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The busy worker at a long term care facility finds it easy to believe that one of the many other workers can take care of any given task. As a result, that same worker tends to get a bit careless. Over time, he or she may become guilty of negligence. The authorities in Ontario recognized that fact.
Hence, those same authorities chose to draw up and enforce a Long Term Care Homes Act. It was designed to regulate the performance of operations in a nursing home, charitable institution, a home for the aged or rest home. Now that the authorities’ one specific Act has become an enforceable law, it lays out the methods that should be used by a thoughtful and considerate caregiver.
Terms defined by Act
Abuse, drug, neglect. Once abuse has been defined, it becomes much easier to charge any given worker with the demonstration of abuse. By the same token, by stating the features of neglect, the Act’s provisions emphasize the nature of a neglectful act.
Acceptable treatment of certain objects, as explained on the Act’s pages
• Standard treatment of doors, so that those using the doors stay safe
• Standard treatment of elevators, so that everyone knows what and how to use elevators
• Standard treatment of floor space; keep it as clear as possible.
• Features of an acceptable window
• Features of an acceptable lighting, plumbing, heating or cooling system
• Features of good lighting and a satisfactory air temperature
Programs required in the indicated facilities
• Program on fall prevention
• Program on wound care
• Program on pain management
Act did not say how patients were to be encouraged to attend the various programs. It did allude to the significance of restorative care.
Workers at the various facilities in Ontario were asked to contribute to each patient’s restorative care. Efforts to teach restorative care were to be made part of the facility’s overall program. Additional programs were to be included in an attempt to teach the need for good nutrition and proper hydration.
The Act’s statements pointed out the ideal nature of food service workers. In addition, the same statements explained the need to provide such workers with training, and to seek out those that are most-qualified. Finally, the Act called for the on-campus presence of a physician. If you or someone you love has been a victim of nursing home negligence, it is time to talk with an injury lawyer in Kingston.
Was anything overlooked by those that drew-up the Act?
The Act’s authors realized that technological advances and medical advances could change the way things get done at a long term care facility. Consequently, the Act’s many pages included a section about feedback. It explained how each facility was supposed to have a method for receiving complaints or suggestions from patients or from the patients’ family members. Perhaps in the future, someone will suggest that a given facility take a look at the information on a given website.