Advocating for and making Quality Long Term Care Decisions – TheConsumerVoice.org

Join me on Sept. 27th, 9AM PST, 12PM EST as I interview Robyn Grant, the director of Advocacy and Outreach at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (the “Consumer Voice”). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kindethics/2011/09/27/robyn-grant–advocati
ng-for-quality-long-term-care-1

The Consumer Voice is a national organization that advocates on behalf of long-term care consumers in all settings – from their home to a nursing home. To carry out our mission, we:

* Advocate for public policies that support quality care and quality of life responsive to consumers’ needs in all long-term care settings
* Empower and educate consumers and families with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for themselves
* Train and support individuals and groups that empower and advocate for consumers of long-term care
* Promote the critical role of direct-care workers and best practices in quality-care delivery

The Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and
ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual.

In her capacity as Director of Advocacy & Outreach, Robyn is responsible for growing the Consumer Voice’s grassroots network and developing and implementing grassroots advocacy strategies that advance the Consumer Voice’s public policy agenda. She has a master’s in social work with a specialization in aging and has advocated for quality long-term care for over 20 years. Prior to joining the Consumer Voice, she served as the Indiana State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and as Long
Term Care Policy Director at United Senior Action, an Indiana senior advocacy organization.

Robyn will talk about three critical decisions that impact the quality of long-term care an individual receives. These include deciding 1) what provider to choose, 2) whether you are or a loved one is getting good care, and 3) whether and how to speak up if good care is not being provided. The discussion will include tips from the Consumer Voice’s new resource, Piecing Together Quality Long-Term Care: A Consumer’s Guide to Choices and Advocacy. The guide is intended to educate people with disabilities and older adults about their options for long-term services and supports and empower them to be self-advocates for quality long-term care. It features suggestions from consumers receiving services in nursing homes, assisted living/group homes and in their homes. The guide also provides information and resources to assist people currently living in nursing homes to move back into the community.

www.TheConsumerVoice.org

Join me as I interview Robyn Grant, Director, Advocacy & Outreach of The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care will talk about the new consumer guide on July 27th, 9AM PST

Robyn Grant, Director, Advocacy & Outreach of The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care on July 27, 9AM PST on www.blogtalkradio.com/kindethics.

The Consumer Voice has recently published a consumer guide called, Piecing Together Quality Long-Term Care: A Consumer’s Guide to Choices and Advocacy. The guide is intended to educate people with disabilities and older adults about their options for long-term services and supports and empower individuals to be self-advocates for quality long-term care. It features tips from consumers receiving services in nursing homes, assisted living/group homes and in their homes. It also provides information and resources to assist people currently living in nursing homes to move back into the community.

www.theconsumervoice.org/piecing-together-quality-long-term-care

Have a kind and respectful day.

The Ethical Use of Medical Restraints – The Goal is Restraint Free Care

In 1990, about 30-40% of nursing home residents in the US were restrained. In 2001, less than 9% of nursing home residents were currently restrained. We are slowly getting better at keeping our patients out of restraints in both nursing homes and in hospitals. But we still have room for improvement. In Europe, the rate is less than 5%. The difference between the countries is not what kind of patient is in restraints but what the standard of care of is in that particular country. The good news is that with the reduction of medical restraint use, there has been a significant decrease in patient injuries and deaths.

Ultimately our goal needs to be restraint-free care. As a loved one of the patient, you should be an active participant in helping the staff keep your loved one free of restraints. How do you do this? Here are a few suggestions. The first thing to realize is that there is no one-size fits all solution. No two patients are exactly alike regardless of the diagnosis or the problem. You will want to personalize the solution for your loved one, not the generic patient.

The next thing you want to do is to ask, “Why are they acting like this? What is going on?” Too often we rush to thinking the person has dementia or some other mental deficit, when really the issue might be a reaction to a new medication, untreated pain or some other disease showing up. The sooner you can identify why the bad behavior is showing up, the sooner you will be able to brainstorm to find an appropriate solution. The solution should match the personality of the patient. Are they a patient who has always loved music, done crafts, liked having pictures of their family around, liked to listen to the radio etc. Then choose distractions and solutions that will fit their lifestyle.

You may have to try multiple interventions before you will find one that works. Don’t give up if the first thing you try doesn’t work. Please make the effort to find other solutions rather than tying up your love ones. You wouldn’t want to be tied up against your will and neither do they.

For a great handbook on reducing the use of restraints go to http://www.theconsumervoice.org/node/477.

Have a kind and respectful day.