Complaint Review: Skyview Group Home - Las Vegas Nevada

Haldol (Haloperidol) is commonly used to chemically restrain elder patients which may cause severe medical decline, including loss of speech, low appetite, muscle rigidity and symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Haldol is used as a chemical restraint on violent mental patients and is totally contraindicated for anyone over the age of 65 but it has become the drug of choice in elder care facilities. Haldol can make these elders drooling zombies that do not speak, eat, walk or use the bathroom. And when you ask why your elder is rapidly declining the care facility staff will simply say, "They're old" and you will never know they are being administered Haldol unless you demand their medical records. Autopsies of elders have shown traces of Haldol even when their medical records show it was never prescribed. All issues regarding poor care or the declining health of an elder are totally at the control of the Attending Physician. This is where your problems begin and many times this Attending Physician is contracted by the nursing facility. It is estimated that over 50% of elder patients may be receiving Haldol, Valium or other psychotropic drugs that inhibit the quality of their life and create an almost immediate appearance of rapid decline in their movements, ability to walk and use the bathroom and the ability to eat sufficient calories. Dehydration is caused simply from lack of giving the elder sufficient water. This minimizes the number of times a caregiver must change their adult diapers. Malnutrition begins with lack of sufficient calories (and perhaps no help with eating or unappetizing and poor nutrition food provided) and generally NO extra nutrients such as vitamins, minerals given to the elder. You give your children vitamin supplements, why wouldn't you give an elder even more nutritional supplements as their intestinal tract absorbs poorly. If you spend an entire day at the care facility you will quickly realize how little care the elders get. Watch the other rooms with patients, see what percentage of total patients actually go to the dining room and feed themselves. If many elders are quietly bed ridden in their rooms it is an indication of pharmacology at work. And remember, since you are there they are giving your elder maximum attention. If you simply put a few small ink marks on their body you will quickly discover they don't get washed off even though they tell you they are bathing the elder frequently. The simple answer is you must care for your elders in your home or see them daily if you expect them to get decent care. You must have frequent contact with the Attending Physician and get copies of all medical records and review everything including their prescriptions administered. Question everything. Google is a wonderful resource for quick answers. And don't ever be afraid to fire a physician or change care facilities.