Nursing homes are adding new services to compete with other long-term care providers

2001 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch Levine

In this issue of CJGIM Quinn et al discuss the merits of physicians taking the time to focus on the overall goals of care in patients with advanced dementia who present for the treatment of an acute problem. Rather than immediately managing the presenting new illness they suggest that the clinical management plan be put into the context of what are the specific overarching goals and expectations of the individual patient with an advanced dementia. The problem of course is that unless it is clearly spelled out in advance, it is a challenge to know what these consist of for a patient who is in an advanced state of cognitive decline. In this situation health care providers frequently have to rely on the patient’s family for some direction, but the latter are not always fully informed. In Ontario, a document issued by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care called a “Do Not Resuscitate Confirmation Form” gives clear direction regarding the use of CPR.1 When completed for an individual in a long-term care facility, this information provides excellent guidance for first responders and health care providers regarding resuscitation. But these forms do not discuss the various degrees of medical care that can be provided beyond cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Interventions such as IV fluids, antibiotics and feeding options, still need to be addressed. These are treatments that patients may or may not want. Clearly what is needed is a more comprehensive document that is widely proffered by provincial ministries of health, to be completed or updated annually by the patients in long-term care institutions (or by their power of attorneys).When a patient deteriorates in a long-term care institution the nursing staff often feel uncomfortable making pivotal decisions and as a result patients are inevitably transferred to acute care facilities for assessment and possible treatment. But if the patients are accompanied by a clear and standardized detailed advanced directive this will assist the physicians to do what Quinn et al are suggesting in their article. As such, it should be apparent that the completion of an advanced directive is the vital step to ensuring that patient care is reflective of what patients want. Yet advance directives do not accompany all patient transfers from nursing homes to hospital emergency rooms despite that it is now more than one and a half decades since a clinical trial showed the benefits of employing advanced directives in nursing homes.2 Perhaps what is needed is for the completion of a detailed advanced directive to become a designated Quality Indicator (QI) in the long-term care setting. In a health care environment that is linking budgets to QIs, nothing catches a health care administrator’s attention faster than a QI with implications. The universal completion of a detailed health care advanced directive would provide sufficient guidance for all physicians treating patients with advanced dementia who they are meeting for the first time. As a consequence, making clinical decisions that reflect the patient’s values will become the standard of care.


2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Navaie-Waliser ◽  
Aubrey L. Spriggs ◽  
Penny H. Feldman

Long-term care for older adults is highly affect by the COVID-19 outbreak. The objective of this rapid review is to understand what we can learn from previous crises or disasters worldwide to optimize the care for older adults in long term care facilities during the outbreak of COVID-19. We searched five electronic databases to identify potentially relevant articles. In total, 23 articles were included in this study. Based on the articles, it appeared that nursing homes benefit from preparing for the situation as best as they can. For instance, by having proper protocols and clear division of tasks and collaboration within the organization. In addition, it is helpful for nursing homes to collaborate closely with other healthcare organizations, general practitioners, informal caregivers and local authorities. It is recommended that nursing homes pay attention to capacity and employability of staff and that they support or relieve staff where possible. With regard to care for the older adults, it is important that staff tries to find a new daily routine in the care for residents as soon as possible. Some practical tips were found on how to communicate with people who have dementia. Furthermore, behavior of people with dementia may change during a crisis. We found tips for staff how to respond and act upon behavior change. After the COVID-19 outbreak, aftercare for staff, residents, and informal caregivers is essential to timely detect psychosocial problems. The consideration between, on the one hand, acute safety and risk reduction (e.g. by closing residential care facilities and isolating residents), and on the other hand, the psychosocial consequences for residents and staff, were discussed in case of other disasters. Furthermore, the search of how to provide good (palliative) care and to maintain quality of life for older adults who suffer from COVID-19 is also of concern to nursing home organizations. In the included articles, the perspective of older adults, informal caregivers and staff is often lacking. Especially the experiences of older adults, informal caregivers, and nursing home staff with the care for older adults in the current situation, are important in formulating lessons about how to act before, during and after the coronacrisis. This may further enhance person-centered care, even in times of crisis. Therefore, we recommend to study these experiences in future research.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Castle

Long-term care institutions have emerged as dominant sites of death for the elderly. However, studies of this trend have primarily examined nursing homes. The purpose of this research is to determine demographic, functional, disease, and facility predictors and/or correlates of death for the elderly residing in board and care facilities. Twelve factors are found to be significant: proportion of residents older than sixty-five years of age, proportion of residents who are chair- or bed-fast, proportion of residents with HIV, bed size, ownership, chain membership, affiliation with a nursing home, number of health services provided other than by the facility, the number of social services provided other than by the facility, the number of social services provided by the facility, and visits by Ombudsmen. These are discussed and comparisons with similar studies in nursing homes are made.


Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Roger E. Thomas

The COVID-19 pandemic identifies the problems of preventing respiratory illnesses in seniors, especially frail multimorbidity seniors in nursing homes and Long-Term Care Facilities (LCTFs). Medline and Embase were searched for nursing homes, long-term care facilities, respiratory tract infections, disease transmission, infection control, mortality, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. For seniors, there is strong evidence to vaccinate against influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and pneumococcal disease, and evidence is awaited for effectiveness against COVID-19 variants and when to revaccinate. There is strong evidence to promptly introduce comprehensive infection control interventions in LCFTs: no admissions from inpatient wards with COVID-19 patients; quarantine and monitor new admissions in single-patient rooms; screen residents, staff and visitors daily for temperature and symptoms; and staff work in only one home. Depending on the vaccination situation and the current risk situation, visiting restrictions and meals in the residents’ own rooms may be necessary, and reduce crowding with individual patient rooms. Regional LTCF administrators should closely monitor and provide staff and PPE resources. The CDC COVID-19 tool measures 33 infection control indicators. Hand washing, social distancing, PPE (gowns, gloves, masks, eye protection), enhanced cleaning of rooms and high-touch surfaces need comprehensive implementation while awaiting more studies at low risk of bias. Individual ventilation with HEPA filters for all patient and common rooms and hallways is needed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. A. Beattie ◽  
JunAh Song ◽  
Shane LaGore

Wandering, a challenging behavior associated with dementia, affects many residents of long-term care facilities and can result in elopement, injury, and death. Most studies of wandering have taken place in nursing homes (NH). Expansion of the long-term care sector over the last 2 decades has resulted in a surge in options such as assisted living facilities (ALF). This study compared wandering behavior of residents (N = 108) in 21 long-term care facilities (15 NH, 6 ALF). Staff used the Revised Algase Wandering Scale-Nursing Home Version (RAWS-NH) to quantify wandering. While there were some differences in demographic variables (i.e., race, motor ability) between NH and ALF participants, no significant differences were found in either RAWS-NH overall or any of the 6 subscale scores. This suggests that the expression of wandering is similar in long-term care residents across all dimensions of the RAWS-NH regardless of facility type. Findings are of concern for those involved in the safe management and protection of residents at risk for wandering, particularly in long-term care facilities with underregulated staffing and training requirements.


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