A nursing home is a place where family members bring their aged and loved family members, knowing they’ll get the best care possible. This is obvious and expected. Unfortunately, things aren’t always like that.
Fighting neglect (and sometimes even abuse) in nursing homes is key and should be one of the top priorities for healthcare professionals. But to fight any problem, first you need to understand it. But why does neglect even occur? What are the warning signs? And what are some possible solutions?
These are the main questions that healthcare professionals need to address to provide a safer living environment for the residents they’re caring for.
Understanding the Neglect in Nursing Homes
Neglect in nursing homes occurs when care is not provided, resulting in harm or a risk of harm to residents.
Examples of neglect could be a failure to give adequate assistance to the residents in day-to-day activities such as eating or going to the washroom, failure to administer medicine properly, poor standards of cleanliness, failure to attend doctor’s appointments, and a whole lot more. There are many reasons for neglect, which include things like understaffing, lack of training, and limited supervision.
Neglect increases risks for a more complicated chronic condition and hospitalization for nursing home residents. Healthcare leaders must be aware of it because it directly compromises residents’ basic (human) rights and their safety.
The Major Causes of Neglect in Nursing Homes
- Understaffing and Overwork
When there are not enough caregivers, the ones who work are greatly overworked, which causes attention lapses. The result is often a late response to residents’ needs.
- Lack of Proper Training
Without adequate education or ongoing training, staff are not prepared to deal with complex care requirements or to recognize the early signs of distress.
- Poor Communication
Communication failures among healthcare teams, residents, and families could result in unmet needs and unidentified health issues.
- Gaps in Management and Oversight
Poor monitoring and the absence of strict protocols lead to inconsistent care and increased risk of neglect.
Warning Signs Nursing Home Administrators Should Be Aware Of
Medical professionals should be alert to warning signs of neglect so that they can act promptly. These are:
- Sudden loss of weight or dehydration
- Bedsores or pressure sores
- Poor personal hygiene
- Increased agitation or withdrawal behaviors
- Recurring infections or unresolved medical issues
Periodic observation and evaluation will allow for early identification of these, preventing their progression.
Strategic Steps to Prevent Neglect in Nursing Homes
Healthcare leaders play a significant role in designing systems for minimizing the likelihood of neglect.
The following actions can play an important role in care quality:
- Adequate Staffing Ratios – By having the staff-to-resident ratio that isn’t too large, we can prevent staff members from being overstretched/overburdened, as well as ensure each resident gets enough time/attention dedicated to them, and we’re improving response times.
- Comprehensive Training – Each staff member should receive regular training in care protocols and ethical conduct. This’ll ensure each staff member has an up-to-standard skillset, which will improve the safety of each resident.
- Effective Communication – In order to reduce errors and unmet needs of residents, clear protocols should be implemented within the facility.
- Sensitivity Training – Nursing home residents can sometimes be ‘cranky’, and nursing home staff can have bad days. With that being said, professionalism should always be a high priority, as well as kindness. Just imagine yourself being stuck in an establishment where everyone is rude to you. A bit of empathy and respectful communication goes a long way.
- Robust Oversight Systems – Inspections shouldn’t be left only for government/overseeing bodies. Continuous auditing/supervision should be done for each care facility. Monitoring the way staff handle their duties, as well as checking the facility itself. This will help detect any care deficiencies, as well as things such as missing supplies, broken furniture, outdated/malfunctioning equipment, etc., and address them promptly to minimize risk to residents.
Implementing these measures isn’t easy and requires commitment at all organizational levels, from executive leadership to frontline caregivers.
Leveraging Data and Technology for Better Oversight
As technology continues to advance and evolve (quite rapidly), healthcare providers are finding smarter ways to improve oversight and care. They use it to monitor patient health and facility operations.
Electronic health records (EHRs), real-time monitoring systems, and incident reporting systems are some of the technologies that can help staff spot any warning signs and intervene sooner to prevent neglect. Integrating these technologies into nursing home operations allows healthcare executives to track care quality metrics, identify trends, and respond promptly to issues.
Tracking this information on a consistent basis promotes accountability and supports continued improvement efforts.
The Role of Legal Advocacy in Nursing Home Care
Neglect in certain cases results in serious harm that requires the involvement of the law to protect residents’ rights and deliver justice. When doctors and lawyers collaborate, that synergy helps close gaps in care and accountability. And the best way to do that is when lawyers and doctors are in the same area.
For example, if your family member is in a nursing home in Aurora (Illinois), then an Aurora nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer will be the best option for legal help, given the lawyer’s expertise as well as the knowledge of documented nursing home violations in the Illinois area.
In Florida, for instance, 50% of nursing homes are reportedly understaffed (at a 30:1 staff-to-resident ratio). A Florida-based lawyer will be familiar with similar problems.
During COVID-19, investigations revealed that the state of New York has underreported nursing home deaths by as much as 50%. Again, a New York-based lawyer will be familiar with such issues and will be able to provide the best legal advice because of such knowledge.
Conclusion
Combating neglect in nursing homes is a hard battle, but if the efforts of healthcare executives, staff, families, and legal professionals are united, it can be done very effectively.
By understanding the etiology of neglect and making strategic interventions like adequate staffing, continuous training, and effective communication, nursing homes can create an environment where resident safety and respectful treatment come first. Data-driven solutions and constant monitoring are a way of detecting issues early and ensuring compliance with high standards of care. Attorneys are also vital to hold facilities accountable and fight for residents’ rights.
Healthcare executives and legal professionals working together make the overall abuse and neglect prevention strategy more robust, ultimately enhancing the quality of senior care.
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