Front Page Today's Paper: "Is the Quality of Elder Care in Jeopardy"

The front page story today on the San Luis Obispo Tribune asks "Is the quality of elder care in jeopardy?" The article starts with the story of a woman at a local facility who died from complications from a diabetic condition. State officials found the facility had "insufficient and unqualified staff" who failed to monitor a diabetic condition.

The questions about the quality of elder care are being asked all over the world, as this topic grows in importance with the aging of populations and changes in society.

The small facilities, like the one described above, are said in the article to be often less expensive and less restrictive. Many of them are wonderful, home style settings where a house has been adapted for use as a board and care facility.

The less restrictive aspect of the small board and care homes that offer assistance to frail seniors also means they are not inspected regularly. The article said that unless there is a complaint the small homes might only be inspected once every five years.

The article said in 1998 San Luis Obispo County had fewer than 40 small board and care homes and now there are 74 with 10 beds or less. The trend for more facilities to keep up with the growing demand is expected to continue as the population ages.

For information about local facilities, recommendations, and violations you can call the local ombudsman services where you live. The long term care ombudsman, as discussed in other posts at this blog, is a person who investigates complaints and is there to help you find quality care. This official is familiar with the inspections, violations, and quality of local facilities.

Defining Quality Care - The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

Ten measurements of quality care are listed by Richard C. Birkel, Ph.D., at The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving . In "Defining Quality Care in Long Term, Home and Community Settings" Dr. Birkel starts with discussing care that is (1) safe, (2) effective, and (3) personalized.

Safe Care provides care that avoids injuries to the care-receiver or to the caregiver. I will add some examples for you:

• clearing the home of unsafe conditions
• safe lifting procedures and lifting devices when needed
• caregiver notes, emergency medical information, emergency contacts available
• training for caregivers
• emergency procedures for home caregivers re: calling 911, rescue workers, ambulances

Effective care is based on scientific knowledge. Again, some examples I might add include:

• caregiver training from the Red Cross in their new program
• caregiver support groups that provide education and other local city and state programs
• formal and informal training, books, internet

Personalized care respects the preferences, needs and values of the care-receiver. My additions of examples include:

• respecting preferences if someone wishes to remain in the home vs. facility
• treating care-receivers with respect for their values
• caregivers offering options and choices to the care-receiver when possible
• designing a customized care program specially tailored for the individual's satisfaction

For more about the other seven topics covered in Dr. Birkel's paper you can visit the RCI website.