Nursing home staff are the ultimate caregivers. They tend to the basic physical needs of residents, assisting with meals, bathing, exercise, and medication. At the same time, staff also make a difference in the resident’s mental well-being. In many instances, they step in when a resident’s family is unable to be present to ensure the individual has some companionship. It’s a demanding job — and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, abuse and neglect are common occurrences within nursing homes today. Nursing home abuse is defined as any intentional or unintentional harm committed within the facility toward a resident. Abuse can lead to sickness, injury, trauma, and even death. Nursing home staff play a major role in preventing abuse and neglect from occuring in the first place. Below are a handful of ways these personnel can prevent mistreatment from happening.
1. Paying Attention
Many staff members form close ties with residents. They begin to learn their likes and dislikes. They know when someone is feeling particularly joyful or when they could use some cheering up. They see which residents enjoy regular visits from family members and which ones only receive phone calls during the holidays. Being attentive and observant is a key component of being a caretaker.
This characteristic is something that can be learned over time; however, it’s also something hiring managers can ask about when interviewing potential candidates. A nurse who scrolls through social media while on shift won’t notice, for instance, if Nancy forgets to take her medicine at lunch. Staff members should be attentive and ready to act when they are working. Even if they are monitoring several residents at the same time, they should intervene if something doesn’t look right.
Being attentive also means being proactive. So if a resident is a faithful attendee of bingo nights but doesn’t appear one evening, staff should check to ensure everything is OK. This may seem like a simple gesture, but it’s a way of preventing neglect. It shouldn’t take the intervention of a nursing home abuse lawyer to discover that something is amiss.
2. Facilitating Social Interactions
Living in a nursing home can be quite lonely. Even with other residents nearby, individuals may feel isolated from their close family and friends. They may not have wanted to live in the facility in the first place, leading them to feel neglected. Staff members can help residents connect with each other and their living situation by facilitating social interactions.
One way they can do this is by creating a social calendar for all residents to easily access. It can be a simple handout posted on their door each morning or an email sent to them. Activities can range from board game or knitting nights to chair yoga classes and singing lessons. Having outside speakers and entertainment come in is also a welcome gesture. The calendar should have enough diversity so all residents feel like they can participate in something they enjoy.
Staff should encourage residents to participate in these activities, especially when they are newer to the facility. It’s a way for them to meet new friends and be engaged in either a physical or mental capacity. Neglect and abuse are much more likely to occur during periods of isolation. By having the residents gather for a common social event, staff members are better able to monitor and keep watch.
3. Staving Off Stress and Burnout
One less-considered way nursing home staff take care of residents is by first taking care of themselves. Nursing home employees who are overworked are more prone to burnout, which may in turn prompt either abuse or neglect. Studies have found that burnout is widespread among nursing home workers and often a result of job stress, limited coping tactics, and grief.
Staff may have the best intentions, but if they are too overwhelmed, they are likely to be incapable of handling situations correctly. Ignoring when someone is overworked is only going to lead to a haphazard environment for the residents. This is why it’s critical for nursing homes to have the proper training and education to detect the signs of staff stress and burnout.
Adopting mental health programs is one way to assist personnel in learning ways to overcome stress. Bringing in a meditation instructor every month to lead group breathing practice can do wonders. Nursing homes can also provide benefits to best support their staff members’ needs, such as additional days off or longer lunch breaks. Of course, these types of benefits will vary based on the nursing home staffing situation and requirements of the center.
As far as preventing abuse and neglect, staff members must look out for themselves and one another. They should all feel like they are on a supportive team so they can, in turn, ensure residents are as healthy and happy as possible. By leaning on each other, they will be able to provide better care for the residents’ needs.
Takeaways
Working at a nurse home in any capacity is a tough, demanding job. However, the benefits of forming connections and looking out for residents can also be very rewarding. Because staff are a nursing home’s eyes and ears, they are the first line of defense against abuse and neglect. These unsung heroes can make a real difference in individuals’ lives and provide them with unconditional support.