Staffing in Senior Living – A Choice Point – My Segment on Charlotte Today
When Choosing Senior Care, Staffing is Key to Consider
There are many ways to go about choosing a senior care community for a loved one. You may be overwhelmed with questions to ask. How do I pay? What percentage of the staff is vaccinated? Are they for-profit or not-for-profit? The list goes on, however If you want to hone in on one thing, consider the subject of staffing.
According to a survey published in September from the American Health Care Association, “86% of nursing homes and 77% of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse over the last three months.” While this has been worsened by Covid, it is nothing new. In my book, Who Moved My Dentures?, that published in 2003, a professional from the New Jersey Ombudsman’s Office said this: “The biggest problem today is staffing and it applies to all states. Years ago, abuse was the biggest problem. It still exists but now the bigger issue is neglect because of inadequate staffing and poor work ethics.” Trust in long-term care has eroded. With that, consideration of long-term care has dropped. That has an impact on census, revenue and budgets. So, what happens? People are let go. Those who stay are asked to do more and burn out.
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Staffing in Senior Living – A Choice Point – My Segment on Charlotte Today
When Choosing Senior Care, Staffing is Key to Consider
There are many ways to go about choosing a senior care community for a loved one. You may be overwhelmed with questions to ask. How do I pay? What percentage of the staff is vaccinated? Are they for-profit or not-for-profit? The list goes on, however If you want to hone in on one thing, consider the subject of staffing.
According to a survey published in September from the American Health Care Association, “86% of nursing homes and 77% of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse over the last three months.” While this has been worsened by Covid, it is nothing new. In my book, Who Moved My Dentures?, that published in 2003, a professional from the New Jersey Ombudsman’s Office said this: “The biggest problem today is staffing and it applies to all states. Years ago, abuse was the biggest problem. It still exists but now the bigger issue is neglect because of inadequate staffing and poor work ethics.” Trust in long-term care has eroded. With that, consideration of long-term care has dropped. That has an impact on census, revenue and budgets. So, what happens? People are let go. Those who stay are asked to do more and burn out.
Choosing Long-Term Care Based on Emergency Preparedness – Charlotte Today
Choosing Long-Term Care Based on Emergency Preparedness – Charlotte Today
Louisiana officials recently revoked the licenses of seven nursing homes that evacuated patients to a warehouse where seven of them died ahead of Hurricane Ida’s landfall. Hurricane Katrina should have been the warning shot when it comes to emergency preparedness in care homes. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. So what should you look for when evaluating a place in terms of the ability to handle emergencies. Aging Expert Anthony Cirillo has this advice. Families have many things to consider when choosing care for a loved one. Certainly in this new age, questions such as vaccination rates among staff and mandatory vaccinations are on the table. In light of the increased frequency of dangerous storms, it is important to consider emergency preparedness as an item to evaluate too. Here are some things to consider. Does the facility have an emergency plan in writing that you can review? Are staff and residents trained for the plan and how often is it updated? Is the facility in a flood or fire zone? How is the plan communicated to residents and families? Ask to see state inspection reports for emergency preparedness. What is their shelter in place plan? How do they handle power outages, temperature fluctuations, oxygen and life support systems, medication refrigeration? What is their evacuation plan? Where will they go? How will they get there? That last item is very important. During an emergency, a facility may ask you to come and get mom and dad. Are you nearby? Can you transport them safely? Is your home-equipped for short-term living situations? Here is what you can do to prepare and help a loved one. You can create your own disaster plan and prepare a supply kit for a loved one. One of the most vital aspects of preparing a plan is knowing how you will communicate with a loved one. What is the WIFI and cellular is out? Consider emergency monitoring systems that incorporate Z-Wave or ZigBee. These are networks that allow devices to communicate with each other without using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, no Internet, modem or router needed. Examples include: Samsung SmartThings Hub; The Wink Hub 2; Samsung Smartthings Smart Home Hub Gather important phone numbers – family, friends, churches, shelters, aid organizations, care team members. For more information visit theagingexperience.com
Choosing Long-Term Care Based on Emergency Preparedness – Charlotte Today
Choosing Long-Term Care Based on Emergency Preparedness – Charlotte Today
Louisiana officials recently revoked the licenses of seven nursing homes that evacuated patients to a warehouse where seven of them died ahead of Hurricane Ida’s landfall. Hurricane Katrina should have been the warning shot when it comes to emergency preparedness in care homes. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. So what should you look for when evaluating a place in terms of the ability to handle emergencies. Aging Expert Anthony Cirillo has this advice. Families have many things to consider when choosing care for a loved one. Certainly in this new age, questions such as vaccination rates among staff and mandatory vaccinations are on the table. In light of the increased frequency of dangerous storms, it is important to consider emergency preparedness as an item to evaluate too. Here are some things to consider. Does the facility have an emergency plan in writing that you can review? Are staff and residents trained for the plan and how often is it updated? Is the facility in a flood or fire zone? How is the plan communicated to residents and families? Ask to see state inspection reports for emergency preparedness. What is their shelter in place plan? How do they handle power outages, temperature fluctuations, oxygen and life support systems, medication refrigeration? What is their evacuation plan? Where will they go? How will they get there? That last item is very important. During an emergency, a facility may ask you to come and get mom and dad. Are you nearby? Can you transport them safely? Is your home-equipped for short-term living situations? Here is what you can do to prepare and help a loved one. You can create your own disaster plan and prepare a supply kit for a loved one. One of the most vital aspects of preparing a plan is knowing how you will communicate with a loved one. What is the WIFI and cellular is out? Consider emergency monitoring systems that incorporate Z-Wave or ZigBee. These are networks that allow devices to communicate with each other without using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, no Internet, modem or router needed. Examples include: Samsung SmartThings Hub; The Wink Hub 2; Samsung Smartthings Smart Home Hub Gather important phone numbers – family, friends, churches, shelters, aid organizations, care team members. For more information visit theagingexperience.com
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Maximizing the Capabilities of a Loved One with Dementia – Charlotte Today
Maximizing the Capabilities of a Loved One with Dementia – Charlotte Today
We often think of people with dementia, especially those with Alzheimer’s, as mostly dependent on others and incapable. Is that really the case? With forethought, caregivers can identify tasks that their loved one can do. Maximizing their capability benefits everyone. And it keeps disease progression at bay. I cover this on Charlotte Today using principles from Carol Amos, author of “H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey. She says the caregiver’s role is to fulfill the needs of their loved one that the loved one cannot do for themselves. She worked proactively to slow the decline of their mother’s dementia to maximize her ability to care for herself. Scheduling regular doctor appointments. Receiving vaccinations and age appropriate health screenings. The family carefully weighed the risk and benefits of any medical procedure. It is important to receive a proper diagnosis as they will rule out other causes of the symptoms such as vitamin deficiencies, hormone imbalance, medication overload, depression, or even sleep apnea.
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