Long-Term Care Organizations: A Case Study

Providence Home Care LLC is a home health care service institution that is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This home health care agency was established in 2002. Providence Home Care LLC offers home care and private duty services. Some of the home health services include wound care, hospital prevention protocol, skilled and psychiatric nursing, monitoring chronic illness, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, patient and caregiver education, and more. Providence Home Care LLC has been awarded for being a National Top 500 Agency. This home health care facility is also the winner of the Quality Excellence Award.

According to Statistics Canada, aging population has steadily increased since the mid-1960. The age of 65 and older comprised 15.7% of the country’s population. Promoting health in these aging population is very crucial to minimise the severity of health complications that might occur in the long run. Gerontological Nursing involves the care of aging people and emphasize the promotion of the highest possible quality of life and wellness throughout the lifespan (Eliopoulos, c2014 p73). Aging people need Gerontological Nurses who are knowledgeable and willing to promote health and optimum quality of life with the consideration of their core needs such as physiological balance, connection and gratification (Eliopoulos, c2014 p78).

Hello Dr. Ullom, majority of the long term care facilities are under staffed. There is usually one registered nurse in charge to manage a 240 bed facility, with LPN's  and nursing assistance. I feel that these patients would benefit from having one RN to every six -eight patients with a nursing assistance. Not only would this benefit the patient but the nurse as well. Patient are placed in long term care facility with a certain problem, but ends up with additional condition such as UTI, MRSA, pressure ulcers, and etc. These issues are related to poor care they receive because of unstaffing. I'm not placing blame on the LPN or nursing assistance, but with a RN and low nurse to patient ratio, they will receive better care.

42 USCS 3002, The Public Health and Welfare, Chapter 35, lists the programs for older Americans. The Aging and Disability Resource Center is a part of the State’s system of long term care.

Mr. Henry and his wife need medical care coordinated throughout the health care system to receive proper treatment and prevent health complications, encouraging their independence by remaining in the same setting. Marek and Rantz highlight that by providing care coordination and health care services for older adults residing in specially designed senior apartments, older adults will not have to move from one level of care delivery to another as their health care needs increase; and they will have the opportunity to “age in place” (Marek & Rantz, 2000). Care coordination starts with a comprehensive assessment of each of Henry and Ertha individual needs for health and social support, and by developing an individualized plan of care for each of them. “Patients should be evaluated, and care plans should be designed and implemented according to the individual needs of each patient (American Geriatrics Society, 2012, p. 1966). As Mr. Henry and his wife health care needs increase, they can receive periodical physical examinations to monitor their underlying health problems, and for early detection of complications remaining in their apartment. This will prevent negative outcomes associated with relocation, and medications and treatment noncompliance.

With the healthcare industry becoming more competitive, healthcare organizations like Long-Term Care facilities are finding better ways to improve quality, safety, and their medical outcomes (Schulingkamp & Latham, 2015). Many LTC organizations are improving their performance of how they operate in delivering care by following the elements of a high-reliability organization, as well as the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program criteria. By LTC organizations following the Baldrige Model criteria, it inheres to a sound platform for attaining the achievement of a high-reliability organization (Griffith, Jan/Feb 2015). In addressing the Board of Directors of a LTC organization, I will outline the required elements of a high-reliability organization based on the above Matrix Chart and the criteria needed to meet for the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.

IntroductionThere has been an issue with lack of care in long term care facilities. Some examples ofthese issues include the following: pressure ulcers, falls, dehydration, insomnia, abuse ofrestraints, etc. of the elderly residents. Therefore, there has been studies performed to determinewhat needs to be changed and what the effect these changes would have on the facility as well asthe workers or nursing assistants. These studies take place in two different facilities in Quebec,Canada. It is sad how the majority of the workers interviewed have the same complaints thatdirectly relate to the reasons why proper care is not provided, yet nothing has been done to fixthose issues.DevelopmentThe most important factor to the career of a nursing assistant and the care of the elderlyin facilities is time.

Long term care (LTC) settings provide a vast variety of services that range from convalescent care, respite stays and skilled rehabilitation services which includes: skilled nursing, physical, occupational or speech therapy. LTC includes a broad spectrum of services that are designed to meet the varying needs of geriatric individuals and other adults with functional restrictions. The services rendered in this setting are designed to support individual needs from assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, cognitive and behavioral health support and limitations secondary to acute to chronic medical conditions. The care bestowed not only assists individuals with maintaining or improving their physical functioning, it

I have contacted the Davis County Health Department, she explained that they get the inquiries about what services are available for seniors most of them are widowed and wanting to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Most seniors living a fixed income and one of their biggest concerns are related to the their long term financial security and the increasing cost of the health care and they begin to question in how long that they will be able to remain independent. Area Agencies on Aging is a local aging program that will help seniors be in contact with available services in their area in regards to locating assists for food programs and other programs to help with their utilities (Aging Care, 2017).

Caring for the elderly and disabled has always been a relevant issue among American’s; however, not until recently has it become a significant issue within society. Change has occurred in the past couple decade as the workforce dynamics have transitioned from the family based farm living to the inner city, college educated worker who follows opportunity. Decades ago it was common place to have an aging relative live with the family in a multi-generational home; however, that is no longer a practical option in many cases. Although this transitioning of society has created a new issue and that is providing care to those elderly or disabled members of society who cannot rely on the support of family

to the changing needs of patients regardless of their age, Sultz and Young, 2014. With the help of

We find that there are currently staffing shortages and the lack of long-term care facilities to compete with the growing number of senior citizen in our country (Williams, Nowak & Scoby, 2016). With these issues we find that each professional who assist within the field of geriatric care such as advocates and leadership, share a particular part in making a safe environment with adequate accommodations for seniors. There are differences in the leadership and advocacy perspective in senior care, but they both result in the common goal of a meaningful life for seniors daily.

professionals any changes to residents care needs I monitor the effectiveness by ensuring that information

As a recent graduate from the Health Care Administration and Planning (HCAP) program at Tennessee State University my desire for Health Care Administration has grown tremendously. My passion has always been Long Term Care, from observing family members being admitted into a facility with high abuse rates, sitting with the elderly at a young age, to completing an internship at National Healthcare Corporation (NHC) during the summer of 2016 under the Regional Director, Mr. Tim Shelly. I have always had a love for the aging population and wanted to work in an environment that believed in producing the best quality of care for the aging population.

The continuum of institutional long-term care is for patients whose needs are not adequately met in a more community-based setting. It is for individuals who need more dependency. There are two ends of the continuum of institutional long-term care spectrum. On the one end there are the individuals that may only need basic personal or custodial care (Shi & Singh, 2015, p. 399). An example of personal and custodial care can include help with walking, bladder training, or just helping with bathing. On the other end there are the individuals that may need more round the clock care with nursing or specialized services along with the basic needs (Shi & Singh, 2015, p. 399).