Showing posts with label nursing homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nursing homes. Show all posts
Friday, June 6, 2008
Guest Posts Welcomed at the Caregiver's Beacon
Would you like to write a guest post for the Caregiver's Beacon? Caregiver stories, Alzheimer's and Dementia, caregiving, eldercare, related legal and financial issues, disability, and other related topics are welcome. Send your post by email to Kristi Marie Gott kgott@charter.net. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send an email and I'll be glad to help. Best wishes to all and take care, Kristi
Friday, September 28, 2007
Fewer in Nursing Homes - Home Health Services Increasing
I read two articles showing trends that are related. "Fewer Seniors Live in Nursing Homes" at USA Today says that about 7.4% of seniors 75 years old and older lived in nursing homes in 2006, down from 8.1% in 2000 and 10.2% in 1990. The other article, titled "In Home Health Care Services Increasing" at Medical News Today discusses "a new kind of medical practice is flourishing nationwide that offers to go where the patients are...to treat ailments."
In 2006 less than 16% of the population aged 85 years or more lived in nursing home facilities, according to the article in USA Today. These statistics refer to nursing homes, but do not include assisted care facilities. A nursing home, or skilled nursing facility, has licensed nurses while an assisted care facility does not require employees to be medically licensed.
According to Met Life Insurance Company said the cost of a nursing home runs from $67,000 to $100,000.
The article said the average resident in a nursing home runs out of money within 6 months and must go on Medicaid, according the CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Sandy Markwood. She explained this will bankrupt the individuals and the Medicaid system.
An article with a related trend discussed the increase in home health care services. At Medical News Today the article discusses a company called Inn House Doctor, founded by Walter Krause, which has 40 doctors who provide appointments in the home.
Rich Kellerman, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said in the article, "We have that perfect storm. The current system doesn't work well...More doctors are coming up with home practice models."
In my area, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA, there are not very many doctors who make house calls, but there are a few who are available and specialize in house calls. As a caregiver I have assisted seniors several times who are on programs with local doctors who make house calls. For a frail senior, when leaving the home is very difficult, having a doctor come to the home makes a big difference. I have also known doctors who make calls for appointments with seniors at residential care facilities.
Fewer seniors in nursing homes and an increase in home health care, and in home care (nonmedical assistance) reflect growing trends. Community based services continue to grow, and the majority of seniors say they prefer to avoid going to a nursing home.
With the aging of the population, and boomer generation coming along next, the needs and preferences of the future elderly seniors will continue to change senior care trends.
In 2006 less than 16% of the population aged 85 years or more lived in nursing home facilities, according to the article in USA Today. These statistics refer to nursing homes, but do not include assisted care facilities. A nursing home, or skilled nursing facility, has licensed nurses while an assisted care facility does not require employees to be medically licensed.
According to Met Life Insurance Company said the cost of a nursing home runs from $67,000 to $100,000.
The article said the average resident in a nursing home runs out of money within 6 months and must go on Medicaid, according the CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Sandy Markwood. She explained this will bankrupt the individuals and the Medicaid system.
An article with a related trend discussed the increase in home health care services. At Medical News Today the article discusses a company called Inn House Doctor, founded by Walter Krause, which has 40 doctors who provide appointments in the home.
Rich Kellerman, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said in the article, "We have that perfect storm. The current system doesn't work well...More doctors are coming up with home practice models."
In my area, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA, there are not very many doctors who make house calls, but there are a few who are available and specialize in house calls. As a caregiver I have assisted seniors several times who are on programs with local doctors who make house calls. For a frail senior, when leaving the home is very difficult, having a doctor come to the home makes a big difference. I have also known doctors who make calls for appointments with seniors at residential care facilities.
Fewer seniors in nursing homes and an increase in home health care, and in home care (nonmedical assistance) reflect growing trends. Community based services continue to grow, and the majority of seniors say they prefer to avoid going to a nursing home.
With the aging of the population, and boomer generation coming along next, the needs and preferences of the future elderly seniors will continue to change senior care trends.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
New York Times Series - Nursing Homes: More Profit, Less Nursing
I just read an article in The New York Times dated Sept.23, 2007 titled "At Many Homes, Less Nursing, More Profit" that describes what happened when a group of investment firms purchased about 48 nursing homes. This article happens to appear during the same week when a front page article in my local paper, the San Luis Obispo Tribune asked "Is the Quality of Elder Care in Jeopardy".
The San Luis Obispo Tribune also had articles on "Finding Quality in Long Term Care" and another titled "County's Worst Residential Homes Are Cited After Repeat Violations."
The New York Times article describes the steps the investors took at one of the homes purchased to reduce costs The residents at the Habana Health Center, in Tampa, Florida saw changes that meant they were "worse off" according to the article.
The article says the number of registered nurses was cut by one-half and budgets for supplies, resident activities and services fell. A series of incidents showed that the residents were suffering, according to the regulators.
The New York Times says the investors did well financially but the situation for the residents went downhill. Regulators "repeatedly warned that staff levels were below mandatory minimums."
The article describes the situation when nursing homes are purchased by investors, costs are reduced, profits go up, and the homes are sold for a profit.
