My Sister Hotlined the State

One of my sisters (a social worker) hotlined the State in regard to the nursing home where my Mother lives. We have already talked to the acting Director of this facility, the nursing director several times and manager of the Alzhemer's/dimentia unit but continue to get "yes, we understand" and issues continue to develop almost on a daily basis. I would have called the State myself but I am terrified of retaliation with staff at this facility. My Mother is in a very, very expensive private pay facility ($8,000 per month at this point) living on the Alzheimer's/dimentia unit but I am so uncomfortable I continue to spend upwards of 6 hours per day every day sometimes leaving and coming back 3 times a day to ensure her comfort and safety. I have also hired my niece to visit so that I can go home and get some rest. I have tried to understand that the economy has played a role with declining census, caretakers hours being cut, management changes etc. but what we have experienced and witnessed has been serious medication errors, my Mom actually left the secured unit twice down a stairwell (terrifying to think about a fall down this steep stairwell), and the problems continue on and on. Our lastest concern is that today is the 5th day my Mom's suite is reeking of urine and chemical. Five days ago, I personally told the director of the unit that my Mom had urinated on her carpet and it needed to be cleaned or removed. The carpet has been cleaned twice now and staff continues to spray air freshner in the room open the windows and use fans but these measures are only masking the smell a few hours and not only is the carpet always damp now but it smells strongly of urine and chemical. I had to move my Mom to an empty room one night because she became nauseated. I can hardly stay in the room for any length of time myself. The director of the floor commented as she helped to move Mom's bedding in the room that "she couldn't wait to get out of the building". I guess this was beyond what she thinks her job is. As you can imagine, having Mom sleep in another room was a disaster. Mom became disoriented and upset, didn't sleep all night because she was unfamiliar and didn't have her belongings. Last night I told staff that the carpet had to be removed and if I had to I would pay for new carpet. I asked them to just get it done and the caretakers need to direct my Mom to the bathroom every hour or this will happen again. We'll see today if there is any action on this issue but I doubt it. I have been made a foul the last few months by staff and some of this is my own fault. I guess I have been pegged as an "easy mark" because I am obviously very sensitive and caring. When Mom first moved onto this floor a young caretaker I had never met before came to me crying and upset. I was trying to deal with Mom falling three times in one week, hitting her head and devastated by the move. This young caretaker cried and told me she couldn't feed her baby and had no place to live. I immediately left and went to my bank and gave this young girl money to go out and buy food. Two days later, I was asked by the director on the secured unit if I had some nice suits or dresses because her son was graduating out of bootcamp and she couldn't afford to dress nice. I brought in some clothing for her. I then find out that this young mother is the stepdaughter of the director of this floor. I try to create friendships and good relationships with staff with the thought that they will treat my Mom with kindness, compassion and respect but I have been a fool and find myself crying for being so stupid. I have considered moving my Mom and have toured other facilities but haven't found one yet that doesn't have a waiting list or in my opinion is a better alternative than where she is now because I am only a block away. I also have to consider how devastating another move would be for my Mom. I'm praying that something will change and this situation will improve. Thanks for reading and listening. Jan