RICHMOND —
Question: My mother moved into a nursing home recently. The staff invited me to her care plan conference. What is a care plan?
Answer: Developed during the care planning conference, the care plan is an arrangement for how the staff will care for your mother and meet her individual needs and wishes. The nursing home must assess your mother’s needs, interests and level of care. These assessments are the basis for planning her care. Care plans are reviewed every three months and revised when your mother’s needs change. A properly implemented care plan can improve your mother’s experience at the nursing home.
Question: If the nursing home staff has completed the assessments and they have determined what needs to be done to care for Mother, why do Mother and I need to go to a care plan conference?
Answer:Your mother’s role as resident during the conference is to help the staff get to know her. She can talk about her needs, interests and how she feels about being a resident of the facility. It is important for the staff to understand her strengths (physical, social, spiritual), daily routines, abilities, expectations and preferences.
Sometimes residents are unable to communicate this information during a conference and their family or legal representative is invited to attend the care plan meeting. This is a good time to discuss medications, personal care, staff, activities, food and restraints. Be sure to talk about what your mother needs and how she feels. A successful care planning conference involves many people including: your mother, you (if your mother would like you to be there), and an interdisciplinary team which includes the physician, nurse, social worker, nurse assistants, pharmacist, therapists and others as needed.
You and your mother can bring up problems, ask questions or offer information to help staff provide individualized care. You and your mother can review your mother’s assessments and records at the nursing home prior to the care plan conference.
Question:Mother has not been happy that the staff wakes her up and gets her out of bed at 5 a.m. I’ve mentioned it to the nurses and nothing seems to change. I don’t think they are listening to us. I’m not sure if going to a care plan conference will make a difference. Is there anyone who can help us?
Answer: Yes! The ombudsman can help you. Many residents and families ask the ombudsman to attend the care planning conference with them. Each resident in the 17-county Bluegrass area of Central Kentucky has access to certified long term care ombudsmen from the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass (NHOA). If you don’t know the ombudsman, just call NHOA toll free at 1-877-787-0077.
The ombudsman can meet with your mother and you prior to the conference and help plan a personalized agenda for the meeting. The ombudsman can help review medical records and assessments, formulate questions about prescribed treatments, identify concerns and goals to be discussed at the conference. The ombudsman can help you and your mother understand her rights as a resident and how to exercise those rights as she participates in the planning of her care. The ombudsman can advocate on your mother’s behalf. Before the end of the care plan conference, remember to ask for a copy of the care plan and the name of the staff member to talk to if something on the care plan needs to be changed.
Question:What happens after the care plan conference?
Answer:After the conference, it is important to monitor the implementation of the care plan. Are the activities in the care plan carried out as agreed? Is the plan of care meeting your mother’s needs and goals? Talk with the facility staff or ombudsman if things are not going as planned, there are problems, or the plan needs to be adjusted.
Question: Where can I get more information about care planning?
Answer:Just call the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency toll free at 1-877-787-0077. We have a new guide to long-term care for residents and families and other materials which describe care planning, and rights and problem solving in more detail. Many families and residents utilize our materials. We are happy to send you materials or you may access them at www.ombuddy.org.
This column is presented as a public service of this newspaper and the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass. If you have a question, send it to Sherry Culp, NHOA, 1530 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY, 40503 or visit www.ombuddy.org.
Lifestyles & Community
Related Photos
-
What’s your question about nursing homes?
What’s your question about nursing homes?
A care plan is a helpful tool
- Lifestyles & Community
-
-
Is MSG (monosodium glutamate) harmful?
Monsodium gluatamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer often added to Chinese food, soups, processed meats and canned vegetables. The use of MSG remains controversial despite a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement that it is safe. Because of this, the FDA requires that whenever MSG is added, that it be listed on the label.
-
Common-sense job hunting
I spent a day with a high-powered and high-profile friend who mentioned that he has more than 700 people a year ask him to help get a new job.
He’s not in the employment business, but is super well connected.
Every now and then, he gets the right person to the right job. -
It’s a love thing
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” — Romans 8:35-39
-
Managing the calving season
Providing sound management during the calving season can mean more live calves.
Excessive losses can mean the difference between a year’s profit or loss for a beef producer.
It is important to have a short calving period to allow frequent observation and assistance if needed. -
Spinach: It’s not just for Popeye anymore
A spinach-loving reader recently approached me to request a column on things to do with her favorite vegetable.
“Favorite vegetable?” You may ask, and rightly so.
When many of us were growing up …and we’re talking Baby Boomers here, the only spinach product known to us was the stuff that came in a can, and it was, in a word, horrible! -
Topping trees is a bad practice
Topping damages hundreds of trees each year in Kentucky.
Many people are unaware of the detrimental effects of this practice.
Topping involves the drastic removal or cutting back of large branches in mature trees leaving stubs.
Topping can make a tree hazardous and reduce its life. -
Tips offered for better credit
Many people are aware that their credit score is important, but do not really understand what it is or how to build a strong credit score.
-
Josh Logan to perform in Kirksville
Hello everyone. Josh Logan will perform at Kirksville Community Center on Saturday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. and will entertain you with some great music.
-
Church group to discuss ‘Bad Women of the Bible’
Tates Creek Baptist Church is having a special Coffee Talk Bible Study to discuss “The Bad Women of the Bible” on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. in the church, located on Boonesborough Road.
-
Preschool screenings and birthday surprises
Hi!
... and the wind blew and blew. Perhaps this is the windy season!
Where is the snow? Students are starting to do snow dances, hoping they can coax enough snow to fall so they can make a proper snowman.
(I'm sure they hope it will fall on a weekend so they won’t have to miss school! lol) - More Lifestyles & Community Headlines
-
School Staff Removed During Abuse Investigation
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia
Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording
Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe
Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty'
