I'm not sharing my story to get rich.
My goal is merely to educate others by way of my experience, and if I'm able to help just one person, that will be enough of a royalty.
Every single day of my 90-day stay in two separate nursing homes in two different states, I witnessed wildly differing levels of care from careworkers who were overstressed, underpaid, overworked, or just burned out and unable to perform at their best. A handful of LNAs and RNs were completely unfit to be in the profession, but probably 98% were decent, caring, hardworking individuals who did their best in the conditions they were forced to work in.
At worst, I witnessed patients who were drugged into a zombie apocalypse, catatonic, or who swung from violent behavior to meekness multiple times a day. Opioids were handed out like candy at the slightest hint of pain or discomfort, even to patients unable to speak for themselves.
The following are links to reports, statistics, and investigated features to educate you, the reader, about the true state of affairs in these facilities, as well as the insidiousness of the widespread opioid crisis, and the crucial importance of being a patient advocate for yourself or a loved one (or seek the assistance of professional patient advocates). Study. Research. Push back. You could save your own life, the life of a loved one, or even a complete stranger; and the world will benefit.
If you'd like to share your own experiences regarding how you found the good, the bad, and the ugly about nursing homes, please contact me. That will be book #2.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.