One of the residents is declining and really needs a shower we can assess with a wheelchair. On her bad days, which are getting more frequent, we can only give her a sponge bath.
Does the company need to supply the proper equipment?
In some states (if not all) a facility can not use equipment. If a person needs equipment for transfers then they would typically be transferred to a Skilled Nursing facility that has the ability to use equipment.
Mom was unable to transfer to a shower chair for most of her last year. We kept her very clean with daily "bed baths." Mom was incontinent and needed wound care, but all of this could be done by one person because Mom wasn't very big. Mom was also too weak to help. As long as the person isn't fighting you, this isn't too hard. The problem may be that the staff isn't properly trained.
hschroeder: It is not up to the declining patient to assist with accessing a shower. Perchance if you are referring to the individual you mention in your profile, Holly may require Memory Care.
Where I live equipment funding has improved. If a resident's care needs have changed (eg now needs a hoist for transfers) the disability insurance scheme *should* cover it but it can take some time.. a care review, funding appproval, an OT to assess & obtain the equipment etc.
This model of attaching funding directly to a person's needs replaces the old model of funding a Company or Residence. For just the problem you mention: a person can be forced to leave their home when their care needs change.
I realise thay will not help you & your situation. I mention it in case you are interested in advocacy. (Look into the NDIS in Australia if interested).
An option for you could be equipment HIRE. A qualified OT can recommend & also train all staff in use. Funding for this may need to come from the resident or their family if the group home cannot.
There also could be funding/donations from various disability ior disease groups eg Downs or Dementia organisations.
More than likely this patient now has more needs than you can provide in your home.
I would doubt whoever is paying you is going to remodel your home. More than likely they will say patient needs to be moved to a home equipped with roll in shower or time to go to a NH.
It won't hurt to ask, but once you put the problem out there creates a good probability patient will be moved.
The assisted living facility that I was interested in for my mom was owned by several individuals. They operated differently than corporate owned facilities. The policies will vary depending upon the facility.
No. The company does not need to supply different equipment. The resident has to be relocated to a different care facility that can meet her needs.
If it's the policy of where you are that residents have to be able to help with their own transfers from wheelchair to shower, or bed, or whatever then the residents who cannot need to be placed elsewhere.
I was a supervisor at a nice AL years ago. There were rules that all residents were contracted to. For example, wheelchairs were not permitted. If someone could not walk, they could not stay. Babysitting was not offered either. If someone's dementia got to the point where they were wandering and taking off, they could not stay because we were not a memory care facility staffed to handle these care needs.
Usually when the needs of a resident exceed what can safely be handled they are advised to move on to a higher level of care (a nursing home). I've read a lot of posts from people who remain in assisted living or facilities such as yours because assurances have been given that moving isn't necessary but I've always been skeptical that this is more about keeping a client than about doing what is best for that person. Most nursing homes are not the h3ll holes that people fear they are and are more equipped to provide for higher needs: things like lifts, the ability to have a shower or bath, special diets, and higher staffing levels including on site RNs can make a real difference in quality of life. As for your situation - they do make wheelchairs designed for the shower that could either be bought by your residence or the person in question.
Are you asking this as an employee of a care home that has no equipment sufficient for you to do your job? If so, have you discussed with your employer? Is there some reason that no once can give a sufficient bedbath here? Because the truth is that there are MANY people who cannot get into a shower for many years. It isn't necessary for cleanliness. As a nurse who gave many bedbaths I can assure you of this.
It could be the policy of the residential home that they only provide a certain level of care. If someone needs more then they have to be placed somewhere else.
What sort of "residential home" are you running if you require a sick and declining elder to assist YOU with a shower? You should have a shower with no lip that a wheelchair can roll into so there will be no transfer involved for the resident. Or 2 able bodied caregivers to help the elder into the shower chair, grab bars in there, and the entire bathroom inspected by an Occupational therapist to give you ideas for safety features to be installed. I do think it's your responsibility to supply the proper equipment so that the people you care for are able to get all the necessary services.
With Alzheimer's and dementia care, bad days are going to become more and more frequent with your residents who all require bathing, so I think you need to address this matter right away. If you cannot accommodate their needs, you may have to let the families know of the situation to see if they are okay with sponge baths or want to move their loved one(s) to a facility better equipped to meet their needs.
My wheelchair bound mother lived in Memory Care Assisted Living until her death at 95 and had showers 2x a week even when she required 2 caregivers to help her. They were able to get her into the shower seat but if not, the shower was wheelchair accessible. Once hospice came on board and she was bedbound, then the hospice CNA gave her bed baths.
Mom paid a great deal of money in monthly rent at her facility, so I did expect full bathing to be included, to be honest.
Where I live equipment funding has improved. If a resident's care needs have changed (eg now needs a hoist for transfers) the disability insurance scheme *should* cover it but it can take some time.. a care review, funding appproval, an OT to assess & obtain the equipment etc.
This model of attaching funding directly to a person's needs replaces the old model of funding a Company or Residence. For just the problem you mention: a person can be forced to leave their home when their care needs change.
I realise thay will not help you & your situation. I mention it in case you are interested in advocacy. (Look into the NDIS in Australia if interested).
An option for you could be equipment HIRE. A qualified OT can recommend & also train all staff in use. Funding for this may need to come from the resident or their family if the group home cannot.
There also could be funding/donations from various disability ior disease groups eg Downs or Dementia organisations.
I would doubt whoever is paying you is going to remodel your home. More than likely they will say patient needs to be moved to a home equipped with roll in shower or time to go to a NH.
It won't hurt to ask, but once you put the problem out there creates a good probability patient will be moved.
If it's the policy of where you are that residents have to be able to help with their own transfers from wheelchair to shower, or bed, or whatever then the residents who cannot need to be placed elsewhere.
I was a supervisor at a nice AL years ago. There were rules that all residents were contracted to. For example, wheelchairs were not permitted. If someone could not walk, they could not stay. Babysitting was not offered either. If someone's dementia got to the point where they were wandering and taking off, they could not stay because we were not a memory care facility staffed to handle these care needs.
As for your situation - they do make wheelchairs designed for the shower that could either be bought by your residence or the person in question.
If so, have you discussed with your employer?
Is there some reason that no once can give a sufficient bedbath here? Because the truth is that there are MANY people who cannot get into a shower for many years. It isn't necessary for cleanliness. As a nurse who gave many bedbaths I can assure you of this.
It could be the policy of the residential home that they only provide a certain level of care. If someone needs more then they have to be placed somewhere else.
With Alzheimer's and dementia care, bad days are going to become more and more frequent with your residents who all require bathing, so I think you need to address this matter right away. If you cannot accommodate their needs, you may have to let the families know of the situation to see if they are okay with sponge baths or want to move their loved one(s) to a facility better equipped to meet their needs.
My wheelchair bound mother lived in Memory Care Assisted Living until her death at 95 and had showers 2x a week even when she required 2 caregivers to help her. They were able to get her into the shower seat but if not, the shower was wheelchair accessible. Once hospice came on board and she was bedbound, then the hospice CNA gave her bed baths.
Mom paid a great deal of money in monthly rent at her facility, so I did expect full bathing to be included, to be honest.
Good luck to you.
I think op’s employer should tell the client’s family that she must go to a higher level of care.