Greetings:
I need advice as my Mother has been in a rehab center for 5 weeks. She was admitted for physical therapy as her right leg was bent in a kneeling position. The physical therapist visited her the next day and applied pressure and straightened the leg out, and noted they would have to watch the same doesn't happen to the left.
After many days lying in bed, she has bad sacral wounds on her behind and now while lying in bed, her knees are bent up to her chest. I have been demanding PT twice a day in the PT room getting her out of bed, and that she is worse now than when she was admitted. But no, they keep her in bed. She has lost her appetite and wants to come home. Her loss of appetite doesn't help these wounds heal.
She and I both have Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis, and she has to get to the point she can transfer out of bed to a wc.
What do you all recommend? They are warehousing her there with speech therapy which she doesn't need, and she should be out of bed at least an hour a day to a sitting position. I am angry and very concerned.
I will appreciate any help you can give me.

~Snoopy220

Hi there Snoopy, and welcome to NeuroTalk.

It really upset me to read what your mother has been through, and I've taken an excerpt from your introduction to comment on.

This is totally inexcusable! Pressure area sores (bed sores) of this magnitude depict extremely poor nursing care! No person in this day and age should ever get pressure sores like your mother has. Frequent change of position will prevent pressure sores, no matter how immobile anyone is, and bed sores just reflect a lack of nursing care. Sorry, but as an ex-nurse of 40 years, poor nursing care like this really makes me mad.

You are quite right to demand PT, and I agree, your mother must be out of bed, because leaving her there will only lead to many more problems.

She already has bedsores! You already know about the spacticity due to lack of PT, and the staff should be providing passive limb movements, if PT is not possible as often as it should be. Then there's urinary tract infections, which are very common with the bed ridden. These in turn can lead to kidney disease, and further complications.

Do put in a complaint to the Administrator of the centre where your mother is being treated. Phone if you wish, but follow it up with a complaint in writing. If it's in writing it can't be ignored.

I wish you luck in getting better treatment for your mother.

Please let us know how you get on.

Do they have a gel mattress or an alternating air mattress on her bed?
What are the doctor's orders on how to treat the bedsores?
Have you talked to the doctor-or better yet put your observations and questions in writing? It's a sad fact, that most of the time when an older relative is in a rehab center, or extended care facility, someone responsible needs to become their advocate. And it is a hard job. Koala is right-putting things in writing will usually smooth out problems much quicker than talking.
I wish you luck.

Hello Snoopy220....welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm so sorry to read about your mother's lack of care at the facility she's in. I believe I'd also call an attorney in addition to putting in writing my concerns. Once the staff realizes you're serious and not going to back down until they do what's right hopefully they'll get their act together. I believe I'd get a daytimer and keep a log of everyday activities and when she receives PT, etc. It's hard to remember things when you're under alot of stress which I'm sure you are.

I hope things get better for you and your Mom.

welcome to neurotalk ... there are lots of friendly and supportive people here so jump right in and start posting ... i agree with the others ...
1. the care is unexcusable ... there is no excuse for the type of bedsores that your mother has ...
2. put your complaint in writing and make a copy of the letter so that you have a record of what you said ... document and get a receipt from the person you give it to ... this way you are a) letting them know that you are serious and b) should you need to follow through with a lawyer, you will have valid documentation of your attemps to resolve the situation on your own first ...
3. KEEP A JOURNAL ... i can't stress this enough ... write down everything you see, hear, have , don't have, everything ...
i wish you luck in your endeavor ... should you need help finding your way around , don't hesitate to ask someone ... we are here to help ... again ...

Snoopy welcome to Neuro Talk I could of sworn I posted a welcome for you the other day, apparently I am still a moron. dont hesitate to ask questions here, folks are really helpful and kind. Again welcome to NT

Welcome to NeuroTalk! You will find many nice, friendly, and helpful people here.

Soppy,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. It is great to see you have come to be with our hugh and loving family. There is a great group here to assist in how they can. It is so sad to hear what your mother is going through. Hopefully she will get some relief. Please give a big for me.

Looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene