Thursday, February 25, 2010

Family Upset About Dad's Forced Move

The family of an elderly man who lived at an Oroville nursing home was told he needed to move out, his son and daughter said.

Gordon Stout, a 79-year-old retired teacher, had lived in the dementia unit of Olive Ridge Care Center for more than a year.

That was a manageable arrangement, said his son, Wayne Stout of Magalia, and daughter, Linda Powell of Paradise. They were able to take their mother, who is 83, to visit her husband three or four times a week in Oroville. But now that he has been moved to a nursing home in Novato, in the Bay Area, frequent visits are no longer possible.

The younger Stout said Olive Ridge staff told him and his sister the dementia unit was being closed to make room for patients who were discharged from acute-care hospitals and needed to convalesce.

Stout said it appeared perhaps 30 of the approximately 40 people who lived in the dementia unit had been moved out recently.

Stout said Olive Ridge staff found a spot for his father at a nursing home in Novato. They said it was the closest suitable facility that could take him.

Stout said he didn't have any say in his father's move because his dad is in a conservatorship through the Butte County Public Guardian.

Full Article and Source:
Family Upset After Resident From Oroville Nursing Home

3 comments:

StandUp said...

I feel for this family. Persons with dementia type symptoms live in an ever shrinking world. They are uncomfortable and agitated if moved.

And now Gordon Stout has been moved where it will be even harder for his family to visit him.

Well, we can sure see those who should be protecting his interest, aren't.

Lou said...

The ones that truely care are forced to stand by helplessly while their parents are neglected and exploited by the very ones who are paid big bucks to care for them. It could happen to you!

Anonymous said...

It's the same old question - why does someone with family need a public guardian?