Tue. 5th May. 2015
One of the questions that is frequently asked is, "How do I select and monitor how a facility is performing?" The following is a recent occurrence that can help you measure a facility. The social worker at a care plan meeting noted that there was no reason to disclose and discuss the paranoid delusions and hallucinations of a resident with Lewy body dementia with the nursing staff. The social worker stated that if the case manager identified these behaviors it was expected that this would be shared only with the social worker. This was in a resident whose active delusions and hallucinations were impacting on her quality of life and compliance with medications on a daily basis. The social worker stated she was responsible for the behavior programs and interventions at the facility. This is a memory care only organization so behaviors can be anticipated on a daily basis.
When you are visiting a facility prior to admission, ask about the behavior program. How are behaviors identified? Who is responsible for oversight of the program? How is information about behaviors and interventions shared with the team? Who is responsible for modification of programs to increase effectivemess? Ask the admission coordinator, a staff member and the social worker individually how these programs are managed in the faiclity. Look for a resident/s that are physically or verbally aggressive and ask about generic approaches recognizing confidentiality is important. Each professional has core competencies, but healthcare is delivered by a team.