WARNING: How to help your elders

I have a grave concern regarding an assisted living facility in the Coeur d’Alene/Hayden area.

My mother was in a place where they were giving her drugs that were not prescribed and withholding ones that were. She could’ve died had we not removed her from that facility and did due diligence by checking on her care.

The “care” she received was also deplorable. Not being changed, not being fed, being left slumped over in her wheelchair for who knows how long, and lack of oversight are all cause for alarm.

I beg you to please check on your loved one and request copies of medication lists which will outline how they are dispensing medicine. Make sure the dosage and the medication are as prescribed. Also check their care plan and see what is supposed to be done.

After talking with the administrators about any abuse, did they do anything about it? How much suffering and expense do we and our loved ones go through trying to find another place — only to find they, too, may be more interested in making money than taking care of our family?

If you do see disparities or feel that there is any kind of abuse going on, please document it and call to make a complaint to: Occupational licensing: (208) 334-3233, and, Facility Standards: (208) 364-1962; ask for a surveyor.

Shouldn’t it be mandatory for the state to post their contact information at the facility and/or have it in the paperwork you receive? How are they to know that these offenses are occurring? Until we contact the state, we will continue putting many lives in danger.

Please let others know of your observations and mismanagement so we can weed out those who take advantage of our elders and hopefully prevent future deaths.

WALT EDGAR

Coeur d’Alene