Monday, January 16, 2012

A possible case of elderly abuse...? What is your opinion?

I am a CNA and work for a Home Health Agency, and I have this elderly patient that showed up with some ugly bruises in 2 fingers (left hand) and wrist. This is not the first time. I had reported to my agency the time before, and now reported again. The bruises are dark purplish-red. I left my patient's house on Thursday and the bruises were not there. Then on Friday they were there. I asked her, but she can't remember (she has Alzheimer's and Dementia). I asked her daughter and son, none of them could give me an answer. They don't seem very concern with her bruises. I can't prove anybody did anything, but they surely look suspicious. My patient has told me many times when we're alone that she wished she would disappear and never came back home. She is very unhappy at home, since nobody really talks to her, unless when she does something wrong, then they yell at her. So today my agency called the daughter and she was MAD because she said I accused her of abusing her mother. I told her I never accuse anybody of anything, it's just my job to report any changes in her mom's condition (bruises, pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc). She said "I don't want DCF - Dept Children and Families - in it. They were after us once and I don't want to go through this thing again. I am not abusing my mom!" (she said this yelling at me). She said "I hope you will still have your job tomorrow". She insinuated that I did wrong by reporting the bruises and that the agency would fire me. But I'm just following the policies of the company. What is your opinion in this matter? Do you think they are already investigating this? I hope so!!!

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