Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans' Nursing Home

My husband moved to Alwyn C. Cashe late April 2025, after his Parkinson's Disease advanced such that home care was nearly impossible. The facility is large, clean and adequately staffed. There were minor issues at first--he couldn't understand many of the staff due to their strong accents, he felt they were not attentive and his clothes kept disappearing. He fell while in their care and while in the hospital it was discovered that he had fractured 2 vertebrae. He wore a brace and those healed. He complained that they were hiding his call bell and it turned out to be true--witnessed by 3 family members on separate occasions. I noticed he was becoming more lethargic in early September. I asked about his medications and was told he had been prescribed lithium for "behavior" control. That medication is for bi-polar disorder which he did not have. I made several attempts to contact the psych MD's though they never returned my calls. On Oct 1 I visited and his lethargy was extreme. He couldn't chew his food, could barely swallow. I went to the MD on duty and her assistant. I told her that as his power of attorney, I was refusing that medication and anything comparable. She agreed to hold the medication. I spoke to the dietary manager and asked that his diet be changed to soft foods, providing a list of his preferred foods. He was entirely lucid and told me he was worried about me, not to cry. On Oct 9, the DON called and insisted I contact hospice as he was declining rapidly. I was stunned. I met with hospice the next day at his bedside. I questioned his nurse and learned that they never discontinued the lithium or changed his diet. I have a copy of his official medication record. Hospice and the ARNP deemed it unsafe for any oral intake though he had been given oral medications that morning. He was barely responsive and breathing was labored. On Oct 14th I held his hand while he took his last breath. 5 1/2 months after his arrival, he died. I believe that the care he did and did not receive precipitated his death. My husband was outspoken and could be demanding, but he didn't deserve this.