The document faxed to me from Ms. Syfu has the date December 22, 2008, 3:17P, Lakeview Nursin next to a schedule of names. My uncle’s name is on this schedule for pick-up on December 23, 2008 at 07:30 PM. The pick-up time should have been 7:30 am. Either Lakeview or Lakeshore should have been thinking “outside of the box” on this matter. It was not rocket science. It is a matter of discernment. It appears that no one cared.

 

I talked to Mr. Syfu who reports calling Lakeview on December 22, 2008 at approximately 2:26 pm asking for Lily Gonzalez. Ms. Gonzalez works for Lakeview.  Mr. Syfu informed me he was told that Ms. Gonzalez was gone for the day. Mr. Syfu states he talked to the afternoon office manager informing them that picking up my uncle at 7:30 pm was too late because their business is closed at that time. No one called Mr. Syfu informing him that the pick-up time on the fax he received from Lakeview had the wrong time on it. I asked Mr. Syfu if he could pick-up my uncle since he knows what is needed. Mr. Syfu informed me that due to scheduling he had no drivers for the pick-up on December 23, 2008.

 

I talked to Ms. Gonzalez on December 23, 2008 at approximately 8:35 am. She reports calling Lakeshore on December 23, 2008 asking them why they did not call her this morning. Ms. Gonzalez informed me it was “just a mistake.” I talked to Ms. Marie at approximately 8:40 am. Ms. Marie informed me she does not do transportation. Ms. Marie states one of her duties is that she schedules appointments for patient transportation and passes it on to the transportation department of Lakeview. On December 3, 2008 I met the manager for the transportation department. Her name is Maricel. I talked to Ms. Maricel on December 3, 2008 informing her my uncle needed transportation to his dentist appointment. I gave her the address to the dentist. Ms. Maricel informed me there would be no problem. Ms. Maricel stated that she only needed to know the appointment date and location. I have been told by Lakeview staff that Ms. Maricel is presently on vacation.

 

At approximately 8:50 am, I called Ms. Kathy Koenig, Lakeview’s Director of Nursing. I left a message on her answering machine requesting she call me about this issue. As of December 23, 2008 at 11:25 am, I have not received a call from her. I guess this issue is not important to her.

 

At approximately 9:00 am I received a call from Ms. Marie. She stated that Lakeshore had agreed to come and pick-up my uncle and take him to the dentist. I requested Ms. Marie to call the dentist to see if my uncle can still come for his dentistry needs. Ms. Marie called me back informing me my uncle would have to reschedule his appointment. Ms. Marie reports she rescheduled my uncle’s dentist appointment for December 30, 2008 at 10:00 am.

 

My uncle is 85-years-old. My uncle was transferred from Warren Barr Pavilion (Warren Barr), located at 66 West Oak Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610, on or about May 21, 2008 to Lakeview. Since May of 2008 I have been requesting dentistry needs for my uncle. Lakeview personnel have told me numerous times that he would be scheduled for his dentistry work. My uncle was never scheduled for dentistry work by Lakeview.

 

On December 3, 2008 at my uncle’s quarterly care plan meeting I informed Angela Vetrovic, David Barecki and Ann O’Donnell that I would schedule a dentistry appointment for my uncle with a dentist I know, which was Dr. Broy. Dr. Broy’s office called Lakeview. Lakeview, in turn, called Dr. Broy and scheduled December 23, 2008 at 8:30 am.

 

I want to suggest my uncle’s dentistry needs were not taken care of in May of 2008 because his financial base and nursing home payment had not been established. When my uncle was transferred from the VA hospital to Warren Barr then to Lakeview he did not have his Medicaid application filed or confirmed. The VA, Warren Barr and Lakeview knew my uncle received VA benefits totaling $680.00 and a form of Social Security with the acronym RSDI totaling $251.00. Since none of these entities took time to establish the relationship needed with Medicaid for payment of services for my uncle, I took the initiative upon my uncle entering Lakeview to establish a relationship with the State of Illinois, Department of Human Services (DHS). Even with my 14 years of social service work, this was a tedious task. On August 27, 2008 I received notice in the mail that my uncle had been approved for medical assistance.

 

In or about January of 2008 when my uncle was admitted to the VA hospital located at 2122 West Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612 due to complications from a stroke that has affected the right side of his body, the VA did not file an application for medical services with DHS. Warren Barr did not file an application for medical services with DHS when my uncle was transferred to their facility. For reasons unknown to me, the VA hospital put my uncle out and sent him to Warren Barr. Today, my uncle does not have movement of his right hand or right arm and he cannot speak, but Lakeview has stopped his speech therapy reporting there is no more they can do for him. I asked for documentation reporting this prognosis. Lakeview has suggested I call my uncle’s doctor to get this report. This is absurd.

 

If my uncle’s speech therapy has stopped because there is nothing more that can be done, it should be noted in his medical file. There is much more to tell, but I will not do it here. It may cloud the present issue of dentistry work and “real” speech therapy. I was told the speech therapy my uncle has received from Lakeview was concentrated on clearing his throat so he could reach his potential for “swallowing” food and liquids. This is ludicrous. On December 3, 2008 I requested speech therapy for developing speech patterns. I suggested at this meeting that my uncle’s dental issue may be a contributing factor to speech improvement.

 

Therefore, I am requesting Lakeview respond to the needs of my uncle in a timely and orderly fashion. I request appropriate action plans for assuring my uncle will not miss his scheduled appointments. I request my uncle’s doctor contact me about my uncle’s speech therapy and overall prognosis. Since I have not had appropriate attention to my uncle’s needs and communication from management regarding my issues, I am posting this writing on my blogs at http://clickforjusticeandequality2.blogspot.com/, http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/, http://click.townhall.com/, and http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/.  I will fax this correspondence to the Director of Nursing, Ms. Kathy Koenig; to Administrator Mr. Michael Elks; and to Lakeshore’s Mr. Jimmy Syfu.

 

I hope my uncle is not retaliated against by any entity listed here. If there are retaliatory acts of character and behavior from any entity, I will address them in the appropriate venue.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS