Wingate At Andover

Although I have not been in rehab, this facility has been the caretaker of my mother for the past 7 days, and the level of care they give on the weekends and at night is virtually non-​existent.
Nurses answering call buttons seem to think helping someone to the bathroom is beneath their level of expertise in the nursing field. CNA’s shirking their responsibilities and not being the caretakers they are trained to be. Not all the Nurses and CNA’s are bad, but this facility needs to step up to plate and weed through the ones who just don’t care; and there are many who have that attitude.
Wrong medications being handed out to patients is a concern that goes above all else. Are they not checking the charts and medications against the correct patient? Is the person filling the medications a skilled Nurse, or a CNA that isn’t paying attention.
Bathroom visits are often ignored here, with the exception of a few caring CNA’s who go above and beyond and will answer the call light if they are walking by, regardless if it’s their room to take care of or not.
Poor Management results in poor workers. The weekend nursing supervisor who was on was useless and had no idea about what her people were doing or where they were. How sad — but on a brighter note, she no longer works there.
With a new Administrator on board, it is hopeful that he can turn this place around, oversee, and make sure the care for the people there is exemplary as it should be. We are dealing with people who are there to progress not regress.
My own mothers 1^st weekend was spent in bed without any visits from anyone to get her up and moving. The Nurse said it wasn’t her responsibility and only the PT people can do that. Last I knew a Nurse was quite capable of potty duty and walking patients. Healthcare isn’t just about blood pressure and temps, it includes the entire physical body. I helped her to the bathroom when no-​one else came after 30 mins. One CNA stated it was OK if she has an accident and pees the bed. NO — it’s not OK, and that was the wrong thing to say. She didn’t pee the bed at home, she’s not doing it here.
As a result of lying in bed all weekend, she developed an infection and was unable to breathe, albeit being on oxygen. This alone was indicative of something more going on, especially since she has and Effusion on the left lung. Which also means, MOVEMENT is necessary. Walking, standing, sitting, and for short amounts of times… It does not mean being left in a bed ALL DAY LONG. The Dr. who visits the rehab ordered her a chest x-​ray after 3 days of her complaining about not being able to breathe (she was fine when she left the hospital to go there after heart surgery). The Dr. then put her on an antibiotic for this infection we were trying to avoid by having her walk and be active. If she gets pneumonia, they will be cited for neglect of a patient.
When the nurse was caring for her and she coughed up bright yellow/​green sputum it was stated she didn’t need her to be graphic when telling her what colors. I then told the nurse «I ask my mother what color all the time, because the color matters — and would provide an indication of infection».
Thank goodness for her PT person Shawn, who took it into his own hands after seeing the struggle she was having with breathing and coughing up yellow/​green sputum, to go to the nurse and request an Antibiotic. That visit triggered a visit from the Dr. himself. His arrogant nature fell short with me, and telling a patient who is hardly capable of taking a breath, they aren’t taking a deep breath when that’s all they are capable of doing just doesn’t sit well with me. Not just once, but twice he told her «you’re not taking a deep breath». I would like that Dr. to be inside her body and have someone say that to him.
Working in the Mental Health field myself, I find that arrogance, and rudeness toward a patient, and pretty much calling them a liar is extremely unprofessional. This not only had a negative impact on her mental well-​being, it also impacted a reaction in myself, which is not very good. Perhaps an apology is needed to make this right.
All in all, I am very disappointed in this facility, along with the care most of the people there are receiving. I will advocate for all of them if necessary, and it will not stop there.
Everyone deserves a chance to make things right — and if it’s not made right — the State will step in and take over.
It’s a choice, and a chance, for this place to step up to plate, and be the caring, health and wellness place they are meant to be.
Perhaps it’s time for a new Director as well… it all starts at the top and has that trickle down effect. You are not there to make friends with the workers, you are there to oversee the patients, and the care your Nurses and CNA’s provide; so far from what I see — it is not good.
As a Business owner myself, I am appalled at the direction these people have been given, and work under. This rating is deserved.