Just to catch you up. All of Mom’s crazy thoughts are gone. No more devils or unfounded fears!! Hooray!!! She has good happy days…But, her nights are a terror and this is an understatement, I’m afraid… She sleeps about an hour, even with a heavy sleeping pill. The rest of the time, she is anxious, disoriented and even a little aggressive(being kind, here). It was obvious that this problem was going to accelerate and after Dr. Mozer, from Denver urgently insisted, the decision was made to take her to a hospital in Colorado Springs that specializes in Geriatric Psyciatric problems. The psychiatrists that have seen Mom all agree that these problems have been caused by the stroke and the insomnia and depression that followed. I just pray that this new place is better than Haven Behavioral and that they can help her. She has worked so hard to get this far. I hope that it’s God’s will to give her another chance.
So far, this place is much MUCH better than Haven Behavioral Senior Care, in Thornton. Peak View took nearly 3 hours, on Wednesday checking her out and then checking her into their hospital. Haven Behavioral Senior Care really discouraged me from being part of the check in process and then acted as though I didn’t deserve information about Mom’s condition, though I have her power of attorney. Peakview spent a great deal of time being sure that I understood my and Mom’s rights, which included ALL of the information that I was trying to get from Haven Behavioral Senior Care. There was even a part of the check in process listing the places to send a complaint, if we needed to, which I may end up doing concerning our experience at Haven Behavioral Senior Care. The building at Peakview is very beautiful with a commons living room that has a huge “peak view” window and the people seem very nice. They have been easy to get information about Mom from and say that the treating doctor will be very open to talking. Every day I have called and they have treated me with love and respect and have known exactly what medications Mom is on and how it effected her in the night before. Dr. Scola, who is a board certified geriatric psychiatrist, is Mom’s doctor usually comes to the hospital during the visiting hour in the evening, which shows me that he’s not afraid to see a family member. I have a good feeling about them and their care, with a little guarded bruising from before, I suppose. Pray that they can help her get some sleep, which will give her a better chance of having some quality of life and of making sense out of it, as well. Thank you for your love and support.
Hugs from all of us, M
THREE nights at Peak View, so far
Update—–I talked to Mom, last evening and she sounds pretty good. I think that Peakview Behavioral Hospital is a good place for her, right now. She’s so hoping that she’ll be home for Christmas. Still not sleeping and they gave her enough meds last night to make an elephant sleep! Keep praying!
Peak View Behavioral Health
719-444-8484
Mary,
This blog is so very impressive, well done. I found it when looking for information on Haven Behavioral Healthcare in Thorton. I’m living a nightmare dealing with them in regards to my mother. It’s unbelievable, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so frustrated in my life. The psychiatrist evaluating Mom even told me this was not a good place for her to promote healing. I tried to have her discharged today. After no word, called and the social worker (who doesn’t have email or vm) had done nothing and was in Boulder all day. If ever you would like to exchange information regarding your experience, I would appreciate hearing from you. I am going to report them to the Colorado Department of Health, and write to all those who so glowing referred us to them. Thank you for listening.
P
I have also been reading your blogs with great interest. My dad is at Haven Behavioral in Pueblo – he is a retired AF guy suffering from PTSD/depression/anxiety etc. Like you, I’ve struggled with getting accurate information about my dad – one day they say he’s on 20mg of Ambien, the next day I’m told no one on the floor gets more than 10mg. On his admission day, I asked what the plan was for discharge, considering he lives in PHX – I was told that “we plan for discharge the day they check in” – yet when I asked about it during week 3 of his 4 week stay, NO ONE HAD DONE ANYTHING!!! The SW got a piece of my mind and viola, a few days later, we have a plan…and that is dad will be going to Peak View Behavioral for their new IOP program. He will start there this Tuesday. I’m glad to read what you wrote about Peak View and I have had many great conversations with Arlene there in preparation for dad’s arrival. Oh the joys of having to care for your parents.
Sharon
Dear Sharon, I’m so sorry that I didn’t see your comment. I think that my husband just accepted it and didn’t mention it to me. Anyway, I’d love to know what happened with your father. Did he do well at Peak View? I just hate that the laws governing this issue aren’t very forth coming. I’ve tried filing complaints about the way Mother was treated and the lack of information that I was given and so far have gotten no where. I feel like they are free to treat people how ever they want, without consequence, no matter the turn out. You can see by Mom’s pictures and my blogs since her visit at Haven Behavioral that she was simply NOT what they insisted that I needed to accept her to be. She may have some confusion but she is far from a “late stage dementia” person. I pray that your father is doing well and that you had a good experience. Please let me know. Sincerely, Mary
Hi Mary. Dad will be “graduating” from Peak View on 9/30 and while he still has his demons inside, he is doing better at managing his anxiety and depression. He will be going home to PHX the first week of Oct and that will be a significant test of how much he’s learned. Peak has been great in terms of trying to help us find therapists in PHX and have offered to let dad come back if he has a major set back. I know that Haven was a necessity given his state of mind but I”m very grateful that Peak View has this IOP program as a step down. His memory issues he was having at Haven are now gone so really makes me wonder what was going on there that caused that. Thanks for checking in and I”ll let you know what happens on our journey.
Oh Sharon I’m so happy that you’re father is doing better. What a relief for you, too. It’s so hard to know what’s right for the people we love, when we’re not educated in these things. Unfortunately, I think that leaves the facilities in a position of not having to answer for the care they give. It’s interesting what you went through. Mom was said to be in “late stage dementia” at Haven Behavioral in Thornton. They told me that I needed to “face reality” and accept where she was. 2 months later that her doctor here tested her and wasn’t sure that you could call what she was dealing with “dementia” at all and instead says that she has either “mild dementia” or “cognitive problems. That’s a pretty big span of opinion. These medications are so powerful. They are great when used right. But, I feel strongly that they can really mess you up, if you don’t need them or if they are used incorrectly! Please keep me posted, I’d love to know where this takes you. Mom has been spending more nights at home, now, and we no longer fear that she will be confused and walk away from our home. THANK GOD!
This place needs as much mental evaluation as their patients. Worst place to send your loved one. Nurses ( Mindy) are very rude and they give you different info everytime you call. They tell my grandma everyday that she is leaving, then say no, but have no reason. They keep mentioning insurance. Hmmm, money have something to do with this? Can get the DON nor the director Will to return my calls. May God bless you and your family. Hope your expierence is better than ours. Have a good day. And please pray for us.
Also a Dr. Bacus from Denver was texting odd things to my moms phone, very odd doctor. Please don’t go to Peak View. We have now had to hire a lawyer and will be turning them into the Colorado Department of Health. Hopefully somebody from there will see this and FINALLY contact me. We miss our grandma very badly. This is not right to do to an Alzheimer’s patient. We came to them for help. Now its worse than ever.