Settings and Contexts for Geriatric Practice

Author(s):  
Nancy P. Kropf ◽  
Sherry M. Cummings

Chapter 2, “Settings and Contexts for Geriatric Practice,” provides a critical evaluation of the various environments in which mental health treatment of older adults occurs and of the practice issues inherent in such settings. Consideration of residential context and awareness of related issues is essential for the implementation of appropriate practitioner/clinician roles and for effective geriatric practice and intervention. The diverse range of living environments, including community-based, long-term care and acute care settings, are reviewed, from single-family dwellings, continuing care retirement communities, and assisted living facilities to nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, psychiatric and addiction facilities. Diverse issues encountered by older clients in such settings are discussed, including the need for social integration, adjusting to functional and cognitive decline, accessing services, caregiving, navigating transitions, and managing acute and chronic conditions.

2000 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia M. Mara ◽  
James T. Ziegenfuss

The operating environment in the health care industry is turbulent—organizations are expected to adapt or die. This paper addresses the structure of a strategic planning process for long-term-care organizations. Nursing homes, assisted living (personal care) facilities, continuing care retirement communities, adult day services centers, hospice programs and home-and community-based agencies face both opportunities and threats. The authors recommend an eight-step process for strategy making: plan to plan; external analysis; internal analysis; vision; matching current and future strategies; strategy choice; action and linkage to operations and budget. A case example illustrates the concepts. Long-term-care leaders are encouraged to plan for their future or face a future planned by competitors and regulators.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 935-935
Author(s):  
Kim Attanasi ◽  
Victoria Raveis

Abstract [Objective] Almost 8% of the U.S. population, 65 and older, reside in long term care facilities with limited delivery of essential dental care to prevent and manage oral health disease. By 2050, this population is expected to increase by 1.6 billion. Multiple bi-directional connections exist between oral disease and overall health. [Methods] Faculty from the Dental Hygiene Department, New York University College of Dentistry conducted an extensive outreach effort and randomly selected assisted living facilities. Facilities were offered the opportunity to receive at no-cost, a dental hygiene-led, educational, preventive oral health program delivered virtually to their residents as a community service. Incentives discussed. [Results] Twenty-one facilities were contacted, 17 (94.4%) had no oral healthcare program; one had an oral health component. In 13 (72%), the concierge functioned as gatekeeper, unwilling to transfer calls or deliver messages. In five (28%), calls were directed to the activity coordinator. Feasibility concerns and uncertainty about oral health service necessity and resident safety were voiced. Two facilities mentioned familiarity with dental hygiene professionals. Strategic changes in outreach resulted in successfully engaging with facility administrators. Strategies included identifying directors with familiarity or experience with dental hygiene profession, establishing a portfolio and utilizing technology that facilitate incorporating COVID-19 protocols. [Conclusions] Efforts to initiate a dental hygiene-led virtual oral health program encountered gatekeeper challenges. Although facility activity coordinators acknowledged benefits for their population, they were not final decision-makers. It was necessary to implement strategies that facilitated discussing the virtual oral hygiene program directly with the facility’s executive leadership.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 238-238
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kiyoshi-Teo ◽  
Claire McKinley-Yoder ◽  
Erin Lemon ◽  
Olivia Ochoa

Abstract Older adults in residential care settings are four times more likely than those not living in care facilities to experience falls. Yet, fall prevention efforts at long-term care settings are under-resourced, under-regulated, and under-studied. To address this gap, we developed and studied the impact of a specialty clinical, Fall Prevention Care Management (FPCM), for nursing students to decrease older adults’ fall risks. We enrolled assisted living residents that facility liaison identified as being high fall risk (fall rates or fall risk were not tracked at the study sites) and MOCA ≥15, in 2 assisted living facilities in Northwest USA. Participants received weekly, 1-hour, individual, semi-structured, Motivational Interviewing-based care management visits by same students over 6 visits. Changes in fall risks were measured by the CDC STEADI assessment (unsteadiness & worry), Falls Self-Efficacy Scale International-Short (FESI-S), and Falls Behavioral Scale (FAB). Twenty-five residents completed the study. Students addressed the following (multiple responses possible): emotional needs (n=23), improved motivation to prevent falls (n=21), and individualized education/coaching (i.e., exercise, mobility aids) (n=10-17). FESI-S score improved from 16.0 to 14.4 (p=.001; decreased fear. FAB score improved from 2.94 to 3.10 (p=.05; more frequent fall prevention behaviors). Frequency of those who felt steady while standing or walking increased (24% to 40%, p=.07) and those who did not worry about falling increased (20% to 36%, p=.08). FPCM clinical offered valuable opportunity to address unmet care needs of older adults to reduce fall risks.


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.


Author(s):  
Marshall B. Kapp

This chapter focuses on medical-legal issues that may arise in the context of identifying psychiatric needs and providing psychiatric care for older persons in long-term care institutional settings, specifically residents of nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Following general observations about the present regulatory climate in the United States governing nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, the chapter explores mental health assessment requirements for residents of those venues. Key legal responsibilities and restrictions regarding the psychiatric treatment of those residents are then discussed, as well as several areas of concern about potential exposure to litigation and liability on the part of long-term care providers. Finally, some of the most salient future legal and policy challenges confronting those who plan, fund, provide, and evaluate long-term care institutional psychiatric services are noted.


2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 611-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok J. Bharucha ◽  
Alex John London ◽  
David Barnard ◽  
Howard Wactlar ◽  
Mary Amanda Dew ◽  
...  

Nearly 2.5 million Americans currently reside in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the United States, accounting for approximately five percent of persons sixty-five and older. The aging of the “Baby Boomer” generation is expected to lead to an exponential growth in the need for some form of long-term care (LTC) for this segment of the population within the next twenty-five years. In light of these sobering demographic shifts, there is an urgency to address the profound concerns that exist about the quality-of-care (QoC) and quality-of-life (QoL) of this frailest segment of our population.


Author(s):  
Patience E. Ukiri Mudiare

In Nigeria, it is expected that children take care of their parents in their old age. However, it is increasingly becoming more difficult for children to cater for their aged parents who are not economically buoyant. Because of filial piety, the idea of putting one’s parents in an institution like old people’s home is an anathema for most people. Yet the need for such homes and other specialized care for the elderly is obvious in the light of the burden being experienced by women who are the major primary caregivers. This study of an Old People’s Home in Kano revealed that other than the accommodation and feeding provided, there are no specialized programmes and facilities to cater for the physical, mental and social needs of the elderly. Gender segregation is enforced but no consideration is given to differences in age, physical and developmental challenges. This highlights the urgent need for the Nigerian government to take more proactive measures in its policy on ageing by making provisions for long-term care facilities, residential arrangements with assisted living facilities, and adult day care centres with competent personnel.


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