Emerald Nursing & Rehab, Columbus, NE Refused to give me information about my mother; did not call me when she died, refused me access to her room after death to get her belongings Columbus NE
My mother was a resident at Emerald Nursing & Rehab, Columbus, NE, for about a year. She received good care at the facility and was happy there. Unfortunately, the administration of the facility work against family members of residents, not with them. Whenever I called to ask how my mother was doing, I was told they could not give me that information. When my mother asked me to make a doctor's appointment for her, which I did, I was told I could not take her to her appointment (this was pre-COVID). My mother was enrolled in hospice, without my consent, and she did not have a terminal diagnosis.
When I asked (repeatedly) why she was enrolled in hospice, no one would ever give me a straight answer. I learned that Medicare (taxpayers' dollars) paid for these very expensive and entirely unnecessary hospice visits, for a person who did not have a terminal diagnosis. When my mother died, no one from the facility called me to let me know. When I asked if I could come clear her belongings out of her room, at first I was told yes, if I passed the COVID screening, then I was told no.
This facility is very secretive - why? What are they hiding? The way they treat family members of residents is appalling. Why would they not allow me to get her belongings? This is very disturbing behavior for a senior care facility. I do not recommend this facility to anyone.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Julie
Lincoln,Nebraska,
United States
Cover-up and secrets
#6Author of original report
Wed, August 26, 2020
Update 8/26/20 - It has been very difficult for me to add these updates, because the situation has continued to worsen. When I was clearing out my mom’s room at Emerald, I saw blood on her bed. Emerald administration would not tell me why there was blood on her bed. To the best of my knowledge, my mother did not have an IV administered at any time at Emerald, nor was she injected with anything, nor was she intubated. As a non-medical person, I am trying to think of all the plausible reasons why there could be blood on my mother’s bed.
Maybe one or all of these procedures were done to her, but Emerald isn’t talking. They referred me to AseraCare, the hospice facility that was involved in my mom’s care. AseraCare also refused to answer me as to why blood was on her bed. It’s becoming more and more obvious to me that there is a great deal of cover-up going on. The question is, why?
Julie
Lincoln,Nebraska,
United States
Update 8/21/20
#6Author of original report
Sun, August 23, 2020
My lawyer had called Emerald Nursing and Rehab to let them know that they needed to arrange a time for my mother's 3 children who live in Nebraska to all go to the facility together to clear out her belongings. Emerald then called and asked what time we wanted to come. We set an appointment. When we arrived, we found my mother's room ransacked.
Her books had been pulled off her bookshelf and were in a heap on the floor. Personal cards and letters were missing, as well as her photo albums. Emerald had no explanation for this, and would not say who had been in her room prior to our arrival. This is absolutely appalling. It is beyond my understanding how a care facility can operate this way.
Julie
Lincoln,Nebraska,
United States
Update
#6Author of original report
Thu, August 20, 2020
I just got a call from the facility. They are now allowing me to come get my mom's belongings. That is a big step in the right direction.
Julie
Lincoln,Nebraska,
United States
Yes, I was her POA
#6Author of original report
Thu, August 20, 2020
Yes, I was my mother's POA. The POA dies when the person for whom the POA was created dies. You asked why my mother was placed on hospice? Good question! If you can find out, I would be eternally grateful. You asked who signed the hospice paperwork?
Another good question! Since my POA expired when my mom died, any and all family members should be allowed to take her belongings out of her room. If you know the reason why I was denied this, I would love to know it. Thank you.
Stacey
United StatesHummm
#6Consumer Comment
Thu, August 20, 2020
The only reason any long term facility refuses to give out information is that an individual was not on their initial assessment/facesheet due to HIPAA regulations. So my question is where you her POA/Authorized Rep? Where you contacted when an initial Care Plan was scheduled? What is the reason your mother was placed on Hospice and who signed the paperwork?
Hospice requires the patient/family to sign all paperwork. IF you were not on the facesheet, POA or assigned as a REP then the facility has the right to not share any information to you unless that Patient/Resident is able to give consent and deemed competent. I work in this field and deal with this on a daily basis.