From JoEllen Cozen, lives on the Main Line

From JoEllen Cozen, lives on the Main Line

Mrs. Cozen’s father passed away under what she calls “strange circumstances” on Dec. 11 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Haverford. Here’s how she describes it:

There was an intestinal (NONA) breakout there where more than 20 residents were infected, including my father, who had diarrhea from 9 PM until someone FINALLY got him into Lankanau Hospital at 5AM! He was TOTALLY dehydrated, had a touch of Pneumonia, and had a UTI. His hear rate was VERY low and dangerous.

I was the one who reported the outbreak to the board of health NOT Sunrise. The doc who sees MANY of the residents there was TOTALLY unaware ANYTHING was going on there until I told him when I saw him in ICU while visiting my dad. Did the facility add on any additional aides during this time? NO. And THEY TOO were sent home (including the two nurses) so there was NO ONE there to help all the ill residents except the handful on night duty.  I've been told that the ratio of aides there is one aide to 16 patients! Absurd. NOT for money, they have the nerve charging per month. I could go on forever.       

Here is what she told us before his death:

My dad has been living at Sunrise Assisted Living in Haverford for the last 2 years.  Within those 2 years his mental capacity has diminished tremendously, due not only to his age (now 90), but also to the fact that there are no activities offered that stimulate the minds of the resident – not to mention a tremendous lack of ANY kind of activity.

My dad was wheelchair bound due to an AKA of his left leg many years ago. I have found his wheelchair to be filthy, the seat pad (after having been stolen once and replaced by me for $200) to be drenched with urine and finding faeces and dropped food on the carriage of the chair. When this was pointed out, it was cleaned, but why should I have to mention it?  The amount of money I am being charged to keep my dad there is outrageous in relation to the lack of attention and substandard services rendered. It is because of this that I, and many others, have found it necessary to hire additional health care workers (aides) to stay with my dad, bathe him, assist in his morning dressing and grooming ,clean his room, do his laundry and take him outside, weather permitting. This at an additional $2300 per month, over and above the monthly Sunrise fee. 

Last year my dad fell from his wheelchair in his bathroom and was found lying on the floor in a pool of blood (he is on Coumadin), with a fracture of his neck. NO one could tell me how long he was on the floor or how it happened. After his hospital stay and a stay in a nursing home, he returned to Sunrise.  Let me add that during this month long absence from Sunrise, NO ONE so much as called (or sent a card) asking about his condition or progress. Upon entering the Sunrise of Haverford, I have seen many people sitting in the TV room, asleep, in dirty clothing, urine soaked clothing, coughing without so much as a being offered a glass of water or a tissue or any assistance to help stop the coughing, in various stages of undress, residents with dirty hands and nails and smelling of faeces.  

One of the bathrooms has been out of order for some time, the washing machines are always in disrepair, laundry detergent supply empty, clothing missing or totally damaged because someone threw a faeces-soiled bed pad into my dad's washing machine!  Things being stolen out of the residents’ rooms, health care workers bringing their children on the job with these kids just roaming the hallways, going into residents’ rooms, and having the rooms barely cleaned adequately when they are cleaned at all. I find them understaffed, and some of those whom they rely heavily on, shirking responsibilities or just plain not in sight.  The ones that do work are overworked, and the good ones tend to quit ASAP, elevating "trouble makers" to positions of authority.

There are many of us who have met with management and been promised "changes and improvements and to be patient" … so far, way too little has been done and it's really way too late to try and convince me (and the others) that anything significant will be done.  Now let's talk about the food … overhearing a female resident telling the chef the meat was as hard as a "ball bearing" and hearing his response "I don't raise the animals" only adds insult to injury.  Some of the residents have difficulty chewing, some can't cut their portions, and some have difficulty feeding themselves.  The staff is limited to two or three women running around like crazy, and God forbid someone needs to leave the dining room to go to the bathroom; these same women are responsible to help do that as well.  I have noticed some not wearing gloves, and who’s to say they all wash their hands – is there not a law governing things of this nature?  

I have also noticed the front desk totally void of any living soul for hours on end.  The residents depend on having someone there when no health care giver is in sight (often), and they are forced to walk around like lost souls seeking whatever help they need.  Many times, there is no manager or nurse on the premises – surely scheduling coverage cannot be very difficult. I've noticed at a few of our meetings complaints are brushed over, ignored or questioned as to the veracity of the complaint. In some cases, I understand, but NOT when it comes from people who see first hand what is going on and are of an age where we are still very aware of what is going on!  I have been told that most (if not all) assisted living places are all about the same (how sad).