Having elderly parents or being in charge of your grandparents is a hard task but even more so, when they have Alzheimer's or Dementia. Let's not even talk about the resources and the system the Island of Puerto Rico has. With this being said, I want everyone who comes across my review to keep an open mind before making the choice of putting their loved ones in a nursing home, any nursing home I want to point out.
First and foremost, it's hard to care for them while you need to work and have minors, because they need to be under constant supervision 24/7. This is something you cannot do while living in Puerto Rico in order to work 8-10hrs, pay bills and raising your children without suffering for the lack of electricity and water supply. (This is something that needs to be considered, before judging specially when there is no help.)
The system in Puerto Rico does not work. The only way it works in somewhat cases is if you know people in the right places, if someone owes you a favor, if you can get the attention of people on social platforms and even on the news. Let's not forget about your political views, who you rally/campaign for... (This is the truth.)
When I mean the system I mean: "Departamento de la familia, Oficina del Procurador de Personas de Edad Avanzada (OPPEA), Administración Auxiliar de Protección Social "Emergencia sociales" etc...
Between calling, emailing, everything bounces over to the next person, and transfers to the next extension. Let's not even talk about lines being busy, phones off the hook or not attending you in person because they are understaffed.
My grandfather ended up in hands of the government of Puerto Rico because I couldn't take care of him nor move him out of the country because I work 5 days a week, have two minors and an elderly (his wife) who also need my care, attention and assistance. With my grandfathers diagnoses, it was very hard to have him under my care and before he even reached that point I tried all I could with the different agency and I mentioned previously and NO HELP WAS GIVEN WHATSOEVER. I saved every name, email, call etc... (No one ever cared or held any department or agency accountable.)
His first nursing home was: "The Angel's Residence" located in Bayamon, (Administrator at the time was: Daniel Rodriguez) where he was physically abused, you could literally see the marks on his body. He was even tied down because you were able to see the marks on his arms and legs. He went in that home walking and came out in a bed where we thought he was going die. No nursing home, nurse etc... has the right to restrain an elderly. It was their job to get him evaluated, medicated properly. They were not trained properly to deal with elderly who have Alzheimer's/Dementia. Sadly no one investigated them. In Puerto Rico, it is known for elderly to be put in homes from the department for a type of money incentive it's all a scam and business.
He ended up in the hospital, Doctor's Center Hospital, located in Bayamon in which also the social worker working at that time had no knowledge either of what she was doing and how to help an elderly who came in and clearly had signs of being abused. It's like they are afraid of opening the "pandora box" because of all the paper work and the outcome. They prefer to just give an immediate service.
After he was stabilized but home bound, he was moved and recommended to this specific nursing home from the social worker in the hospital to the Departamento de la familia social worker.
Bottom line is... I do not recommend nursing homes in the Island of Puerto Rico. Especially, The Angel's Residence located in Bayamon, PR and Hogar Dulce Sueños located in Villa Josco Toa Alta, PR 00953. read more