Who can guide you when you are admitting your loved one to a nursing home? Most people turn to their doctor. But a study published in The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine suggests that this trusted source may not have all the answers the family needs.
The study found that internal medicine residents scored below 50% on a test regarding nursing homes, better known today as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Even after training, they were still uncertain about exactly what a skilled nursing facility is, what services it provides, and how it is staffed.
The study concludes that, “efforts to improve this knowledge are needed to assure proper triage of patients and safe transitions to the SNF.”
As is always true when making important medical decisions, the family should be as involved as possible when admitting a family member to a skilled nursing facility; they should not leave all decision-making to medical personnel.
The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) has issued guidelines to help families ensure safe transfers — and, consequently, successful outcomes — for their loved ones.
They recommend the following 3 steps be the basis for every transfer from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility:
Too often, discussions regarding a patient exclude the person most affected by the decision: the patient themselves. Include your loved one in discussions regarding the continuation of their care. This also means discussing — and documenting —their preferences for care at end-of-life.
Decisions must be made, and the family should be sure they understand the reasons for them. For example, why is a skilled nursing facility being suggested, rather than a rehab facility?
Whenever someone is being moved from one facility to another, there is a risk that important information, especially information about medications, is not communicated. This increases the likelihood of errors in patient care.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we pride ourselves on our ability to initiate and maintain communication with the patient’s doctors, their family, and of course the patient themselves. It’s just one of the reasons so many people trust us with the care of their loved ones.
We follow our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities.
Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
