Patient Involvement when Choosing a Nursing Home
Before admitting your loved one to a nursing home, there should be a Care Planning Conference to ensure both the staff and resident know the plan of action involved in keeping your loved one mentally, physically, and emotionally stable.
The resident assessment consists of gathering information about physical conditions and the overall health of the resident. This is to determine the amount of care a patient will be able to provide for themselves (eating, drinking, bathing, etc). Assessments also help staff understand the strength of nursing home residents to fully understand any difficulties the resident may have. Reviews or reassessments happen within the first 14 days of resident’s admission and continues once a year there after.
When the assessment is complete, all notes are analyzed and put into a Care Plan. The care plan must be completed within 7 days of the assessment and addresses all needs for the patient on an every day basis. The plan lays out exactly which staff will perform which assistance at what time of day. The care plan can be revised as needed as time passes and flaws are found.
Care Plan Should
- Be specific to that resident’s needs;
- Follow a structured guideline;
- Be written to where everyone understands the plan of action;
- Address the concerns of resident’s well-being;
- Have tasks assigned to individual staff members;
- Be re-evaluated routinely.
The meeting should be set up at a convenient time and location for you, the patient, and the nursing home staff. You should ask for a copy of the current care plan to examine and bring up any changes you deem necessary. If you have any questions, they should be brought up during this time. Both you and the patient need to understand and agree with the plans task of patient needs. Ask for a copy of the care plan and fine out whom you need to talk to if changes are needed; or problems arise.
After the meeting you should follow up with the patient to make sure all plans are being followed through. If you feel the patient’s needs are not being met, request another meeting with doctors and staff to voice concern.