Facility #2, 3, 4, and 5, Interview with Steve
September 2, 2025
In-person interview with Steve
Facility #2, 3, 4, and 5
So, my oncologist did not discover I had a tumor until it was 15 pounds, and it was too much for them to handle. They referred me to a hospital who in turn referred me to a medical center and I had to be approved by a committee of 5 doctors there because of the advanced tumor and my age. They finally agreed that they would do surgery, and four doctors took 7 hours to remove the 15-pound tumor, my prostate and my bladder. Then I was at a facility for 11 months for rehab, then I moved to [facility #2] closer to home where I was a resident for well over a year. Unfortunately, at that facility as I reported to KABC earlier, there were some very serious medicine mix-ups. I called it to their attention and management and the final straw was when a 4 pm in the afternoon and a med tech came in my room and said “Steve, why did you order these COPD medicines, you’re not sneezing, you’re not coughing, you’re not congested” and I said, “I didn’t order them” and he responded that a nurse called and ordered them that morning. I then responded, “I didn’t see a nurse today”. What happened was that someone on staff at that facility #2 did an exam of a different patient and then called it in to my pharmacy and my doctor; it was a total mix-up. And that previous month, I had 3 medication mix-ups in my daily medication that had to get straightened out. The thing is, I’m not in rehab, I’m on Hospice and I’m counting on the organization to take care of me.
So, I left there and went to a different facility (facility #3). I was there for 27 or 28 days, and it was really very depressing because the place is dark: it’s not well managed. The manager had no training in facility’s management, or restaurant management. At facility #3, I was probably 25 or 30 feet from the kitchen; I got cold food every day. Most of the people there were what I would say as post-vocal. They are mainly silent. A lot of them grumbled to themselves. They don’t have the energy to say, “hey, take this food back” or “I want it warmed up”. Some of them don’t have any advocates. In that facility, I found out that they had very weak nursing staff. When I say “weak”, I would say, poorly trained. At least two of the nurses were impaired and I had two or three meetings with top management there to explain things. Even simple things like they had the kitchen door put on backwards. People kept bumping into each other, I mean it was so silly. The other thing is, as an example, the cake, you had to cut it with a knife and fork because it was so hard. I said to the director, “can’t you please follow the recipe on the box or bag about how to make a cake?” and it never came out any better. The place lacked good maintenance. Because of the food and the staffing issues, I left and went to another facility (facility #4).
Dan Goodman, KABC Executive Director, recently provided testimony to both the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) during their Fiscal Year 2026 budget hearings. Our message was clear: Kansas must invest in systems that protect the dignity, independence, and well-being of older Kansans. Key Recommendations from KABC Protect Access to In-Home Services • Projected shortfalls of $27M in FY26 and $70M in FY27 threaten the HCBS Frail Elderly Waiver. • Without funding, older Kansans may face a waitlist for services, leading to premature nursing home placement. Strengthen Care Coordination • Frail Elderly, Physically Disabled, and Brain Injury waiver recipients currently lack dedicated case management. • KABC urged implementation of the long-overdue $20M Community Care Coordination Service. Improve Oversight & Resident Protections (KDADS) • Surveyor vacancies are near 50%, delaying inspections and weakening resident protections. • We called for wage increases and innovative staffing models to close gaps in oversight. Increase the Personal Needs Allowance • Nursing home residents in Kansas receive only $62/month for personal expenses. • KABC supports raising this allowance—closer to the $70 national average—and tying it to cost-of-living adjustments. Continue the Statewide Senior Resource Guide (KDADS) • KABC requested $150,000 to maintain and distribute the statewide guide annually. • This investment ensures older Kansans have access to accurate, trusted information on care and services. Why It Matters By 2030, more than 20% of Kansans will be age 65 or older. Budget decisions made today will directly impact whether older Kansans can age with dignity, safety, and independence. Read KABC’s full testimonies to KDADS here and KDHE here .
Sabrina shares her mother’s move from assisted living to long-term care during COVID-19, revealing challenges, sudden changes, and financial planning.