Nursing home inspections inadequate
Dear Dr. Gott: Nursing home reform is sorely needed. Licensing doesn’t ensure good care. These inspections are scheduled and, therefore, depend on adequate staff all putting their best foot forward.
I’ve been a caretaker to loved ones in our house prior to their becoming nursing home residents – each in a different nursing home, both homes licensed. Daily visits (two to three hours) revealed many issues that I addressed through the chain of command, i.e. staff, ombudsman, doctor, state, corporate CEO. This proved busywork for me and yielded minimal improvement, if any, for any length of time.
Understaffing, inadequate training, apathetic attitudes and high employee turnover are all contributing factors. Many employees confide their personal lives and problems that would rival a pathetic soap opera!
Factory employees are required to have mandatory drug screening. Unless it has changed by now, nursing home employees are not subjected to drug screening.
For the good employees, you are so appreciated, and God bless you! For the slackers – remember, you or a loved one may become a nursing home resident one day. How do you wish to be cared for? Think about it!
Dear Reader: There is enormous variation in the level of care from one skilled nursing facility to another. State and federal inspections are designed to identify improper care, documentation and good record keeping. In my experience, these criteria often do not reflect the true situation, as you have indicated. Rather, the really good care is provided by truly committed staff, continuing input by families, careful and thoughtful review of important health issues and appropriate, hands-on supervision by caring doctors. In essence, the fundamental issue is, how can we best ensure that the residents’ quality of life is maximized?
Nursing homes are, for most residents, the last phase of life. A structured but warm environment is more important than, say, documenting adequately whether a resident refuses to eat Sunday pot roast.
As far as finding myself in such a facility, forget it.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Knowing about Nursing Homes.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092.
Dear Dr. Gott: In one of your articles, a patient was concerned about going on Medicare and not being able to afford some of his medications.
In the future, please inform these people that almost all of the drug companies have patient assistance programs. They can ask their doctor to get on the Internet and research the medicine they need. At the drug manufacturer’s Web site, type “patient assistance program” in the search field.
Dear Reader: Thanks for the tip.