People who are thinking of moving to a nursing home, or of moving a relative to one, need to find out what the options will be if they are not satisfied with the quality of the care. If the home is purchased by investors who reduce spending on staff, supplies and services, will the residents be able to move to another home?
An important question to answer is always "How many aides are on duty for each resident? Not just how many aides are on the schedule. After employees have called in with excuses to be absent, which happens especially often on weekends, how many aides are physically present for each resident?"
Other important questions include the following.
What does the local long term care ombudsman have to say about complaints and violations at the facility? Does the ombudsman, who investigates complaints and resolves them, recommend this nursing home?
Can the staff communicate well enough to read, understand, and follow directions for care and to write notes to keep track of changes?
Can the staff communicate well enough to provide quality companionship and interaction? Is the atmosphere conducive to good emotional health for your loved one, and do you feel comfortable when you visit there?
If a number of staff members cancel, as may happen on a weekend, is there a supply of trained replacement staff available at short notice or does the reduced staff just take on more residents per person?
If you visit the facility, especially on a weekend night, does the staff appear short handed and to be rushing from resident to resident?
If your loved one needs assistance, how long is the waiting time? How much time does the staff have to assist your loved one? Is the assistance accomplished in a hurry?
The San Luis Obispo Tribune also had articles on "Finding Quality in Long Term Care" and another titled "County's Worst Residential Homes Are Cited After Repeat Violations."
The New York Times article describes the steps the investors took at one of the homes purchased to reduce costs The residents at the Habana Health Center, in Tampa, Florida saw changes that meant they were "worse off" according to the article.
The article says the number of registered nurses was cut by one-half and budgets for supplies, resident activities and services fell. A series of incidents showed that the residents were suffering, according to the regulators.
The New York Times says the investors did well financially but the situation for the residents went downhill. Regulators "repeatedly warned that staff levels were below mandatory minimums."
The article describes the situation when nursing homes are purchased by investors, costs are reduced, profits go up, and the homes are sold for a profit.
People who are thinking of moving to a nursing home, or of moving a relative to one, need to find out what the options will be if they are not satisfied with the quality of the care. If the home is purchased by investors who reduce spending on staff, supplies and services, will the residents be able to move to another home?
An important question to answer is always "How many aides are on duty for each resident? Not just how many aides are on the schedule. After employees have called in with excuses to be absent, which happens especially often on weekends, how many aides are physically present for each resident?"
Other important questions include the following.
What does the local long term care ombudsman have to say about complaints and violations at the facility? Does the ombudsman, who investigates complaints and resolves them, recommend this nursing home?
Can the staff communicate well enough to read, understand, and follow directions for care and to write notes to keep track of changes?
Can the staff communicate well enough to provide quality companionship and interaction? Is the atmosphere conducive to good emotional health for your loved one, and do you feel comfortable when you visit there?
If a number of staff members cancel, as may happen on a weekend, is there a supply of trained replacement staff available at short notice or does the reduced staff just take on more residents per person?
If you visit the facility, especially on a weekend night, does the staff appear short handed and to be rushing from resident to resident?
If your loved one needs assistance, how long is the waiting time? How much time does the staff have to assist your loved one? Is the assistance accomplished in a hurry?
Friday, September 14, 2007
Board and Care Residential Facilities Offer Homelike Setting for Seniors
Seniorresource.com explains that one of the long term care options is a board and care facility, which often is a converted or adapted home that has 5 or 6 residents who receive care. A residential board and care home may specialize in the type of care provided, for instance, early stage Alzheimer's.
The number of residents depends upon the zoning for the home. When a facility has room for a larger number of residents it is called an assisted care facility.
The homelike family style atmosphere of a converted house and the small number of residents appeals to those who do not wish to move to a larger facility. Caregivers or aides provide assistance in a group home and many people enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere and shared social interaction. Often everyone becomes like a part of the "family" and the residents and aides may develop close friendships.
To find Residential Care or Board and Care in your area you can search the internet, check with the local ombudsman services, browse the yellow pages, and ask local consultants and care coordinators.
In the San Luis Obispo area Hillside Villa Retirement Home is located in Arroyo Grande. I visited several times around Christmas and the warm, friendly family style atmosphere was wonderful. There are a number of residential homes in San Luis Obispo County, and if you live elsewhere you can check for similar homes in your area.
The number of residents depends upon the zoning for the home. When a facility has room for a larger number of residents it is called an assisted care facility.
The homelike family style atmosphere of a converted house and the small number of residents appeals to those who do not wish to move to a larger facility. Caregivers or aides provide assistance in a group home and many people enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere and shared social interaction. Often everyone becomes like a part of the "family" and the residents and aides may develop close friendships.
To find Residential Care or Board and Care in your area you can search the internet, check with the local ombudsman services, browse the yellow pages, and ask local consultants and care coordinators.
In the San Luis Obispo area Hillside Villa Retirement Home is located in Arroyo Grande. I visited several times around Christmas and the warm, friendly family style atmosphere was wonderful. There are a number of residential homes in San Luis Obispo County, and if you live elsewhere you can check for similar homes in your area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
