Bethesda Health and Rehabilitation

My father was given 9-12 months to live, from Prostate Cancer. We tried our best to keep him at home his final months. He was under the care of another facility, which was a great organization. We tried our best to keep him there, but it got to the point that my dad needed to go into a nursing home. Due to the increase of Covid cases in December, most nursing homes closed their doors to new patients. Our only option was this place. My fathers first day was traumatic. Another patient, his roommate, got up in his face, taunting him. My father was defenseless due to his condition. He contacted me, and I contacted one of heads of the nursing home. I was told the guy was harmless. That same night the guy poured water in his face. My father was then given a private room. During my stay, my father was taken care by some very nice people, and some that seem to not care. Some were slow to respond when he needed help. He was bed ridden so he could not get up and take care of himself. With my brother and I visiting regularly, it seemed to help with the attention he needed. I recommend that you do not leave your love one alone there. I would hear patients yell all the time for help, and no one would help. We had several incidents that we had to report to management. One of the more important ones was when I noticed my dad suddenly felt week and was coughing. No one on the staff seemed to notice it. I could see that it was affecting his sleep. I requested a doctor check him the next day. That morning, I received a call that my dad had Covid19, but he was ok. I told them that he was not ok, he was weak, could not talk and seemed to have problems breathing. At that point he was placed in isolation by himself, and we were not allowed to see him. My dad sounded very sad and alone, because people rarely came in that area of the nursing home, since he was the only person diagnosed with the virus. After 5 days, we were finally approved to come visit him. We requested an exemption because when we requested some kind of support care, we were ignored. So we assumed there was no one to help him mentally deal with being alone. The day I was headed to the hospital to see him on the 7th day, I was called and told he had passed away. Since then, we have not heard from anyone at the nursing home. No condolences, nothing. When he was alive, the finance department would call at least one time a day for the finance papers to be completed. Even after 2 weeks, no call from the nursing home. The death certificate was send to us, showing that the death was Prostate Cancer and Heart Failure. No mention of Covid19.

I DO NOT recommend this facility. In my experience, the medical staff does not work as a “team.” Medications are changed without consultation of each other or with outside consultation of patients’ providers. Or with the knowledge and consent of the patient or their proxy. Patients’ belongings never get received when family brings it to them. Nor returned when they are discharged. My family member was fearful of the nursing staff and often felt their reports or complaints will be followed by retaliation. The nurses do not give medications on time. In previous occurrences, prior to Covid, the paperwork indicated that the patient was given medication but a witness who was in the room with the patient for 12 hours saw that they patient went without medication that was prescribed every 4 hours. The nurses instructed a bed bound patient to care for himself. This caused him to fall from his bed and cut his head open, requiring stitches. They did not inform the patient’s family. The patient did. Once he returned from the hospital, he was again instructed to care for himself. Previous to this, he fell and broke his hip. The facility did not inform the patient’s family. The patient did. Once at the hospital, I learned the patient was positive for Covid. Which he would have gotten while at Bethesda. They did not inform me. After a video call with the patient I noticed he looked dehydrated and called the director of nursing. The nurse refused to call the doctor and it wasn’t until a no medical staff noted a major change in the patient’s condition was fluids ordered. I asked for the doctor to consult with any of the patient’s providers that he sees on a monthly basis. It was not done in the 4 months he was there. It was not until I asked one of the outside providers to call the doctor that they spoke. They did not hydrate the patient on a regular basis despite his many health conditions; one being chronic dehydration. In February the patient was taken to the hospital for severe dehydration and malnutrition which caused renal failure. He had lost a significant amount of weight while at Bethesda Health. Often what is on the patients plate does not match what is on the meal ticket. I also learned that despite having an iliostomy and no large intestine, they had the patient on a laxative. Had they spoken with his other care providers, they would have known this was contraindicated. The fact that the doctor at the facility did not consult with other providers. I have asked nurses for their names and they refused to give it to me. I asked medical records and admin for a list of the providers the patient had while there. I was told no. I asked for medical records so that I can obtain the names and was told they only use initials. Admin’s response to every issue is “I’ll look into it.” There is never a follow up. I have yet to hear back from Corporate from a report I made on February 8th. It’s a for profit organization that simply cares about dollars.

Bethesda Health and Rehab has made some personnel changes that are going to make the admissions process much smoother. Some people were upset with the way their process worked before but it has now added more people to enhance its quality of care.

This is a wonderful, helpful, cheerful, caring staff. In fact, if it were not for the fact that when I visit my relative there and sometimes his room smells of pee, I'd give this place a 10!