Has anyone had bad experiences with Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff MO besides me?
My mother was there for over 2 years with Alzheimers and Dementia. When she was first placed in the facility, Oakdale had an excellent reputation and a waiting list for patients to be admitted. But now, they have empty rooms and the level of care has almost reached the level of neglect.
Here's a few examples...
Six weeks ago, I pointed out to the nurses that my mother seemed to have a cold and that her voice was hoarse. The response: "Its just an alergy and she's on Claratin". Not convinced, her doctor was notified and he ordered a complete set of bloodwork, chest x-rays and placed her on Zythromycne (Z-Pak). The Director of Nursing (Earline) did not like this and complained that the doctor should "know that older people get allergies".
My mother was transfered to Westwood Hills in Poplar Bluff on June 30. This is usually and should be a routine procedure. But again, the Director of Nursing chose to be rude and tried to prevent Westwood from getting her medical chart, doctors orders and meds.
When admitted to Westwood, my mother was examined by the Nurse Practioner because she had some obvious wheezing in her chest. This despite the so-called nurses at Oakdale saying just the day before "she's clear as a bell". Follow-up x-rays and bloodwork were also ordered at Westwood as it should have been at Oakdale. ANYONE knows that older people who are allowed to lay in bed most of the time are suseptible to Pnuemonia and even a so-called "allergy" with drainage can turn into this, but they seem to not care.
On the same day, I pulled my mom's shoes and socks off to put a new pair of shoes on her. What I saw amazed and shocked me. Her toenails had been allowed to grow nearly 2 inches long and curled. Her big toenails were so long, they were curled to the side and growning underneath her toes. It just so happened that not 2 weeks prior, a friend of mine had told me her grandmothers toenails were the same way at Oakdale, but I never thought to look at my mothers. So this was not an isolated incident.
The latest is that I faxed a written request to Oakdale on June 3, requesting copies of my mothers medical records. Missouri State rules give the facility 48 hours to provide the records, not including holidays. That means they should have been ready by 3pm on Thursday, July 6. I waited until Monday and called the facility.
I spoke to the Director of Nursing and she had no clue about them. I then spoke to Jeff Newman, the Facility Manager, and he told me the records were not ready and that he would need at least 2 - 3 weeks to prepare them, even though he KNEW the rules about the records. He gave all kinds of excuses so I just agreed with him and ended the conversation. I immediately called Senior Services and explained the situation to them.
After many more phone calls between SS and the facility, the state had to order the home to hand over the records by 5pm on Wednesday, July 12. The cost? $223! Why? First, the facility is just being rude, and they are making copies of supposedly over 800 pages, every little tiny slip of paper that shouldnt be included, but that's fine. I'll pay it. Just another instance of Oakdale trying to play hardball. And its obvious the facility wanted more time to make sure the records were in order.
There are MANY other numerous things that have occured that shouldnt have during the last 2 years, including her wedding ring being stolen from the facility. But to sum it up, the staff at that facility just seems to take an "I dont care" attitude now. The impression that I get is that the staff would rather let the patients lay in their rooms and be "out of sight out of mind".
Anyone with similar horror stories about Oakdale Care Center, please let me know.
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