Atrium at Veronica drive was NOT A SAFE PLACE for my dad! They deserve zero stars. I put a Nest Camera in his room so that I could see how he was doing because he was transitioning from another facility, and not to check up the caregivers. However, I discovered much more than I was expecting to see! My dad was molested by another resident! I almost got sick while watching it! Ironically, this woman was constantly trying to be with my dad - who is married to my mom - but they told me it was the other way around, and that my dad was the initiator. They also found this woman in my dad's bed at least once, and I saw a second time that she was in his bed.
One evening I was there late, around 9:00 pm, and this same woman was wondering around. I found the three caregivers sitting and watching the Celtics game on t.v. I asked them if they could escort this woman to her room, and they just looked at me. I then had to ask them again with a little bit of a tone, and finally someone got up.
I saw via Nest that one evening that not one came to my dad's room to take my dad to dinner, and did not bring him anything to eat in his room, so I had to rush out and bring him some food. They said that they asked him, but the camera did not show anyone hours before dinner in his room.
Another evening I was there very late, around 11 p.m., and the late staff was working. They have only two people on the floor overnight to watch the entire side. The two women were sitting by the fish tank and talking. When I asked them if they could keep an eye on my dad to make sure he doesn't wander at night, they responded, "We can't watch just him. We have some residents that need both of us to lift them and help them." WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS A FIRE AT NIGHT??!!!
One early morning when I was visiting my dad, the staff forgot to open the doors so that the residents could go to breakfast. They were all waiting by the doors. After 45 minutes, I went to the front desk to find out what was going on. I was told that they "forgot." How many other times did they forget when no one was watching?
During the meals they are understaffed because the caregivers are too busy feeding the residents who need acute care. The "able" residents were often left to their own devices. I had to step in several times and pour juice or milk for the able residents, clear their plates and give the dessert.
Via the Nest I checked mid-morning to see how my dad was doing because he wasn't feeling well. I saw two caregivers trying to pick out some clothes for him to wear, and they pulled out some shorts and laughed - it was December! Instead they just left him in a chair in his underwear. They did not even look in his dresser drawers where there were several pairs of pants and sweat pants.
When my dad wasn't feeling well, and vomited in his bed. The staff threw his soiled sheets and comforter on the floor of his closet, and never washed them. I had to take the home and wash them.
The "caregivers" are not caring or nurturing at all. The don't even like to touch them. Many times I saw them dragging a resident by the sleeve! Other facilities at least hold the residents' hand when they are guiding them.
ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN JUST ONE MONTH!!!
I had to move my dad out of Atrium at Veronica Drive because is was too dangerous! I shared all of the above issues to the director, who is very nice, and she always showed concern, but I don't know how much of her concerned reaction was to appease me. The head of nurses always made every situation sound like it was either my dad's fault or that I did not fully understand the situations. She was wrong on both points. I think this head nurse did not always tell the director exactly what was happening in the facility.
THE ATRIUM AT VERONICA DRIVE WAS A NIGHTMARE!!!! read more