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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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They’re tending to patients and doing their jobs. Not like they can just up and run to the phone right away. The immediate needs take precedence, as they should.
Probably understaffing which is an issue in just about every nursing home in my opinion. I would rather staff be taking care of the needs of residents than making answering phone calls the priority. If it's a chronic issue, you could contact the administrator but sadly, I wouldn't count on much changing. Give some grace to the bedside workers as they are probably doing the best that they can.
I can't imagine how you can think we have any control over your nursing home or that we would be better able to answer your very reasonable question than THEY are? As to what the limit is? I must assume they are busy; no one likes a ringing phone.
If this is ongoing and a terrible problem for you then I would call the Administration office at this place and discuss with someone who may have a good many more answers or suggestions than we do. Another idea or hint is to be certain to ask what are the best TIMES to call. I do know as an RN that "shift change" isn't it.
Good luck. Sorry you are going through this. But on a level of stuff that happens for all in elder care, this is mild, and I hope things never get any worse for you. Take good care.
They probably can't answer because they are more than likely short staffed and are running around like chickens with their heads chopped off taking care of everyone's needs. Have you tried putting a landline phone in your sisters room so you can just call her directly? And if that's not possible for whatever reason, then you must learn some patience and appreciate that the staff are busy taking care of their patients and not just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
I think we get used to someone answering the phone pretty quickly when our loved one is in the hospital that we expect the same when they are in a nursing home. Nursing homes are not staffed like hospitals and from my experience, having the phone ring 20+ times before someone answers is the norm.
The 3 NHs in my area have receptionists who can transfer calls to rooms and Nurses Stations. I find the Nurses station may not pick up right away. Why? Because they are with a patient or in a meeting. I think shortness of aides, in my area, the RN and LPNs are needed to pick up some slack. Phone calls are not high priority.
Shifts are usually 7 to 3, 3 to 11 and 11 to 7. Some staff work 12 hr shifts. Mornings are not a good time to call IMO. Residents have to be gotten up and dressed for breakfast. Med passes are done. PT is done. Then...time for lunch. Staff have breaks. The desk is usually manned by RNs. If one goes on break and there is an emergency, no phone gets answered. Or one RN manning the phones so not able to pick up other calls because she is talking to someone on another line.
Do you live near sister? Far away? Are you calling several times a day or just a check in every day. And if a check in every day why? Just to see how sister is doing? If you are the main contact, you will be notified of any fall, ER visits and drastic changes. If you visit regularly you can ask the RN at the nurses desk how she has been.
So, why is it so important to get thru to nursing staff?
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
As to what the limit is? I must assume they are busy; no one likes a ringing phone.
If this is ongoing and a terrible problem for you then I would call the Administration office at this place and discuss with someone who may have a good many more answers or suggestions than we do. Another idea or hint is to be certain to ask what are the best TIMES to call. I do know as an RN that "shift change" isn't it.
Good luck. Sorry you are going through this. But on a level of stuff that happens for all in elder care, this is mild, and I hope things never get any worse for you. Take good care.
Or, you call their front desk receptionist and ask this question.
Are you calling your sister's room? Or her floor nurse station? Where is your call actually going?
Have you tried putting a landline phone in your sisters room so you can just call her directly? And if that's not possible for whatever reason, then you must learn some patience and appreciate that the staff are busy taking care of their patients and not just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
Be glad she isn't calling you crying to "go home" all day.
Shifts are usually 7 to 3, 3 to 11 and 11 to 7. Some staff work 12 hr shifts. Mornings are not a good time to call IMO. Residents have to be gotten up and dressed for breakfast. Med passes are done. PT is done. Then...time for lunch. Staff have breaks. The desk is usually manned by RNs. If one goes on break and there is an emergency, no phone gets answered. Or one RN manning the phones so not able to pick up other calls because she is talking to someone on another line.
Do you live near sister? Far away? Are you calling several times a day or just a check in every day. And if a check in every day why? Just to see how sister is doing? If you are the main contact, you will be notified of any fall, ER visits and drastic changes. If you visit regularly you can ask the RN at the nurses desk how she has been.
So, why is it so important to get thru to nursing staff?
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