Abe's Gentle Penny

HISTORY AND COMPILATION OF GENTLE PENNY GADFLY POSTS

Many expressing concern over my ongoing struggle to stop the retaliatory actions against my mother Lynne and my family have asked how this all came about and have come to the GENTLE PENNY GADFLY midway. In response, I just posted a COMPILATION AND HISTORY OF ALL POSTS SINCE 8-23-17 to hopefully help fill in some of the gaps.

 

On Monday, 8-21-17, the Exec Director of the nursing home in which my mother resides, with no cause or justification, restricted my visitation making it nearly impossible for me to visit my mother Lynne; that despite I am her son and Health Care Proxy.

 

Until that day, for nearly six months, not only had I NOT had any sort of confrontation or negative exchange with any staff member, resident or resident’s family member, all of my interactions with the nursing home community were extremely positive, so much so that I was invited by staff (including chaplains and activity directors) and welcomed to play piano and accordion (on a volunteer basis) frequently throughout the facility. I played at religious services, birthday parties and gave performances for small groups.

 

Far from disrupting staff or patient care, staff and patients knew me by name or as the ‘accordion guy’ and constantly asked me to play and sing whenever I came into the building. Staff members, including administrators and including the Exec Director and his secretary often sang along and danced with/for residents while I played. It was a beautiful thing and I took it as a great blessing as much for me as for the nursing home community.

 

But everything changed on Tuesday, 8-1-17. Much of what happened is explained in the COMPILATION AND HISTORY OF ALL POSTS SINCE 8-23-17. And in my next post I will fill in more of the gaps.

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Gentle Penny Gadfly Compilation

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 23 at 10:06am ·

To anyone who has tried to contact me lately, I want to apologize.

Since March I have been engaged in a struggle to protect my mother Lynne and keep her safe in the Nursing Home where she currently resides. It has taken a great deal of time and energy and I have often been unable to keep up with the most basic, daily routines and have unfortunately failed to keep in contact the way I would like.

Lately I have begun to devote time to researching the plight of our elderly in the USA who, as I have witnessed first hand, suffer terribly even in the most reputable facilities entrusted with their care.

It has been a brutal awaking for me and I have at times been overwhelmed with emotion and heartbreak at what I have witnessed, especially during the past 6 months.

Apart from doing what I can to help my mother, I intend to dedicate as much time as possible bringing awareness to everyone and anyone I can reach about the horrific blight of the elderly and disabled in our country.

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 24 at 8:22pm ·

Fight for Lynne Update 8-24-17

My mother Lynne resides in one of Massachusetts’ “best” nursing homes, and yet what she and others are forced to endure has shocked the conscious; brought my family and I to tears and paralyzed us with fear.

But we are paralyzed no longer. Our fight for Lynne is a fight for all elderly souls trapped in nursing homes, unable to fend for themselves and left to suffer needlessly and unjustly; people of good will who have spent rich lives at work and at play, raising families; braving the storms and serving their country boundlessly: from community service in their local churches to armed service in the United States Military.

And make no mistake and let there be no misunderstanding, the Health Care Profession is a noble calling and from my firsthand experience, the vast majority of Health Care Professionals are hardworking, caring and compassionate people who serve with dedication and love! Nonetheless, for reasons often left obscured and hidden, huge numbers of elderly, disabled people are languishing and it is up to us, the younger and able bodied to respond and help turn things around.

My fight for my mother Lynne must be our fight for every elderly and disabled person ignored and left alone in their pain and isolation; including and especially when family and loved ones are misled, even by wishful thinking or self-delusion, and made to believe that ‘things are OK.’ THINGS ARE NOT OK.

My family’s fight for our mother Lynne has intensified during this past month and after numerous communications and meetings with nursing home administrators we have been forced to plead for help from Elder Services of Massachusetts and file reports with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. And due to the many incidents of neglect and abuse of other residents my family and I have witnessed, I have also begun filing reports to the ACLU of Massachusetts.

As I attempt to fill this page with posts and updates on our struggle, I encourage anyone and everyone to share ideas and stories peaceably and with compassion.

 

Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 26 at 10:30am ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-26-17

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Through the weeks, up until my visits were restricted by the nursing home administration, my sisters and I have been given several, unsolicited accounts by residents and their family members of heartbreaking incidents of neglect and abuse; all corroborated by what we ourselves have witnessed and reported to nursing home administrators. Some of what we have witnessed is described below.

