Where can I find support and advice for caring for an elderly family member in the hospital?

If it is websites you want, then websites you shall get:

http://www.way2hope.org/elderly_caregiver_support....

http://www.caregivershome.com/

http://www.ec-online.net/

http://www.agingcare.com/Caregiver-Support/

http://www.caregiver-support.com/

For a few.

Now as to the care one is getting in a facility, then consider the price being paid for the care and see that your patient is getting what they or you are paying for. Depending on the area, knowing rates are different but my mother in law's charges at a nursing home was about $150/day. When she was being shorted on service, we were right on the staff's case.

If you need more links simply "Google" "elderly caregiver support".

L8r

By all means speak up. Your family member deserves top quality care just as all do. Sitting back and not saying anything is why the hospital is getting away with it. When my daughter was in the hospital, that were giving her meds that she has a bad reaction too. It was even in her records. I saw this, summoned a nurse and she told me that she would contact the doctor. No one showed up, I contacted her again and told her that this needed to be changed now. It was.

Being touchy is their problem. not the patients. They need a fire set under them to make sure that good care is given. Speak up, show up at all different times day and night to make sure that all is running smoothly. Contact the head administrator and report the deficiencies. Contact the health department. Move your family member to another hospital and make a formal complaint.

You have not only helped your family member but all who are there or will be admitted.

You have all rights to demand better care for you loved one and they deserve it also. You need to go to the Administrator and file a complaint about the sorry care that your family member is receiving. I know you don't want to upset the Staff because that could cause more problems but they shouldn't be working there if they aren't going to provide decent care for the patients. Administration needs to know these things so they can fix the problem. I worked in Health Care for 13 years and I know all about this kind of situations. So please speak up for the patient and you might want to pop in at different times of the day to see what is going on. Don't have a set routine because then the staff knows when to expect you. I truly hope you get this problem resolved because there is no excuse for poor health care. ♥

Take notes of what you`ve noticed is lacking and go to the

supervisor/manager/whatever and say that `You`ve noticed that this and this doesn`t seem quite right or it`s not up to your family members usual standard`. Your family member has a right to good care standards and practise...and the manager DOES realise this.....if she doesn`t then she`s not doing her job properly. EDIT: B A I work in a residential home for the elderly with a respite/interim care unit and your best course of action is to complain directly to the hospital/home manager/person-in-charge which is what happens at our home if there are complaints.

If she is in the hospital go to human resources. they will give you some input BUT. IF. you want her to have better care, show up often, let them see you checking her bed, under her sheets that is, and looking in her drawers, act like you're looking for dust and just "things" do it while you are talking to a supervisor in the room while she is giving you "suggestions" turn once in a while when you ask her about your loved one and look her right in the eye..she will make a note that you are taking an interest..also you will know how well she knows her patient..so this on other shifts.the word will spread..trust me works every time..

You must be ASSERTIVE. If you're not no one else will be. Talk to the hospital administrator or the head of nursing.

you are paying for care

demand the best care

if they see you mean business, they will do what is necessary