how can we make care homes a better place for the elderly?

It costs SO MUCH MORE for a family to put their elderly relatives into a nursing home, than to just keep them at home with them, that I continuously wonder WHY people choose this option?!

Most elderly people do NOT require nursing care. All that most of them need is a companion during the day, while the family is not home.

The ones that DO require continuous care should be put into nursing homes that have good medical staff ON SITE. Where the care is done by professionals.

Having worked in all types of nursing homes myself, I can tell you that even some nurses are terribly abusive to geriatric patients, but MOST aren't. In most cases the abuse is done by those care givers that are untrained, overworked and underpaid. They begin to blame the elderlies themselves for their circumstances, instead of blaming themselves for taking that type of job that they can't stand.

Personally, I would like to see regulations of nursing homes get much heavier, the rules governing them get much stiffer. I would like to see incentive programs for the care of ambulatory elderlies to stay within the family. I would like to see inspections and regular monitoring of quality of care go on in all nursing homes. And I would like to see the abusers end up being charged with their very real crimes, and end up paying huge fines and being barred from working with helpless elderlies ever again. Requiring people to go through a licensing program to be allowed to care for elderlies is one way of weeding these people out...they generally will not bother to spend the time and money getting licensed.

It's a lose-lose situation with most of these homes for the elderly. Let's face it, the people who run these facilities don't care for these old folks any more than the family members whom put them there. There are exceptions to this, and there are some good, adequately trained (and licensed) people who really do care about the elderly, but way too few and far between. Here's what I would do:

1. Send in the local county fire Marshall for random, surprise visits. The managing staff will crap their pants and really WORK once this guy walks in the door. The fire Marshall, or captain, can issue stiff fines for places that are not up to par with fire/building codes, which a lot of them aren't. Of course, you'd have to hire a few more Marshall's to handle this extra work load. I'm sure taxpayers would not mind a slight increase for this.

2. Shakedown the staff for certs and licenses. A lot of the labor, or lack thereof, is done by unlicensed, poorly trained (if at all), incompetent "nurses". This would not be easy, but it must be done. While were at it, make everyone go through extra training, background checks, and even psyche evals.

3. It goes without saying, but we need to seriously overhaul the way these places bill Medi-Cal and/or Medicare. Billions of dollars are being wasted here alone.

Those are my two cents. Thanks!

Having had been employed by different nursing homes. They need more employees, when an employee is reported for abuse..., they need to look into it and take action, FAMILY'S need to regularly visit at different times, talk to the loved one, look them over, make sure their are no bruises etc. If they are in a bad mood FIND OUT WHY. Some of the workers don't push themselves to make sure the patient is not sitting in urine, stool, etc. Someone needs to put lotion or cream on their dry skin, daily. I used to do this. It was not easy to find time. Can you imagine how that makes them feel? I got physically ill. From caring to much. When a patient died I could not handle it. I forget the name for this. Also, a small hidden camera is a GREAT idea. I don't know what CCTV is..., however if it will help. Then by all means do it. A co worker and myself saw a CNA abusing a patient. We tried to stop it. Then we reported it. They did nothing. NOTHING. It is sickening. Their word against two other workers. They wanted pictures. A camera is the best way to go. These people are at the employees mercy. It is a terrible situation. There needs to be a lot of action taken. This needs to be resolved YESTERDAY. Also, calling your congressman or senators should help. Especially, if it is done by a lot of people.

You get my star! What a problem and of all the answers I am just guessing the only real answer is CCTV I would even go so far as to say let's have random family monitoring then we would know who to fire. I among a lot of others took care of my parents at home because I could but there are so many that cannot take the time off to do this so the problem is HUGE!

I take exception to those who judge a person who places a relative in a skilled nursing facility. Sometimes there is no other choice. If a relative requires more care than a caregiver can give, then it would be negligent to continue caring for that relative in the home. In my case both of my parents lived with me until I could no longer care for them. I worked full time then and was a wreck trying to keep things together. Both of my parents became incontinent, refused to bathe, would wander, and kept me up nights with "sundowners syndrome." At one point my mom was falling, and I thought she would break a hip or worse. Please, there are people who dread the thought of placing a loved one in a SNF, and feel guilt about doing so, but sometimes there are no other choices. Fortunately, both of my parents were very well taken care of at a SNF near my home. I visited them every day for two years until they passed within three months of each other. I researched SFNs on the internet:

www.medicare.gov

and found one that was very highly rated. There also was an ombudsman who was very vigilent. I continue to visit the SNF on Fridays to play piano for the residents. It's a real joy for me to be able to participate and give back to the place.

