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As medical breakthroughs continue to expand our life expentancies, more and more people are faced with the difficult transition from independence to nursing home life. Our elderly population is growing, and it is likely that a vast majority of us will ultimately end our lives under the care of others. What is nursing home life like? What are the problems and issues surrounding the current trend in healthcare?
We have all watched in horror the news reports about paient abuse and neglect in nursing homes, and for many, even the very word 'nursing home' is enough to conjure up feelings of dread. Is any place 'safe'? Is there a way to know for sure what to expect with anyone facility?
Most nursing homes are not the dreaded places that the media has made them out to be. For the most part, the staff are caring and resident rights rule! Although living in a nursing home is not quite the same as being in your own home, much effort is put towards making it as home-like as possible. The activities department in most nursing homes provides activities tailored to meet all needs, and all likes and dislikes. Often, residents will have the pleasure of enjoying a day trip to a restaurant or shopping. A nursing home also provides socialization that a person may not enjoy at home. There are usually resident council meetings, at which complaints and greivances can be aired. Most dietary departments strive to provide a daily selection of a vast array of food, and most will honor special requests!
When shopping for a nursing home, here are some important things to remember:
-Are the hallways odor free?
-Do you see sufficient staff in the hallways? One thing to keep in mind is that during certain times of the day, the nursing assistants will be behind closed doors performing care on residents. -Hang around for a little while to get the feel of the staff. Do they seem stressed? Hurried? Angry? Are they friendly towards you?
-Take a look around at the residents in the hallways, do they look comfortable and well cared for? Are they positioned properly in their chairs? How does the staff interact with them?
-Ask about staffing, the ratio of patients/aides is most important, as it is the aides performing the daily care.
-Inquire about the activities department
Feel free to ask questions and present special requests. A good facility will always try hard to accomodate your wishes and the wishes of your loved one.
As a Certified Nursing Assistant who has worked in various facilities, I can attest to the fact that in most cases, a facility's worst downfall is the issue of functioning below staffing levels. For some time now, there has been a severe staffing shortage within long term care facilities, and this is something the public may not be aware of. Several states have been pursuing remedies to this problem. For example, the state of Massachusetts has recently approved a $42.5 million CNA wage 'pass through'. This money will be filtered directly to the care providers within nursing homes and other healthcare settings. It is hoped that the increase in wages will draw more people into this field, while retaining the CNA's already employed. It seems that the problem of short staffing has been recognized among government officials, and they are comitted to finding a solution to the problem.
And quite the serious problem it has been. While it is the aim of most healthcare workers to provide quality care, working short staffed does not facilitate this desire. Some of the effects of the staffing shortages include low staff morale, decreased safety for the residents due to less supervision, increased cases of skin breakdown on residents due to the staff being stretched to the limit and finding it impossible to adequately meet the needs of the residents.
The state board of health has always been concerned about the quality of care within long term care facilities. State inspectors appear at each facility yearly, unannounced, to perform a routine inspection. Some of the areas of scrutiny include food service (is the meal served hot?), resident care (do all residents appear neatly groomed and postitioned comfortably?) and paperwork. While all staff members want to excel in these areas on a daily basis, it is a difficult task when faced with attempting to live up to standards while working short staffed. It appears, however, that steps are being taken to reverse this downward spiral of staff supply!
If you or a loved one is facing placement in a nursing home, it is important to become familiar with your rights. Request a copy of the facilities "Resident Rights" policy, and be sure to contact the aproprate personnel with any and all concerns you may have.
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