 |
|
 |
Manor Care: Disgrace in Care - Introduction
 What
does it say about a society that allows its loved ones to be cared for by a
giant corporation that exploits the growing demand for their services, the
values and cultural commitments of an immigrant workforce, and lack of
legislative oversight in pursuit of bigger profits and smaller overhead? This
is the first of likely many entries on my experiences in one of the HCR
ManorCare nursing/profit centers.
read more>
Understaffed
| S | M | T | W | Th | F | S | | | | | 15 | 26 | 34 | 44 | | 54 | 64 | 76 | 85 | 94 | 104 | 113 | | 121 | 134 | 143 | 154 | 164 | 174 | 184 | | 192 | 204 | 214 | 224 | 235 | 24 | 25 | | 26 | 27 | 28 | | | | |
This Manor Care habitually understaffs its units with nurses and/or nursing assistants (CNA). This calendar tracks the number of CNAs working the morning shift on the second floor. Six CNAs should be scheduled each morning to clothe, bath, and feed patients. February average: 4 |
Light Issues
To the the casual observer, it would appear that
the priority here at Manor Care is to turn off patients' call lights rather than
making sure patients are taken care of. Such an observer might conclude that,
by saving minute amounts of electricity, Manor Care is a place that would go to
any end to make a profit. Well... they'd be right.
Sun - October 16, 2005
read more>
Running short of the things that matter
The shortage of aides and nurses in the morning
isn't nearly as much of a concern as being understaffed in the evenings and
through the night. During the day, the world is awake - there are doctors
around and family members and nursing home staff populate the building. The
"squeaky wheel" or emergency situation is likely to be taken care of. It is the
safest time to be a patient here.
Sat
- November 26, 2005
read more>
Holidays at Manor Care
Earlier this month, the state conducted a
routine, surprise inspection here at Manor Care. The goal during the week was
to make sure that each wing appeared to be fully staffed in accordance with the
law. Meeting this goal sometimes required the facility to pull out its
"A-Listers" - those with nursing degrees who had long since become
administrators in the front offices, to cover when someone didn't show. If only
this facility was as concerned about patient care as it is about passing
inspections.
Sun - January 8, 2006
read more>
Other issues
There are many smaller issues here, relatively
speaking. From the long drought without restorative aides to shoddy foot care;
these lapses, while hardly minor, pale next to the real issues I've written
about. However, they are important.
Mon - January 9, 2006
read more>
A license to drive (away)
Thu - February 9, 2006
read more>
|
|
