LTC

2006-11-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

2006-11-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

Where do all the nursing facility residents go to when there's a hurricane or other natural disaster?A group of friends and I were talking the other day about this exact subject.We decided that the most obvious place to go would be to shelters and other facilities further inland.But, how much further we wondered?And how many problems are these folks going to encounter along the way?Evacuation plans for nursing homes located on the Gulf Coast during the last four big hurricanes met Federal regulations but the evacuations themselves didn't go very smoothly.

One major problem during an evacuation is the unavailablilty of transportation for the residents. Even when pre-planning of the trransportation is done, there is proof that the transportation facilitators do a poor job at holding up their end of the bargain.Other problems during evacuation include longer than expected travel times, failure to transport medications, food, water, medical and other supplies needed not only a daily basis but on an hourly one as well.There is also the problem of no guidelines as to where to transport the residents, where alternate evacuation routes are and lack of communication from disaster officials.Another question arises about official arrangements that may have been made with other receiving facilities as well as when and how and if the residents are expected to return to their own home facilties.

Facility employees present another problem during a disaster.Many aren't willing or able to get to work to help with the residents evacuation which leaves the exisiting staff overworked and worried about their own homes and loved ones.

Living here in Floridaa we're very aware of what our roles need to be during an emergency.Now we need to make sure that the folks in the Long Term facilities are taken care of in the even of a natural disaster. We can't let the events of Hurricane Katrina happen again.

2006-11-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Where do all the nursing facility residents go when there's a hurricane or other disaster?A group of friends and I were discussing this the other day and decided that here on the Gulf Coast there really isn't any place for them to go to.Evacuation plans of nursing homes located on all of the Gulf States during four of the hurricanes within the last year met Federal regulations but the evacuations didn't go smoothly.All of the facilities reporting had various problems.Some very minor but many of them quite major.

One major problem during an evacuation is the unavailability of transportation for the residents even when previous contracts are arranged.Other problems during evacuation include longer than expected travel times,failure to transport medication, food, water, oxygen and other medical supplies needed on a daily and sometimes hourly basis by the residents.The ultimate problem, of course, is one of understaffing.Facility employees are often more concerned for their own families safety than that of their employers residents.There are many employees that may not be able to make it to the facility due to their own evacuations.Often there are no guidelines as to where to transport the residents, where alternate evacuation routes are , official arrangements with the receiving facilities are and how and when the residents are expected to return to their own home facility.
Living here in Florida we're very aware of what our roles need to be during an emergency.Now we need to make sure that the folks in the Long Term Care facilities are taken care of when a disaster comes along.

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2006-11-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

I just picked up the latest copy of The Seniors Guide.This is one of the free magazines offered at most grocery stores and physician offices.It has ads regarding active living, care options, and home health services for the local senior citizen contemplating retirement into one of our local long term care facilities.The graphics are wonderful, the photography clear and they all seem to promise an optimistic, safe and secure lifestyle for the future of those seniors.

The one thing that strikes me about this publication is that the rosy pictures of these faciliteis are augmented with text such as "A wonderful home that is fully affordable" and"Peace of Mind" and"Refined retirement lifestyle."Quite a few use words such as values, respect,attentiveness,integrity and excellence.The advertising is honest I guess, just a little glorified.The blogs that I read from my classmates decribe many of these facilities as less than perfect but the advertisers describe them as" the place where professionals, families and friends refer seniors they love."The marketing folks have certainly paid attention in class.

2006-10-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

LTC

2006-10-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to visit St. Catherine's Laboure Manor, a skilled nursingfacility located on Riverside Avenue and operated by the Daughters of Charity religous order. St. C's (as it is affectionately known) is affiliated with the Ascension Health Care System of the Roman Catholic Dioscese of St. Augustine.The Assistant Director of Nursing gave me a great tour.We started on the upper wings where I saw Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, all the Administration offices and the Beauty Shop. It was packed!!! Lots of hair-dos for Saturday night.There are plenty of other activities at St. C's too.There are Bar-B-Que pits and gardening areas and when I was there musicians were giving a concert that was well attended and it seemed very much enjoyed. When I visited I didn't see many residents just sitting in their wheelchairs. The staff explained that residents are expected to get out of bed in the morning and participate,whether it is in the forms of socialization during meals, painting,gardening or just visiting with friends and others.I also had the chance to visit the kitchen, laundry, and central supply also.All residents clothes are indivually tagged for ownershsip and the laundry turn-around time is pretty fast. The sisters there gave me a quick look at the chapel which is used for interdenominational services.They told me that when a resident expires, there is a procession held in honor of that person who is not just a patient but a person sharing his home with them.St. C's is seperated into North and South wings.Residents are seperated by acuity.Some need much more care than others including the residents in the Alzheimer's lock-down unit. I envisioned a very terrible place but I was quite mistaken. The lockdown units walls were beautifully decorated by the artists from the Cummer Gallery of Art.There are the best garden scenes with birds, butterflies etc. because the residents don't often get outside and it's very calming for them.The dining services are held in the Alzheimers unit for those pateints but the regular residents have the option of sharing meals on their unit or going to the large dining hall.Overall St. Catherines is a great place to be if you are in need of skilled nursing care.The core values of St. Catherines as well as that of St. Vincents are Reverence (Respect and compassion for the dignity and diversity of life),Integrity (Inspiring trust through personal leadership), Wisdom (Integrating excellence and stewardship), Creativity(Courageous innovation) and Dedication (Affirming the hope and joy of the ministry) It seems that they all fulfilling all of these values. What a nice place to live if you are in need of the services.Thanks for reading.....Denise