WOW!!! I can't believe the nerve of some agencies. Yesterday Mom called to tell me that her "nurse & supervisor" had spent an afternoon cutting some of her pills in half and told her that it was OK. She should take them like that. I had just about checked with the doctor to verify the dosage of that particular medication because the pharmacy won't talk with me about her medications. (that's a long story)Today when I got to Mom's, I did indeed check this medication. It looks like the right pill, but I have no way to verify it. They even took the label off the bottle and replaced it with a piece of masking tape on which they hand wrote the name, dose & instructions. I am so angry that they have had me closed out of this very valuable information source and not told even her primary care doctor, much less her cardiologist about the things they are changine. I am so frustrated!!!! I could scream. Boy are we gonna get to the bottom of some of these mysteries!Since Mom has been taking these this way for a week with no ill effects, I told her to continue. But we are taking them, bottle & all, to the doctor for verification that this is accurately done. This agency tells us nothing and shares nothing about Mom's health changes with any of us. I am listed as her primary caregiver and still don't get anything from them. This has to stop!We feel that this agency is taking advantage of Mom's state of mind and health. They are causing more confusion and the jaws of justice are to slow to make me, dh, ds & the rest of us happy. Tonight I'm venting. Tomorrow we start solving the problem.
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I have to agree, what you\'re describing is unconscionable. Doesn\'t matter if it\'s working for them...the lack of information is not working for you, which means it\'s not working for your mother, either, since you are responsible for her care.
Do you have Medical Power of Attorney? Durable Power of Attorney? Health Care Power of Attorney? You should have all of these, at this point. They are easy to get, and, in many cases, they\'re free. You can even find your state forms online, usually, fill them in and have any notary witness signatures. If you have these, it will make it much easier for you to put the agency (and anyone else who thinks they have the right to govern your Mom\'s life without first checking with you) in their proper places.
Venting always helps you take stock of your resources and garner your defenses, which it sounds like you\'ll need.
Be firm. Be determined. Talk about what\'s right and necessary. And, once again, if you don\'t have powers of attorney, get them. You need them.
i don\'t know what state you in but in a lot of states that is against the law. They are NOT allowed to take the label off any medication bottle unless empty to discard. If you are listed with them as her primary care giver your suppose to be notified for any changes in anything. Do not let them get away with this. The only one who is allowed to dispense any kind of medication or fill her medications for the week or day is an RN then they have guidelines they have to follow. I would call the agency that governs them and have them investigated. I can tell you more on that if you would like. Sounds like to me what they are doing is illegal.