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Resident JXXXXX, veteran and all around nice guy is often quick with a smile and ‘thumbs up’ when I play the accordion for the residents (up until my visits were restricted by the nursing home administration) on my mother’s floor; he especially likes ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.’ Skinny as a rail and mild mannered, JXXXXXX sits most of the day in his wheel chair when he is not left in bed.

Although JXXXXXX’s ability to communicate is limited, it’s easy to tell when something is wrong and he has reached out to me and my sister often when he has been ignored and scoffed at by staff. On one occasion, as I passed him in the hall, JXXXXXXX literally grabbed me and begged me to help him to a toilet, saying he had pain in his stomach and rear end and had been sitting ‘all day’ calling out to staff for help. I found a nurse and finally a CNA came and helped him to his room. He later expressed gratitude for my intervention.

JXXXXXXX often reaches out to others, including my sister and residents on the second floor. Resident BXXXXXX has recounted a number of times JXXXXXX has called out for water only to be left alone and ignored. Both my sister and I have witnessed the same and reported it to a CNA or nurse. But on at least two of those occasions, staff have responded by saying there is nothing they can do, ‘it is his illness.’ But what illness warrants ignoring a person begging to use the toilet or have a drink of water?

 

Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 26 at 4:59pm ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-26-17 Page 2

Today I sat down with a couple of ex-students of mine, both in their late twenties, busy pursuing their careers and making their marks in business. Both are close friends I hold in very high regard. But when we spoke at length about the shocking challenges confronting me in my fight for my mother Lynne, their reactions surprised me a little.

Both were very sympathetic and understanding. But my ears perked with dismay at a number of thoughts they shared about the situation. While genuinely horrified and sorry about what I had told them, one said in regard to the Executive Director of the nursing home: he’s just trying to follow his business model and has to look closely at price points and valuations. “Isn’t he just doing his job by trying to look out for the bottom-line of his nursing home any way he can?” And the other commented with a question of understanding and sympathy that with all of his responsibilities as Exec Director, isn’t it understandable that he would see you as a nuisance, deny all accusations of wrong doing and do everything he could to get rid of you? And he continued, “There’s no morality in business, is there?”

As we spoke further, I did my best to point out what I saw as errors in their line of thought. I also recounted some of the harsh facts of the situations I confronted since 8-1-17: one example being the imposition of restrictions on my visits by the nursing home administration which occurred 8-21-17.

Having gone up the chain of command in the nursing home with no results, my sister and I finely asked for a meeting with the Executive Director with whom, for five months prior to 8-1-17, I had had an extremely positive relationship. I sent him a complete summary of my concerns prior to the meeting. The meeting occurred Monday, 8-21-17 with five in attendance: me, my sister L, the Elder Services Ombudsman, the Nursing Home Exec Director and the Nursing Home CEO (invited last minute by the Exec Director). Without discussion or opportunity to explain our concerns, the Exec Director dismissed all of our most serious concerns as false, accused me of disrupting the work of the nursing home staff and then imposed severe restrictions on my visits in such a way that I would no longer be able to visit my mother at all: limiting me to weekdays from 9 to 4 pm and no weekends; knowing full well that with my public-school teaching schedule, I would not be able to visit at all. And sadly, since that day, I have not seen or spoken with my mother!

On the face of it, by virtue of the simple facts and without debating whether or not I disrupted staff in their work, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

1. The disruptive behavior I was accused of supposedly happened prior to 8-21-17 and no accusation was made about my behavior on 8-21-17.
2. Prior to the 8-21-17, the day they restricted my visitation, I was never spoken to or informed about disrupting staff in any way.
3. I was never once given any kind of warning regarding disruptive behavior prior to 8-21-17.
4. Both policy and protocol dictate in such situations that a family member be informed and given some kind of warning before having their visitation restricted. This never happened.

The fact is I NEVER DISRUPTED THE WORK OF STAFF in any way or at any time. What I did and continue to do, with unfailing respect and courtesy, is bring to the attention of the nursing home administration severe lapses in my mother Lynne’s care!

 

Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 27 at 8:13am ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-27-17 (1)

As I continue learning to navigate facebook and the varied ways people have reached out to me and my family, I want to thank everyone for your thoughts and words of encouragement. Thank you also for sharing your stories and letting me know I am not alone.

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 27 at 8:43am ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-27-17 (2)

A number of people have asked similar questions I will try to address.

