State Survey

[sallylynn 0]

I have heard rumors that this years Oregon Survey will be paying more attention to Quality of Life issues with Low Functioning Residents. I am trying to enhance my programs for these residents and am having problems getting them to activities out of their rooms. Does anyone have any ideas on how to educate the nursing staff and CNAs on how important it is to get these residents out of bed everyday? I have signs posted in their rooms with the days and times of important activities, I highligh their calendars and post a list in our 24 hour book and in the CNA schedule book. I am fresh out of ideas. Help!

[StacieO 0]

It might be a good idea to educate them to the fact that the Regs do say that it is NOT only the resonpsibility of the activity staff to provide activities to residents.... I have heard of facilities getting deficiencies because the activity staff are the only ones assisting residents to & from programs. Also - do you care plan specific activities/programs these residents should be at? The aides need to be aware of the care plans, too.

[Susan 0]

The state has been scrutinizing Quality of life for several years now in our state. Seems more and more each year. We inserviced nursing a number of times, posted lists of residents who needed to be in activities at certain times, wrote it in their care plans etc. Sometimes it works and sometimes they still scoff at it. We've had nursing assistants get the resident up, wheel them PAST the room where the activity was being held and put them in the lobby - out of spite! If your facility is anything like ours (and I'm sure many others), everyone jumps to attention when the state walks in the door and the next thing you know, EVERY SINGLE resident is in your activity. The dog and pony show begins! I got angry this past year because staff were putting residents in activities that weren't appropriate. For example, putting residents who were NPO in a coffee hour social, residents who were disruptive or so low functioning they didn't even know what was going on were also in there etc. Plus we had so much nursing staff help they were in the way! It couldn't have looked more unnatural. I'm shocked the surveyors didn't say anything. We have a Snoezelen room and the folks that were inappropriate should have been in there - not in a coffee social. As for other facilities getting deficiencies for other staff not helping out - I've heard about it too. Even had a surveyor mention it. But yet to see it happen. Just make sure if your residents are still in bed they have some kind of stimulation in there and get out that 1:1 cart while they're there and let them see you doing them! Just don't let them see a low functioning resident going for a long period of time with no interaction/stimulation. Trust me on that one!