Review of Grove of Evanston L & R, The

My 92 year old father was admitted from Evanston hospital (minor infection) for two weeks of intensive physical therapy to strengthen his leg that was broken in the summer.

Our first night there one of the CNA"s proceeded to faint on my seated brother. This was right after putting my dad in the bed.

Later dinner was brought,in the form of three mounds,cream,green and pink puréed mush. According to the menu it was taco filling,rice and I don't know.

My dad was on a regular diet,no eating issues. But we were informed that the hospital sent orders for a puréed and thickened diet. We requested regular food. The next day again mashed crap! My brother and I began to bring meals with us daily.

Each dad my father lost weight and grew weaker. We also inquired to his physical therapy and were told that my dad said he didn't want to do it. We argued that was what he was there for,it's not a choice.

Within the week,they administered a three day calorie count. If they were feeding him,it would be unnecessary to test for calorie intake. Again we requested he be put on a regular diet.

The facility kept talking about choking hazards,pneumonia etc. he's been eating normally. The next call was from the doctor on call asking about inserting a feeding tube.

Okay we were done. It was the New Years holiday,so we arranged for him to be taken home on Wednesday.

My brother and I went to the facility. I was carry my dads to go bag and my brother brought in the wheelchair we used at home. He walked past the receptionist and at least three nurses with OUR wheelchair.

We went to dress my father. Several staff members went past the room, nurses,aids,and the director of nursing. We were there over an hour before any one of record came in to find out what was going on.

The administrator and director of nursing came in to complain about not being notified and paperwork.

We let them know they were being informed now that we were leaving. They wanted to discuss it,ask if we talked with the doctor,what was the problem. My response was "systematic starvation" and the lack of physical therapy that he was in for.

They brought out a stack of papers that should have been completed on admission. We finished with that and went out to the lobby to wait for the Medicar.

The receptionist,the same one my brother past when he came in,commented that the wheelchair belonged to them. I AGAIN informed them that the wheelchair was brought from home and belonged to us.

My dad was loaded into the van,again the receptionist came out to confront us about the wheelchair. I asked our driver to take us home. The receptionist said " I can't let you leave."

Okay at this point,I've told them twice the chair is ours. Angry I told the young man to call the police. We are going home. The idiot placed himself in front of the van to keep us from leaving.

This is stupid. I and my brother both have been in management a combined 20 plus years, you work in a bank and are being robbed you give them the money. Mail carriers when being robbed of mail,you hand it over. Why risk life and limb for a wheelchair.

Finally the director of nursing comes out again, I'm so close to punching her in the face its not funny. Again walking to my side of the van,she asks me if the wheelchair belongs to the facility. AGAIN,I inform her that the chair belongs to my dad, we brought it from home, past your receptionist and three or four nurse. Which time did you not get that piece of information.

Don't let the facade fool you. The first floor are fully insured patients-- clean nice setup. On the other floors the smell of urine/ decay stands out. Staff takes as long as an hour to answer calls for bathroom help. They do not listen to families,and practice systematic starvation to weaken patients making their stays longer or terminal at work.

There is a lovely woman in the physical therapy department who is worth her weight in gold. Her name is Jessica. She is full of pride in her job,compassion for her patients and a sweet spirit. I hope she finds another place to showcase her abilities.