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MONTEBELLO ON ACADEMY HEALTHCARE CENTER (THE)


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2005 Apr 15, 7:21am   3,381 views  12 comments

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1   Mortemis   2009 Feb 16, 6:38am  

My father spent the final 2 ½ years of his life (he died in 1997) in the nursing home at Montebello as he became more and more debilitated from Lewy Body Disease, a form of Parkinson’s Disease. The care he received was excellent in meeting his physical and medical needs while maintaining his dignity. My only reservation was the level and degree of intellectual stimulation that he received. Lewy Body disease has a prominent dementia component and in his case it was compounded by his inability to speak which made it more difficult to judge his needs. However, I often encountered most of the residents arranged in a semi-circle in their wheel chairs with only music to distract them. The time of day for my visits may have factored into my impressions and not been representative of more one-on-one activities. In short, I would look for a facility that has in place a robust activities program to engage the resident’s mind at a time of life when distraction from present circumstances would be especially welcomed and therapeutic.

2   Tiqstuff   2009 May 3, 3:01am  

My mother is currently a resident at The Montebello on Academy. She has been there for almost 2 years. She soon will be 98 years old. She is in very good health, but suffers from Old age dementia which is mainly confusing facts and short term memory problems. She still knows all her family and friends etc. I have until now been very pleased with the facility. After a fracture when she was 96 and still living alone, she moved to the skilled nursing rehab. After 2 months she moved into the Assisted Living area. The rehab was wonderful!

In March she went to the hospital with pnuemonia and after 2 weeks was released back to Montebello where they put her in skilled nursing due to her weakened condition. It has been 3 weeks and my accessment is she needs to return to AL, but they will not let her go back. She is depressed, confussed and her mental health is deteriorating fast. The staff is different and she doesn't have her own furniture etc. She goes up and down the hall looking for her AL room etc.

I told Montebello I was going to take her out of the facility if they could not return her to AL. I do not have power of attorney but she has not been declared incompetant. She begs me to get her out of there every time I visit. She would be happy back in AL. I think they are "double dipping" charging her for her AL Room and collecting from Medicare.

I went to get her on last Wed and Montebello sent a guard to stop me and called the police. It was upsetting my mother so much that I left before the police arrived. At this point I am fearful of even going to visit. This is not the end of this story because I am going for legal advise.

The last persons comment was from when Montebello was owned by Marriott. Today it is owned by Five Star, which it looks like from Wall Street, may be in financial difficulties. I presume that is why they are trying to get money from any source.

3   elliemae   2009 May 3, 3:06pm  

Tiqstuff:
If the AL portion is separate from the Skilled Nursing, they can continue to charge for that room - if it's not paid, they will rent it to someone else. AL requirements are that patients be independent - if they require nursing care, they're not appropriate to return to AL. The rules vary from state-to-state; you should be able to research the rules for assisted living on the state of New Mexico website.

You don't have to keep her there - you can find another facility for her and have her transferred but Montebello probably won't take her back. If she's competent to sign the paperwork they have no choice and if she's not, the power of attorney or next of kin according to state law can make the decision.

Patrick has Advanced Directive laws by state on the nursing home page, it may address next of kin. If your mother knows who she is, where she is, the general date and the situation, she can probably make a decision. If you decide to get counsel, see an attorney who specializes in elder law. However, from what you describe, Montebello is following the rules.

It's unfortunate that the police were called and your mother was upset, but if the facility believes that you are going to take your mother out without being able to care for her, they are obligated by law to call the police and possibly adult protective services.

4   Mortemis   2009 May 4, 1:20am  

It's unfortunate that you are not being supported in a constructive manner at this time when you are clearly upset about your Mom's condition.

The current director of the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico (Agnes) is an extremely knowledgable and compassionate person who could advise you on questions you may have about the needs of your mother or anyone with dementia (from any cause). Another suggestion I have is to look into the facility The Cottages of Albuquerque. There are individual rooms that can accommodate one's own furniture and the staff is incredible! You would never have to worry about the care your Mom receives--physical, medical, emotional, social.
Best regards.

