How to Communicate with Nursing Home Staff for Better Care
A resident at a nursing home is cared for by many staff members. Nursing assistants aid with daily activities. Nurses oversee health and medicine. Then there is support staff who help with maintenance and other tasks. Providing proper care is the joint responsibility of the entire staff. They make it possible via effective communication. Overlooking any vital detail can cause discomfort and even serious harm to the resident. Family members can prevent this from happening by learning the various aspects of care and who handles which responsibility.
Recognize Who Is Responsible for Your Loved One’s Care
One staff member may not be able to answer all the questions. A nursing assistant may report everything about a resident’s daily routine and nurses can explain modifications in medication or care plan. A supervisor or administrator may be contacted for other concerns.
Knowing this, families can call on someone to provide them with appropriate responses. During the first meeting, ask who arranges regular care and who to call if that care taker is not available. These communication channels should be established early on to support future meaningful communication.
Turn Observations Into Useful Information
Families can detect changes that are not noticed by the staff working other shifts. For example, someone who used to eat themselves may begin to decline food. Likewise, a person who was previously talkative and social may become very withdrawn.
The staff can identify evolving care needs when such observations are communicated. Specific information is more helpful than general statements. Explain the following:
- What has changed
- When the problem started
- Has it happened before
Ask questions about the need for further assessment and how they will convey information to other care team members. This helps to prevent the loss of important information at shift changes.
Address Communication Gaps Before They Become Routine
Sometimes problems remain unresolved because families think that a concern has been taken up by a specific person or vice versa. A relative may have complained of ‘recurring discomfort’ to a carer, only for a later investigation to show that it was not discussed with a nurse.
When raising a concern, ask about action and who will follow up. If the issue remains unsolved contact the supervisor or facility administrator. Written communication may also be used to develop what was reported and if the facility responded. The goal is to get concerns translated to the right action and not another conversation.
Recognize When a Concern Requires Outside Help
Not all situations are improved by better communication. There is a difference between misunderstandings and situations that might cause a resident to be in danger. Possible signs of an underlying problem include:
- A pattern of medication errors
- Unexplained injuries
- Intimidation
- Continuous lapse in care
Acting fast is necessary when someone is at immediate risk. Notify the concerned regulatory body to look into the problem. Knowing how to file a nursing home complaint can help families target serious allegations. It can also help work out what information may be beneficial for a formal investigation. Criminal charges may also be brought where circumstances suggest that the conduct is improper.
Endnote
Effective communication does not come through regular interaction with nursing home staff alone. Care expectations should be explained to the family and their concerns must be respected. When communication fails to ensure the resident’s health and safety, it may be necessary to involve relevant authorities to ensure that the situation is handled appropriately.