Start making some noise. Hound your congressmen for legislation and funding so that care homes can be inspected on a regular basis. While you're at it, give him or her a list of complaints you have for certain homes. Do this by letter AND phone. Get people interested and aware. Make some flyers describing this dreadful situation. Provide the names and addresses of the state congressmen and their phone numbers. Put these on supermarket community bulletin boards and anywhere else you can think of. Mail your flyer to a few pastors. Get a petition signed and submit it to congressmen. The pen is mightier than the sword.

BTW, If you will correct errors and polish up your question above, it would make a good letter to the editor of your local newspaper! Then many people will see it. Polititions Don't like to be seen with *egg on their faces.*

Good luck and God bless!

1. The place cannot be a profit oriented entity.

2. The people who own, run and staff the place have to be tested for aptitude for this kind of work.

3. The people who run and staff the place on a daily basis must be given time off regularly, otherwise they get jaded and take it out on their charges.

4. CCTV is a great idea.

5. There must be enough staff to charges ratio. Looking after the elderly takes A LOT of energy, physically, let alone the mental part.

The best is not to place anyone in such a place.

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Niles Crane, reading a tagline from a brochure on a place for the elderly, to Frasier Crane: "We care, so you don't have to.'

there needs to be more like you

some one needs to hang out watch for residents in the same seat after breakfast dont get moved until like 8am tonoon take pics or interview some high level clients record what they say in new braunfels needs that done or check water

pitchers on total care unit they never get changed or watch night shift on station 2 on the cell phone 5 to 6 hours at a time to wound care neglect you know the one down from H.E.B

First we need to stop denying the need to improve on quality of the care. As an advocate for Elderly and Residents in a Nursing home, I can tell you less neglect and abuse is inflicted in a Nursing home than in a the care of the private home. I speak this with authority as one that has the responsibility to monitor, observe and act on behalf of residents and geriatrics.

There are many strange and unfortunate incidents, accidents and occurances in Nursing Homes. It sadden me. However, one must become educated and realize that more occurances take place in the private home, as mentioned earlier herein. If I see it, suspect it or even hear of, I immediately investigate according to protocol and good ole sound conscious...Be it a nurse, assistant or other staff member, there is no room for it.

The public and government's current main focus and interest is the abuse of and mis-prescribed/diagnose use of psychotropic drugs that are being rendered to patients as a risk to their welbeing.

I could write for days on this matter because I feel very strong about this and caring for the elderly is where I draw much motivation, zeal and strength.

EVERY STATE has monitors and state assigned representatives to monitor and enforce the care of residents and their rights. If you feel that you need to contact them, do it!! I have know for facilities to be closed down and/or to lose their liscenses and medicare/medicaid benefits because of abuse or complaints.

Prior to me working in nursing home social services, I lost my grandfather while he was cared for in a nursing home. During the period in which I was stricken with much grief, I properly placed my sense of sadness apart from the suspect of nursing home neglect. However I still wonder how my grandfather was found dead and it was determined ny the nursing staff that he choked on his food while having breakfast when he was not even able to feed himself...I still find it mind boggling. Weeks following, I requested his records, but was unable to secure the same. It was because my mother and uncle are the responsible parties to his estate and for any legal initiations surrounding the incident in questioned and neither wanted to pursue it.--How sad. He was my hero.... There have been days that I started to take that charge from them and file a complaint regardless--and someday I just may well do that since the statue of limitations never run for one that willingly or intentionally commits or contributes to fatality of another.

Moreover, we must be reminded that many do not have the patience or personality to work in a nursing home. This can result in a facility merely employing a "warm body with a cold heart". There are many good homes with the finest staff. Our country is still filled with many people that love each other. Nursing Homes are not bad. However there are many needed improvements overall. It all starts with the heart of another.

.....And you are correct...."It could be you one day". Thanks for such an opportunity to respond to this topic.

Also..Thumbs up to "Hasil V"

I think it would be appropriate for the relative who is responsible for the person in the care facility to first spend a week in it, preferably in an elderly disguise.