5   general   2009 May 4, 3:23am  

I am very familar with Montebello on Academy NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The skilled nursing facility is very poor in my opinion. Basically they warehouse the residents there and are very inconsiderate of their residents dignity. For example, when the resident first arrives and has yet to learn how to or build the strength to manuever their wheel chair to get themselves to their own rooms, the "care givers" simply push them from the dinning room out to the hallway and leave them there without any consideration as to whether the resident needs to go to the toliet right after a meal. Some residents are very much aware, have some pride and cleanliness about them, but need therapy to go back to providing movement and services for themselves. Further, my loved one was not properly monitored for health even though she exhibited deep coughing and had pneumonia while in the hosptial before being released to skilled nursing. We ask multiple times for this to be checked and by the time they did several days later it was too late and she passed away even though she had previously been in good physical health.

6   general   2009 May 4, 5:01am  

I found that some of the staff would also lie about the care that they gave my loved one. They would act like my parent did not know what was going on around them and imply I could not believe what I was being told. However, I knew my parent had excellent mental capabilities and knew full well what care they received or did not.

The nursing management choose to believe that we did not know what we were talking about instead of considering the resident and the family as customers and as having enough integrity to be speaking of only important issues. I found the head of nursing and some of the other leadership as being simply pacificers and did not take action. I think it is a good enough if the patient is fully capable of seeing after themselves and their rights but it is just cruel what happens to those dependent upon others. They actual cause family friction and stir up trouble. My parent had been in skilled there once before and at the time was still able to be mobile and to get around and even then the care was marginal, with improper medication given or not given.

7   Tiqstuff   2009 May 4, 8:56am  

My problems with Montebello are compounded by the fact that they called another family member when they knew I was coming and this family member is very controlling and more concerned with control than what is best for my Mom. If Montebello really cared about my Mom they could inquire of the staff who know that I am the one who sees after her needs all of the time. She told them she wanted to leave with me and she would look at me and say "come on and get me out of here" then Montebello and my sibling would start telling her how bad it would be for her to leave their care etc. She would get so confused and say meekly, "Well Ok" then she would turn to me and say, "lets get out of here." And they would do the same thing over and over again. She was so confused. Finally out of my love and concern for her I kissed her good bye and told her I love her. Before I left the director came in the room and told me to get off the property when I said I was not going anywhere she said well the police would excort me off the property when they arrive.

All of this took place in my mothers room. It was so unprofessional and rude. Why didn't they suggest we go into a conference somewhere and discuss the issues?

Never in my life have I gone through anything like this. I was in a total state of shock that something like this could happen. My Mom should not be a prisioner of a facility that we are paying for her care. Has the government gone so far that they give this kind of authority to a for profit facility?

8   elliemae   2009 May 4, 11:46am  

If this other person is a power of attorney, there's not a lot that you can do. However, if you are the closest relative you might be able to move her from the facility. I would suggest you see an attorney if that's what you think needs to happen.

Unfortunately, your mother is in the middle. This conversation shouldn't have happened in front of your mother.

9   unhappy at Montebello skilled nursing   2009 May 7, 10:44am  

I think the Independent living is fairly good. The Assisted Living qaulity is good enough except for the food. The staff is often short handed and overly stretched to provide the assistance many residents need and pay for but the food in assisted living is not good at all. Occassionally it is good. When the Director is informed she is unresponsive or punitive to the resident of the family member that complained on behalf of the resident. The staff in assisted living are qualified and most of them as well as housekeeping are excellent. Skilled nursing is something else all together. The therapists are good and care but do not have adequate resources for the best therapy nor do they spend enough time with the patient. The doctor at skilled nursing and the nursing staff are extremely bad and I do not think the care for their residents. When the director receives a complaint, rather than doing something constructive, she is defensive and attacks back.

10   unhappy at Montebello skilled nursing   2009 May 7, 10:45am  

When I state director in the above comment, I am referring to the overall director, not the director of assisted living who is good.

11   elliemae   2009 May 9, 6:23am  

Unfortunately, the medical profession protects its own. Your complaints might be viewed as a nuisance - and not taken seriously.

Have you reviewed the Medicare.gov site for the facility to see if it has a good record?

You have the right to complain at any time about the treatment to the State office - but you'll need names/dates, etc.

12   unhappy at Montebello skilled nursing   2009 May 17, 1:30am  

Yes, I have names, dates, and detail specifics specifics. I do believe I will go to the state office.

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