Q1: Several have asked why we haven’t moved Lynne out of the nursing home.
A1: We have begun looking into that possibility. But with few financial resources and very limited options, it is an extremely difficult prospect.

Q2: Others have asked whether we have found a lawyer.
A2: Yes, we have and tomorrow, the nursing home will receive a Cease and Desist letter demanding a stop to all visiting restrictions imposed on me and preventing the nursing home from imposing any further restrictions on other members of my family.

Q3: Some have asked if we have submitted complaints to state and federal agencies.
A3: Yes, we have. So far we have registered complaints with Elder Services of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. I have also contacted the ACLU of Massachusetts.

Q4: People have asked what they can do to help.
A4: I don’t really know. But I suspect not a lot. At this point it’s really up to me and my family to take action.

But I do believe, especially for the sake of elders throughout our country, spreading the word will help. Keep sharing your thoughts, ideas and stories on Gentle Penny Gadfly! And invite everyone you know to do the same.

Our fight for Lynne is a fight for all elderly and disabled throughout the country. And if we allow this page to be a sounding post and clarion call for everyone, maybe we can come together and demand the changes that need to be made to keep our elderly and disabled safe and protected!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

August 27 at 11:34am ·

To everyone who has expressed concern and support for my mother Lynne, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Moving forward I will be transferring communications to my mother's own Facebook Page so that a place will exist completely dedicated to her. Please find that here.

 

 

Gentle Penny Gadfly shared your post.

Published by David Morochnick · August 27 at 5:41pm ·

David Morochnick

August 27 at 5:40pm ·

PLEASE FIND AND RESCUE THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED FIRST!!!!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 27 at 6:11pm ·

Thank God for the FIRST RESPONDERS, volunteers and Good Samaritans coming from everywhere to help rescue our weakest and most vulnerable. Thank you!!!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 28 at 9:50am ·

Fight for Lynne Update 8-28-17 (1)

This is an agonizing wait for help.

We’ve filed reports with the state and last week we hired an attorney; who has or will shortly send a Cease and Desist letter to the nursing home demanding an immediate lift of any restrictions on my visiting my mother Lynne; I have not seen her since last Monday.

The abuse and neglect my sisters and I have witnessed is no doubt appalling. But top nursing home administrators making false accusations against me and my sister in response to our reporting and instead of addressing the issues, retaliating against us by restricting our visiting and allowing staff (two or three) to intimidate us and treat us with hostility, is almost too much to bear.

Gentle Penny Gadfly was feeling sad.

Published by David Morochnick · August 28 at 9:56am ·

I guess this is what it feels like to be a 'whistle blower.' NOT fun

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 28 at 10:20am ·

Fight for Lynne Update 8-28-17 (2) Resident EXXXXX and my accordion playing.

Through the past year I have become very fond of resident EXXXXX. She’s a real character and at 92 shows a quick wit and memory any 20 year old would be proud to have. One of the connections we shared right away, her Italian heritage, we’ve continued to enjoy on a daily basis through the great Italian folk music we both know and love.

I have often played the accordion and sung at the nursing home and actually picked up quite a following. During the past 6 months, I have been frequently asked by staff and residents to perform in various parts of the nursing home and on all 4 floors. In fact, just a few days before the Executive Director restricted my visiting rights, one of the Activities Directors asked me to play accordion for a birthday party in the outdoor patio (making the Directors actions against me all the more baffling).

Anyway, back to EXXXXXXX. In short, EXXXXXX is a wonderful ball of energy and lots of laughs.

And it’s for that reason my sister was especially upset when she arrived on my mother’s floor and found resident EXXXXX crying and shaking (we’ve never seen her cry!!!). When she saw my sister she said she had to use the toilet and has been waiting for hours. She said one CNA literally refused to take her. My sister immediately informed a nurse and she was taken to the toilet. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED!!!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 29 at 12:16pm ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-29-17

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We are still waiting for our lawyer to send out the Cease and Desist Letter to the nursing home so that I can begin visiting again. It’s been a week. Fortunately friends and family have been going in to check on my mother Lynne. Surprisingly or maybe not so surprisingly, they think they see improvements in Lynne’s care. But still, yesterday, my sister went in to find my mother’s floor EXTREMEY short staffed: where normally there are 3 CNAs on duty, there was only one. Several residents were in distress and my mother was left in bed all afternoon. My sister is sure that if she hadn’t arrived when she did, my mother would have missed dinner.

