ELDERLY: The forgotten patients

The aging population is running into road blocks when it comes to long term care. Not only are there not enough “beds” available, but the ones that are available are only open to those who are the ideal candidate. We sometimes call them “Walkie-Talkies” but others know them as the “easy patients.”

These patients have amazing insurance, no antispsycotropic medication, no wounds and can use the toilet themselves. This is great for these patients; they have facilities fighting over them, but the health care industry in Coeur d’Alene and all over the United States are forgetting about the “others.”

The patients who are dropped off at the hospital might stay there for 150 days because all facilities refuse to accept them and their families refuse to take them home. This is a problem that the health care industry is trying to ignore, and we need to fix it. We have lost the compassion needed to care for those who have been abandoned.

Facilities are scared to take these patients because during survey they have the potential for increased citations, a drop-in facility rating and an increase in adverse events. Those of us in health care need to advocate for these patients and help them find a home, because the hospital is not and should not be anyone’s home.

JoANN J. WILSON

Registered Nurse

Coeur d’Alene