Inexcusable

Dear editor:
On Jan. 19, 2008, our mother became the victim of abuse. The incident took place at the Special Care Unit at Rainycrest.
Our mom is afflicted with Alzheimer’s and has been a resident of the Special Care Unit for the past four years. As a family, our mother’s care and safety has never been questioned. The level of care that has been shown and provided to mom by professionals who work on the unit has been exceptional.
We recognize that it takes a special kind of person to work with Alzheimer patients each and every day.
However, we call to question the process of the handling of the incident by the administration of Rainycrest and Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. As a family, we were not informed by the above authorities of the abuse and only heard of this incident in the community.
We would like to share our perception of the total breakdown of communication, lack of responsibility, and a total lack of respect shown to our mother and family.
The fact we had to learn of the incident out in the community speaks to the miscommunication, irresponsibility, and disrespect shown by Rainycrest and Riverside administration.
We have met with the CEO of Riverside, as well as the administrator and director of resident care of Rainycrest, and came away from these meetings very disappointed, angry, and frustrated.
Although they have admitted to the incident of abuse and have dismissed the abuser, the miscommunication, irresponsibility, and disrespect shown to Mom is inexcusable and unacceptable.
In every communication we’ve had with representatives of these facilities, the incident has been acknowledged as “just verbal” abuse. It is only after confrontation and continued questioning they admit to our mother being roughly handled, left with bruising, and verbally assaulted.
As this incident is ongoing and we have unanswered questions as a family, we would like to inform the community that closure will be ours only when we are confident this institution has developed a strategy to ensure no other mother, grandmother, and family needlessly suffer through the emotions we continue to endure.
It should be noted that as of this writing, there has been no apology given to our mother. Six weeks have passed and we can only conclude that no apology is forthcoming.
Thank you,
Denise Miller,
on behalf of the
children and families
of Ella McMahon