And meanwhile, I languish at home unable to do anything myself except update this Facebook Page and continue researching as much as I can on the neglect of our elderly in this country. I just hope and pray that my efforts will even in a small way contribute to positive change.

Please become a FOLLOWER of this page in any way you can. People have told me recently that it could make a big difference.

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 29 at 2:36pm ·

CEASE AND DESIST ORDER SENT OUT TODAY!!! YAY!!!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 31 at 9:46am ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-31-17

Played Accordion and Sang at the nursing home yesterday for the first time in quite a while.

A good friend George came to visit from NYC the past few days and for the first time in a while, I relaxed and had some laughs. He’s quite a vocalist and we spent several hours at the piano, both of us singing our hearts out to everything from Billy Joel to Broadway. It was great fun. He also came with me to see my mother Lynne and for the first time since Monday 8-21-17 I played the accordion for my mother and her friends at the nursing home. It was wonderful to see my mother and the others singing and laughing and enjoying the old tunes like ‘Harvest Moon’ and ‘My Wild Irish Rose’ etc.

Before the nursing home put the restrictions on my visits, I played the accordion and sang quite a bit at the nursing home. Just four days before our last meeting, 8-21-17, with the Exec Director, the Director of Activities asked me to play and sing at a birthday party on another floor. Through the past 6 months I’ve been asked to play throughout the nursing home and it’s been a lot of fun.

Music and math have been my main fields of interest and work. I have taught in public schools for over 20 years and directed choruses and instrumental ensembles from elementary to adult. It’s definitely a passion of mine.

About 5 years ago when my mother first entered assisted living facilities, I volunteered playing the piano and leading sing-alongs. Soon other assisted living and nursing homes asked me to play and perform and since then have played in quite a number of places in Massachusetts. I also became musical director of an Italian Singing group called THE ITALIAN SERENADERS with whom I performed all over the place in Italian Festivals, nursing homes, civic events, etc. Prior to working with the Italian Serenaders, I only played piano. But to accommodate the ‘strolling’ at festivals, I took up the accordion and have kept playing ever since.

It was great playing yesterday for my mother and her friends at the nursing home! I hope at some point in the future I will be allowed to continue playing. I know the residents love when I play and my sisters have said that many ask about me since the nursing home put on the visiting restrictions. Hopefully the Cease and Desist Letter sent by the lawyer we hired will force the nursing home to reconsider.

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 31 at 10:16am ·

Fight For Lynne Update 8-31-17 (2)

SOME ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENTS

Some encouraging developments have emerged in the past couple of days. On Tuesday, my sister called and said ‘they’re here.’ I asked her who. And she said ‘the state inspectors.’ Starting Tuesday, surveyors from the Mass Department of Public Health arrived at the nursing home to start a weeklong inspection of my mother Lynne’s nursing home and yesterday, my sister and I sat down with two representatives and shared our story.
We were both impressed with them. They listened intently, asked key questions and took lots of notes. It made us very hopeful and we were encouraged!

Hopefully they will help get the restriction to my visits lifted so that I can continue monitoring my mother and continue playing the accordion and singing without fear of intimidation and loss of visitation rights! As I explained in a previous post, the exec director’s imposition of those visiting restrictions was completely unjustified and without any just cause.

Having gone up the chain of command in the nursing home with no results, my sister and I finely asked for a meeting with the Executive Director with whom, for five months prior to 8-1-17, I had had an extremely positive relationship. I sent him a complete summary of my concerns prior to the meeting. The meeting occurred Monday, 8-21-17 with five in attendance: me, my sister L, the Elder Services Ombudsman, the Nursing Home Exec Director and the Nursing Home CEO (invited last minute by the Exec Director). Without discussion or opportunity to explain our concerns, the Exec Director dismissed all of our most serious concerns as false, accused me of disrupting the work of the nursing home staff and then imposed severe restrictions on my visits in such a way that I would no longer be able to visit my mother at all: limiting me to weekdays from 9 to 4 pm and no weekends; knowing full well that with my public-school teaching schedule, I would not be able to visit at all. And sadly, since that day, I have not seen or spoken with my mother!

