Medilodge of Cass City

It has taken me two years to write this because I wanted to be fair and not let grief alone speak for us. My father was admitted after one surgery for a replacement of his previous hip replacement. Because he had a spacer instead of a hip joint, he was not supposed to get up without assistance. After waiting for help to return to bed, he tried to do it himself and fell, requiring another trip back to the University of Michigan for additional surgery. There were staff members who showed kindness to our family, and I am grateful for that. However, we also experienced serious concerns. My father’s food was changed to a very finely pureed diet that he hated, and he gradually stopped eating, losing a significant amount of weight. The hardest part was the communication. During what would be our last visit with him, we were told he was on hospice, that his care was well documented, and that he was receiving the medications he needed. After he passed away, a staff member admitted that she had accidentally given me information from another patient with a similar name. My mother had never been told that Dad was on hospice, and the confusion surrounding his final days has never left our family. I know healthcare is difficult, and I know many people working in these facilities truly care. But families deserve timely assistance, accurate information, and clear communication. I hope sharing our experience encourages improvements so that no other family has to carry the same questions and heartbreak that we do. Sheree Canfield Daughter of William “Bill” Walker