Mom entered in Jan 2022 for 2 weeks after a fall. All other nearby rehabs were full or closed for COVID. Dulles accepted her and her insurance paid. All children were on the West Coast, so we couldn't get there immediately. We thought a 24/7 care center would be the best and safest place for her.
We were so wrong! It looked reasonably clean at first, but there were serious safety/sanitation issues.
1. Toilet was broken every day for 8 days. My brother reported it for Days 2-7 and I reported it Day 8 and 9. She would poop, flush, and the water wouldn't go down. Every night we'd get there, and the toilet would be jammed up with feces and paper up to the rim or even flowing over. Every day we'd put in a request to get it fixed. The next day, it would be empty...until it was used. Then the SAME THING. EVERY DAY!
2. One night when I went in, I found a used syringe next to a half-eaten dinner (not hers) and rubber gloves in the dinner. I asked what she had been given with a shot? NO ONE KNEW. NO ONE COULD TELL US for 3 days! Finally we were told over the phone after we called the head nurse that it was a shot they give everyone on their way out of the facility...but that didn't match the paperwork they gave us on discharge.
In addition to those serious issues, the staff in general was not good. One-on-one, many of the senior staff seemed fine, but as soon as you ask any question, everyone's pointing at someone else. It's their job, or that person would know the answer. No one could answer or finish anything. The nurses aides, orderlies, or whoever delivered and removed food, were entry-level types who clearly took any job they could get. Nursing or geriatrics is NOT their calling. Everywhere my mom has been, we're always commenting that caring for people is a calling. Not everyone has it. I didn't meet anyone at Dulles Rehab that seemed to WANT to do this for a living.
I see this as a management failure. Not enough staff (yes, you can hire more people, better people, and you can train them. Just pay them decent wages!)
Dulles charges the exact same amount that every other rehab charges, yet every other rehab can hire professional people who care about their jobs.
For occupational & physical therapy - mom was prescribed both. But instead of one hour for each, 3 people came to the room for one hour total per day & they took her to the bathroom, put pants on her, watched her put on her slippers, walked her 150 feet, then back, then put her back in her bed. That was the extent of physical activity that she had each day. I thought she was almost incapacitated until I brought her home. She was wasting away in there becoming a vegetable because no one cared enough!
This place is only about the money. I realize all nursing facilities are charging the same, but they care. They comfort. They had a calling,
Do yourself a favor, and drive a bit farther if you need to....you do not want a family member here unless they can fend for themselves.