On the face of it, by virtue of the simple facts and without debating whether or not I disrupted staff in their work, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

About 3 days before the restrictions were imposed, one of the Activities Directors asked me if I would play the accordion and sing for a resident’s birthday party. She would never have asked me if the administration really believed I was in any way disrupting the work of their employees! And in addition, the following:

1. The disruptive behavior I was accused of supposedly happened prior to 8-21-17 and no accusation was made about my behavior on 8-21-17.
2. Prior to the 8-21-17, the day they restricted my visitation, I was never spoken to or informed about disrupting staff in any way.
3. I was never once given any kind of warning regarding disruptive behavior prior to 8-21-17.
4. Both policy and protocol dictate in such situations that a family member be informed and given some kind of warning before having their visitation restricted. This never happened.

The fact is I NEVER DISRUPTED THE WORK OF STAFF in any way or at any time. What I did and continue to do, with unfailing respect and courtesy, is bring to the attention of the nursing home administration severe lapses in my mother Lynne’s care!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 31 at 10:33am ·

FRIEND REQUESTS REQUEST

To those of you who have sent ‘friend requests’ I want to thank you and let you know that it is taking a bit of time dealing with those. I appreciate your show of support and ask that in the meantime you become a follower of the GENTLE PENNY GADFLY facebook page; and encourage others to do the same. I am hoping to have a WEBPAGE up and running soon ABE’S GENTLE PENNY, and that may help.

IN the past several weeks I have received several hundred friend requests and I do not want to act irresponsibly in accepting them without having a good idea from who these requests are coming. I have been told that some may be spam or other parties without a genuine interest in our posts.

Thank you for your patience as I continue researching these requests. And as I mentioned, please continue showing your support by FOLLOWING the page, contributing your thoughts and ideas, and keeping an eye out for a new web page ABE’S GENTLE PENNY.

With great appreciation and sincerely,

David

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · August 31 at 4:52pm ·

Fight for Lynne Update 8-31-17 (3)

OTHER FRIGHTENING NURSING HOME STORIES POSTED

A number of posts have come in on Gentle Penny Gadfly of NURSING HOME stories similar to mine in many ways. Particularly striking are the number of people recounting stories of having VISITATION RESTRICTIONS put on them for no comprehensible reason other than they were reporting about lapses in the care of a loved one. This is shocking.

Although I feel a bit consoled knowing I am not the only one, people who have worked in nursing homes have posted that it is common practice for certain nursing homes, when a family member complains, to restrict their right to visit. Some have said it’s like a punishment to “shut people up” and make them afraid to advocate for a loved one. And I now honestly wonder if this is what has happened to me and my sister!

What a scary thought; especially wondering how wide spread this might be? Even if this happens in a small percentage of nursing homes, there would be huge numbers of patients, residents and their families all over the country frightened to death and as a result afraid to advocate for themselves or for loved ones. And for those without family or anyone to stick up for them, they would suffer alone and fearful, completely unable to stop any neglect and mistreatment being perpetrated against them. HOW CAN THIS BE?!!!

And more importantly, how can it be stopped?!!!!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · September 1 at 11:28am ·

Fight for Lynne Update 9-1-17

SOME ODD CHANGES AND CONCERNs ABOUT RESIDENT VXXXXXX

The Mass Department of Health Surveyor Team has been at the nursing home since Tuesday and my sisters and I have noticed a number of odd if not encouraging changes. All of a sudden, on Wednesday, name cards appeared on the Day Room tables during meals, each with a resident’s name artfully hand drawn and colored. We’ve never seen that before.

All of a sudden, all the staff are wearing pagers. Apart from one or two, we’ve never seen that before.

All of a sudden, my mother has an ID band around her wrist with various color codes. That actually appeared two weeks ago. She’d never had a band on her wrist for the entire 6 months she’s been there.

Resident JXXXXXXX, who we’ve often seen calling out for water or complaining of being cold, has never looked so comfortable and warm. And resident M2XXXXXXX also looks more comfortable than I have ever seen her.

Also, the setup for meals in the Day Room has changed. Most notable; the absence of resident VXXXXXX. Severely disabled with cerebral palsy, VXXXXXX normally sits behind a raised bed table in the Day Room and struggles to eat her meals with no assistance. I have often seen her struggle, spill food and drink on herself and on the floor and then ignored and even at times sneered at by a rouge CNA with expressions of impatience and annoyance.

Resident VXXXXXXX loves baseball and normally sits quietly on her own. She loves when I play the accordion and sing and always asks for Elvis Presley and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” I’ve never seen her complain or even ask for anything from anyone. Occasionally I will see other residents advocate for her. One instance I remember, resident BXXXXXXX noticed that resident VXXXXXXX did not receive the meal she had requested and as politely as anyone could, informed the CNA. The CNA ignored resident BXXXXXXXXX and VXXXXXXX hardly ate a thing on her plate.

