How Family Members Can Stay Involved
Advance Directives
Create a Team Approach
Resident's Rights
Families 4 Care
You have a right to make decisions about the health care you get now and in the future. An advance directive is a written statement about how you want medical decisions made when you can no longer make them. Federal law requires that you be told of your right to make an advance directive when you are admitted to a health care facility. Illinois has these advance directives.
Note: The following article, written by Anna Ortigara, RN, MS & Susan Foster, LSW, for family members of nursing home residents, appeared in the Spring 1999 Rush Alzheimers' Disease Center News. Their web site is www.rush.edu/Med/RADC. Re-printed with permission.
Relocating a loved one with dementia to a nursing home can be an overwhelming experience for families, especially those who have fears about the quality of care and the quality of life found in such facilities. Will staff be understanding and patient? Will my relative be safe and happy?
Creating a team approach with the nursing home staff is important for making life as comfortable as possible for loved ones and their families. There are no magic solutions, but there are steps families can take to create good, open relationships with the staff of a nursing home.
- Be present whenever possible. Your presence in the nursing home sends a message to the staff that you are interested in the well-being of your family member. Family members should take turns and visit at different times in order to build a rapport with a range of staff members. Also, call the facility at times to talk to the staff about any concerns you may have.
- Get to know the staff. Knowing nursing assistants and nurses by name, and smiling and approaching them in a friendly manner, can help build a trusting relationship. The staff may be intimidated by families and may hesitate to initiate conversations. Take the first step in opening lines of communication with the staff. Be open to various approaches in caring for your loved one. For example, the staff at one nursing home was concerned for a male resident's safety when he became combative during showers. The staff tried several approaches to solving the problem, including taking their time and reassuring him that everything would be OK, but nothing worked. After talking with his wife, it was decided that she would be present during the next shower. It worked. Her presence in the shower room had a calming effect on him.
- Greet staff socially before addressing problems. Sometimes when you visit, there will be a problem in need of attention. Lost laundry or other personal items are common issues. Initiate a conversation on a social basis before addressing the problem head on. The staff will feel less threatened and more inclined to getting the problem solved. Also, remember to give positive feedback for jobs well done.
- Create a scrapbook. A scrapbook and picture album highlighting the important events of your loved one's life can help the staff get to know the personal history of your family member. Include short descriptions about your loved one's place of birth, past jobs, siblings, children, grandchildren, military service, involvement in church, and other meaningful people or events. Use copies of pictures in case the book is misplaced.
- Let staff know of your expectations. Discuss the things that are important to you immediately after admitting your loved one so the staff will already know you and your chief concerns. For instance, talk about concerns regarding eating, bathing and toileting. This approach will better prepare the staff to give you the information you need when you visit or call.
- Participate in care plan conferences. Care plan conferences are held quarterly for each nursing home resident. The facility should send you a notice several weeks prior to the meeting. By participating, you will get a chance to share your observations and recommendations with all members of the nursing home interdisciplinary team. This is the time to help review and revise the plan of care. While complaints and concerns can be addressed in this forum, important matters are better addressed directly to administrative staff as soon as possible.
- Participate in nursing home activities. If the facility offers a family council meeting, join it. This is a group in which family members can give input into the facility's programs and issues regarding care of your loved one. Monthly family support groups are also offered at many facilities. These groups can be educational or supportive and allow family members to share experiences. You might also consider becoming a volunteer for certain activity programs. This gives families something to do while visiting loved ones.
- Encourage the formation of a team for the annual Memory Walk of the Alzheimer's Association. This fundraising event is held every October. Families can participate by soliciting donations and by walking in the event with staff from the nursing home. This can give you the opportunity to get better acquainted with staff outside the nursing home.
As a long-term care facility resident in Illinois, you are guaranteed certain rights, protections and privileges according to State and federal law.
One of the first (and most important) steps toward protecting one's rights is to know what they are .
For more information contact:
Illinois Health Care Association
1029 South Fourth Street
Springfield, IL 62703-2224
800-252-8988
217-528-0452-fax
info@ihca.com
© 2006 Illinois Health Care Association, All Rights Reserved