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.

With such high turnover rates at about 200% a year, patients have a higher chance of experiencing neglect. Even if neglect is not intentional by the care staff, it is still considered neglect. One of the most contributing factors in nursing home neglect is the turn over rate of their staff.

You can imagine the problems you will run into when multiple staff leaves at a time and new staff is hired on. While understaffed, the staff may also feel rushed and not spend time with patients to complete full tasks and give them the attention they need. The turnover of staff especially affects seniors with mental impairments that need familiar faces to express their needs to.

Developing a close relationship with the current staff and making them aware of your requests while your loved one is in their facility is vital. If you are still looking into a facility for long term care, ask about their turn over rate and how they manage patients during times of understaffing.

If you feel your loved one has been neglected due to the understaffing of their nursing home, contact a lawyer in your area for a consultation.

Some of the folks in nursing homes are left without a soul in the world. Volunteer your time, no matter whether you are an adult or teen, and contribute to make the last years of senior citizens pleasant.

Groups such as the Volunteer Center in Phoenix (http://www.volunteerphoenix.org/) can help you find opportunities to make a difference.