What To Think About When Choosing A Nursing Home
StartFragmentNursing homes have evolved substantially within the last several decades. These types of alterations have been pushed by government polices and consumer pressures. Today’s nursing homes tend to be highly controlled, high-quality establishments for the care and treatment of older people who have serious physical health and/or psychological disabilities. Assisted-living facilities do not have the same laws that guide care in nursing homes.
Who lives in nursing homes? Almost half of most people who reside in nursing homes are 85 years or older. Relatively few occupants are younger than 65 years. The majority are females (72%), many of whom are without a husband or wife (nearly 70% are generally widowed, divorced, or never married) along with only a select few of family members and friends for assistance. The Most Commonly Encountered Reason Behind Living in A Nursing Home Some kind of disability with activities of everyday living (ADLs) is the most common reason that older individuals reside in nursing homes. Unsurprisingly, folks residing in nursing homes normally have much more incapability compared to folks living at home. More than 80% of nursing home residents need help with 3 or more ADLs (including dressing and washing). 90% of residents that can walk need assistance or even supervision. More than half of occupants have urinary incontinence (either bowel or bladder), and more than 1 / 3 experience difficulty with hearing or seeing. As well as physical problems, mental illnesses tend to be well-known within nursing home occupants. In reality, dementia continues to be the most frequent problem, and has an effect on approximately 50-70% of occupants. Greater than three fourths of nursing-home residents have issues making daily decisions, and 2 thirds have problems with memory or being aware of where they are from time to time. A minimum of one-third of nursing home residents have troublesome actions. These actions can sometimes include spoken and also physical abuse, acting inappropriately in public, resisting essential treatment, and wandering around. Communication issues are also common-almost half of nursing home occupants have difficulty both being understood and understanding other people. Depression is an additional condition which affects nursing home occupants. Research has revealed it may occur more in nursing home occupants than in people living in the neighborhood. Length of Stay Length of stay varies greatly in nursing homes. Twenty-five percent of individuals admitted stay only a short time (3 months or less). Lots of people that stay for a small amount of time are admitted for rehab or for critical (end-of-life) treatment. About 50 % of occupants spend a minimum of 12 months within the nursing home, and 21% reside there for almost Five years. Remarkably, function usually improves in numerous residents who remain for a longer time. Risk Factors for Admission There are several risk factors for admission to a nursing home: Age. The chance of being admitted to a nursing home increases with age. For example, about 15% of people 85 years and older live in nursing homes, compared with just 1.1% of people 65-74 years of age. Low income. Below average family support, particularly in cases where the elderly adult is lacking in a spouse or little ones. Low social activity. Functional or mental difficulties. Caucasian race/ethnicity. Characteristics of Nursing Homes Nursing homes frequently offer you medical services similar to those offered in hospitals after surgery, sickness, or any other unexpected medical problems. Older adults need a higher-level of care, and hospital stays are shorter than they used to be. Medical services vary a lot among nursing homes, but include: skilled nursing care orthopedic care (care for muscle, joint, and bone problems) breathing treatments support after surgery physical, occupational, and speech therapy intravenous therapy and antibiotics Wound Care Nursing homes provide nutritional counseling, social work services and recreational activities, as well as respite care, hospice care, and end-of-life care. Choosing a Nursing Home Your health care provider or other healthcare professional (such as a home health nurse or social worker) can provide recommendations for nursing homes. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides detailed information that can help you compare different nursing homes. Elderly adults and/or family members should try to go to see as many homes as they can to acquire a sense of the overall feeling and quality of care. Utilizing a checklist can help you assess top quality, the many various services, convenience, and costs. Your visit may last an hour or two so that you can meet and talk with the admissions officer, nursing home administrator, director of nursing, and social worker. Remember that no nursing home is perfect, and all will likely be very different from the current living situation. Suggested Questions to Ask When Visiting a Nursing Home Is the nursing home clean? Are there any unpleasant smells? Is it well maintained? Do the residents look well cared for? Are the rooms adequate? What recreational and private space is available? Are there safety features, such as railings and grab bars? Is the home licensed by the state and certified by Medicaid? How many nurses and nursing assistants are there compared with how many residents? Do the administrators and medical professionals have special training in geriatrics or long-term care? Are key professionals full-time or part-time? How long have the managers and medical professionals worked at the nursing home? Is vaccination against influenza required for all staff members? Who will be the physician or nurse practitioner that will be following the resident, and how accessible are they? How close is the nursing home to family members? How close is it to the nearest hospital? What is the food like? How much do basic services cost? What services are covered? What additional services are available? How much do they cost? What happens if a person runs out of money and needs medical aid? The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) utilizes several quality measures to rate nursing homes. For example, CMS reports the percent of residents who: receive seasonal flu vaccines and the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine were physically restrained had one or more falls with major injury have pressure ulcers lose too much weight Nursing homes may often seem scary and depressing, and moving into one can fill people with a sense of betrayal and failure. Family involvement is important in helping the older person make the transition to a new living arrangement. Contrary to the stereotype, families do not abandon their loved ones by placing them in a nursing home. In fact, only a few nursing home residents are truly without any family. Family members are encouraged to visit residents regularly and to be involved in the total care of their older relative. Family members can offer company and help with the basic activities of daily living, and they may be better able to communicate the needs of the resident.EndFragment