How will I measure Quality in Long Term Care(LTC)?

           There is no real definition of quality and what it means exactly, but it can be measured because "Quality is a matter of judgment" (Pratt). In long term care, quality can be measured by these concepts, "consumer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, workforce stability, clinical outcomes, and regulatory performance" (Pratt). When I become an administrator I will make sure that all the residents in my facility are satisfied with the care they are receiving, the activities they are doing, and the way they are living. When it comes to providing quality for the employees, I will be making sure that they are equipped with the right tools to provide the care. Also, keep the employees updated and have regular meetings to see how the resident is reacting to the staff.
            In addition, one of the most important concepts of quality is workforce stability. Keeping residents with one particular staff member who takes care of them each day is providing the resident with quality of care and assurance. The resident will feel secure and will trust that individual to take good care of them. Also, having positive clinical outcomes will make the staff members comfortable with their job and the resident feels safe to know that there will be proper care. Last but not least, regulatory performance should be the best every day, because residents will notice the lack of interest in a member of the facility if they do not show their best efforts at work.

East Orlando Health & Rehab Center- "Providing Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Services"

          Last week I went to East Orlando Health and Rehab Center. It was a real eye opener to see how many older people live in this facility and how well they are taken care of by the staff members. My tour guide was Mrs. Ashley Ringelberg, she showed me every room and what each day was like at this center. As soon as I entered the facility it smelled like a cafeteria with different types of good food. It looked really clean and actually very comforting. When my tour guide showed me the hallways she told me that "for every ten patients there was one certified nursing assistant and for every twenty patients there was one registered nurse". There are also private rooms and semi private rooms depending on what the resident needs. In total there are one hundred and twenty beds and the rate is $230 per day. It was a shocker to know how expensive this living arrangement could be for some people but on a good note, they have a Medicaid Coordinator who can help the patient get help in order to pay for their services. Mrs. Ringelberg also mentioned to me that the facility does accept Medicare and Medicaid and the coordinator helps the patients get ICP Medicaid which is specific to nursing homes in order for them to get help.

          Something that I loved about this home was that there are no specific visiting hours and pets are allowed. In addition, all the services they provide are amazing! They have staff members all over the place and they have call light buttons if the resident needs any of the staff members right away. Some of the services they provide are: "Pain management care, wound care treatment, IV therapy, respiratory care, restorative nursing care, recreational activities, respite care, hospice care, palliative care post- operative care, and a full range of rehabilitation services". The resident also has a choir room, a beauty salon, activities calendar to let them know what they can do each day, and a therapy room in order to help them with their ability to move. If there was ever a time where I needed to put someone in my family in a nursing home I would really consider this facility. It even inspired me to someday work in long term care. 

Independent Living

        Many older folks want to live in the comfort of their own homes. They don't want people bothering them about what they can do or can't do. People living on their own also feel like they have more freedom to choose what is right for them. It also gives them a different social environment because they can choose the people they interact with other than just other older folks living in the same community.There are also some issues with living independently, for example if the person can't take their medication or if they can't take a bath by themselves. Even though older people who are living independently don't receive help with activities of daily living, they can still have someone who can come to their home and help them out if they need some help with some things around the house. They would need like a certified nursing assistant or even a nurse to help them depending on their problem.

      When I am older, I want to live independently. My grandmother lives independently and she is doing just fine. She feels secure in the comfort of her own home. She can do what she pleases and it helps her stay sane. Living independently also give older people a sense of ability because they feel they can still do things on their own. My grandmother tells me all the time that she feels "younger then she did before" living independently. Older people feel confident and it helps them feel happy with their choice of living. 

        

What does LTC mean to me?

I believe long term care means taking care of a person for a long period of time. It also means taking care of any person whether they are disabled or old. When I hear long term care I think about nursing homes and private homecare. There are many factors that play along with long term care such as: Insurance for the people, a peace of mind for the families, and government involvement. One of my friends is actually a Certified Nursing Assistant and she takes care of the elderly and disabled. I thought at first that only older people needed help but my friend helps young people that need help too. Every day is a struggle for the elderly, therefore, long term caregivers are there to help them survive.

Also, this type of care can get expensive. According to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, there are “nearly three quarters” in need of Medicare and Medicaid. I was amazed to find out how many older people actually need insurance in order for someone to take care of them. Most families have implemented the fact of putting their loved ones in homes because they want them to get proper care. I believe long term care has come a long way and it will continue to grow because everyone gets older and eventually everyone needs someone else to take care of them.