I haven’t yet figured out what’s going on with resident VXXXXXXX, but I am concerned. Two days ago, when I passed her in the hall, her head was tilted way to the side and she looked sound asleep. This concerned me because unlike many other residents, I have never seen her out in the hall asleep. Compared to most of the residents, she is quite young (late 50s) and vibrant. Hopefully she’s OK.

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · September 1 at 2:44pm ·

Fight For Lynne Update 9-1-17 (2)

UNEASY FEELING – DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEYORS GONE

My sister and I just arrived back from visiting Lynne at the Nursing Home. She’s fine, thank God, but I have an uneasy feeling.

When the DPH Surveyors came, the signs put up stated they would be in the facility until 9-5-17. Also, one of the state surveyors specifically told my sister that they would be in the facility until 9-5-17; and today is only the first (9-1-17). But all the signs are gone and the surveyors seem to have left completely. No sign of them anywhere.

Also, remember the place names that suddenly appeared on the tables at meals with each resident’s name artfully decorated? GONE!

And resident VXXXXXXX, who loves baseball and has cerebral palsy, she’s suddenly back in the Day Room at meals sitting in front of the ‘rickety’ bed table struggling away to eat as she did before the state came in on Tuesday. But, SHE DIDN’T HAVE HER EYE GLASSES ON. I asked her where her eye glasses were. She said she didn’t know. I asked her if she told someone. She shook her head no.

Now we are going into a long holiday weekend, and as of now the visiting restrictions are still on me, which means I will not be able to visit my mother Lynne at all until Tuesday.

And this is very scary to me because as many of you know, nursing homes are notoriously understaffed on weekends and during holidays, even the best of them.

I AM HOPING AND PRAYING THE VISITING RESTRICTIONS ARE TAKEN AWAY BY THE END OF THE DAY!!!

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Gentle Penny Gadfly shared your post.

Published by David Morochnick · 23 hrs ·

David Morochnick

23 hrs ·

THANK GOD FOR THE GOOD AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH...

...during this horrible hurricane Harvey disaster.

Seeing the devastation from HURRICAN HARVEY breaks my heart, but helps me put into perspective my own struggles and fight for my mother Lynne. After all, she wasn’t left in waist high, contaminated water or forgotten about during a hurricane along with countless other elderly people unable to fend for themselves or receive the care, meds, etc. they need not only to live, but to alleviate the pain of the various illnesses they suffer.

At the same time it’s HEARTENING AND INSPIRING to see the countless volunteers, ordinary people, with no thought of themselves, risking their lives bringing people to safety. While the executives and CEOs of nursing homes give no forethought to the needs of their elderly patients, countless other, ordinary people have sounded the alarm and risked their lives to do the right thing. We can be thankful that despite everything, God has put so many GOOD AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE on this Earth!

 

 

Gentle Penny Gadfly Lise Cloutier-Steele, prolific writer and scholar on women’s health issues and lately retaliation by nursing home administrators she and many others face trying to advocate for a loved one; in her case, her dad, has shed much needed light. I fortunatel...See More

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Gentle Penny Gadfly

Published by David Morochnick · 10 hrs ·

Fight For Lynne Update 9-3-17 (1)

Spent much of the day reading and researching with interludes of frustration and indignation at the painfully absurd situation in which I find myself: son and health care proxy for my mother Lynne, banished for my advocacy in her behalf.

In my reading, I discovered not only that I am not alone, but that many nursing home administrators regularly use visitation restrictions and no-trespassing orders to intimidate and retaliate against family advocates who report health care lapses; to ‘shut them up.’ And along with widespread negligence and abuse, are equally widespread banishment of family members who ‘talk too much.’

Lise Cloutier-Steele, prolific writer and scholar on women’s health issues and lately retaliation by nursing home administrators she and many others face trying to advocate for a loved one; in her case, her dad, has shed much needed light. I fortunately came across her website ottawacaregiver.com this afternoon and wrote to her. She later reached out to me by phone and graciously expressed her concern and encouragement for my struggles advocating for my mother. She is a very kind and knowledgeable person, as persistent and as I would ever hope to be. I recommend her website highly ottawacaregiver.com

Thanks for caring Lise!