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My mother deserved dignity and compassionate care in her final days
My mother was admitted to Saint Barnabas after a severe stroke that left her paralyzed from the neck down. She also had stage IV cancer and a limb alert bracelet indicating extreme limb sensitivity. I was present daily and personally witnessed her care. A nurse handled her legs roughly and dropped one without acknowledgment. Another refused to reposition her and told her to “do it yourself,” despite her being fully paralyzed. Her call bell often went unanswered, and there were times she was left in urine and feces for hours. Basic hygiene, including oral care, was only provided during the day shift. When she struggled to breathe and was in visible distress, PRN medication was requested. There were delays of several hours before it was administered, and the nurse assigned to her had to repeatedly call because the medication was not brought promptly. A physician prepared her for a procedure using the wrong patient chart and initially questioned us when we corrected the medical history. I reported these concerns to the charge nurse and contacted Patient Relations. Months later, we have received no meaningful response. Our family was present 24/7 and witnessed these events firsthand. My mother deserved dignity and compassionate care in her final days, and that was not our experience. Most of her problems occurred during the night shift. I was there, and I saw the pain that she went through and a lack of care that was presented. I can only imagine what happens to people who don’t have family with them who can’t advocate for themselves this hospital needs to do better.
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