Myths and Realities about Nursing Home Living

Many myths, or misconceptions, persist about nursing facility life. In the past decade, nursing facilities, like all areas of healthcare, have changed dramatically in terms of staffing, policies, procedures, and general approach to the needs of their patients. The goal of Grace Living Centers, as the long-term care professional, are to provide both quality care and quality of life in a safe and secure environment.

Understandable, some people are apprehensive about a move from their own home to a nursing home facility. People do not know what to expect, and worry about what they believe is relinquishing control over their lives. Grace Living Centers understand these concerns, and want patients and their families to know the difference between the myths and realities of nursing home living.

Myth: A nursing facility is like a hospital.

Reality: A nursing facility is not a hospital. Many people enter a nursing home after a hospital stay and tend to think of the nursing facility as an extension of hospital care. However, a nursing home facility is much different. Health professionals and dedicated caregivers provide medical, rehabilitative and nursing care as needed. Yet at the same time, nursing facilities try to be homes – where people can feel comfortable, find familiar faces and continue life’s activities appropriate to their age and capabilities.

Myth: Nursing facility patients are confused.

Reality: Most people slow down physically as they age and perhaps get easily tired. Some may slow down mentally as well. In fact, many people enter a nursing facility, in part, because poor memory makes caring for themselves difficult or impossible. However, with adequate nutrition, exercise, social stimulation and properly controlled medication, memory problems often can be improved. It is important to take into consideration that a nursing facility has professional caregivers that are extraordinarily capable of interacting with the elderly or persons with a disability in a variety of situations.

It is true that a large number of nursing facility residents have Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible disorder that causes progressive mental difficulties. In many cases, Alzheimer’s patients live in distinct units where they can be among people having the same limitations and receive the specialized care they require in a secure setting.

Myth: There is no privacy in a nursing facility.

Reality: Nursing facilities must strike a balance between providing security and adequate supervision while respecting a person’s privacy. Common areas in nursing facilities tend to be open, while patient rooms are considered private. Staff members respect patient privacy by being courteous and by knocking before entering the room.

Myth: Nursing facility patients never leave.

Reality: A primary goal of the nursing facility staff is to rehabilitate patients so that they can return home or to an assisted living setting. Those who cannot return home permanently may be able to make short visits, health permitting. In most states, Medicaid-certified nursing facilities will hold beds for patients while they make a short visit home. Check on how your state government regulates a home visit by asking the admissions person at the nursing facility you are considering.

Myth: I will not be able to make my own decisions.

Reality: Nursing facility staff strives to maximize independence and honor patient preferences. It’s a patient’s legal right to make choices about activities, schedules, health care and other aspects of life. Yet it is important to recognize that the facility must ensure an environment where people can live together safely and harmoniously. Whatever an individual’s physical condition, the over-riding objective for the facility is respecting an individual’s rights and wishes and providing a supportive environment and quality care.

Resident councils, which are self-governing bodies in nursing facilities, provide an opportunity for patients to become actively involved in addressing their concerns to staff and to one another. When it comes to treatment decisions, some patients choose to shift decision-making responsibilities to their children or others. Patients, if they have not already done so, are encouraged to prepare an advance directive. An advance directive is a legal document designed to express an individual’s wishes for treatment should he/she be unable to communicate his/her preferences.

Myth: Nursing facilities have unpleasant odors.

Reality: Today’s nursing facilities should not have persistent odors. In fact, with effective cleaning products available, a properly sanitized nursing facility should smell pleasant. However, because some patients are incontinent, an occasional odor may be noticeable, especially in the morning, though it should not linger.

Myth: Nursing facilities do not provide quality care.

Reality: Family members are encouraged to participate in care planning meetings with the staff and patient. By being involved in care plan decisions, the information you provide will ensure quality satisfaction of care. Keep in mind that nursing facilities are expected to meet government-quality standards, and they are inspected to ensure that they do. When a problem is found, a plan for correcting it is put into place promptly. In addition, most areas have an active, government-supervised, Ombudsman program that provides advocates for its patients. Family and friends also serve as an important safety net by being regular visitors. If you feel that proper attention or care is not being given to a specific situation, bring it to the attention of the appropriate staff person, for example, the director of nursing, social worker or administrator. If you are not satisfied with their responses, you may wish to contact the facility’s Ombudsman or other authorities.

Myth: Husbands and wives must live apart in a nursing facility.

Reality: This is simply not true. Many couples enter nursing facilities together and may share a room if they so choose. Some couples have even met at the nursing facility and decided to marry. Staff members respect the privacy of couples living in nursing facilities.

Myth: Nursing facility patients are not visited regularly by family and friends.

Reality: In some cases this is true even thought eh facility staff does everything possible to encourage visitation. Staff members often become surrogate family members and friends to patients. However, as hard as they try, the staff cannot fully offer the same social and psychological support as friends and family. Staff members recognize this and try to encourage visits and to make visitors feel welcome. Many facilities encourage and facilitate communication via email and the web.

Myth: Meals are not appetizing.

Reality: The dietary staff makes every effort to ensure that meals are nutritionally balanced, varied and appetizing. The fact is, however, that it is difficult to meet everyone’s expectation of home cooked meals. Another impacting factor is that many patients are placed on restrictive diets that may limit salt, fat, cholesterol, or sugar. Some may require that their food be pureed due to a difficulty in swallowing or chewing. Because proper nutrition is so important, please feel free to discuss this with the facility’s dietary manager.

Myth: Patients are controlled my medications.

Reality: Every person has a right to know what medication he or she is taking, to refuse any or all treatment and to be free of medication inappropriately used to control behavior. Tranquilizers, pain relieving medications, sleeping pills, and anti-depressants are all drugs that must be prescribed by a physician for treating a medical condition. Properly prescribed and administered, these medications help individuals. For example, drugs are often very beneficial to the elderly if they suffer from depression, which is common.

Use of drugs in nursing facilities is closely monitored. Government regulations require that a consultant pharmacist review drug regimens monthly and state inspectors also review medications. Patients and families are encouraged to participate in care planning sessions to discuss pharmacy issues and ask questions about prescription medications, especially if it is felt they are having a negative effect.

Myth: Physical restraints/restrictive devices are common.

Reality: Nursing facilities have made great strides in promoting and fostering the maximum physical potential of everyone in their care. Restrictive devises are only used when necessary to treat medical symptoms under a physician’s order. In accordance with federal regulations, a family’s desire to use a restrictive device must also be medically indicated and ordered by a physician. As more care options are developed and physical independence strategies are enhanced, more patients are enjoying freedom of movement while also achieving improved functioning and safety. Long-term care professionals use devices as medically needed, and not as restraints.

For example, if a person who has had a stroke has difficulty balancing while sitting, a therapeutic position enabler may be prescribed to facilitation sitting, positioning for eating or participation in activities or therapy.

Myth: Nursing facilities are expensive.

Reality: At first glance, nursing facility costs may appear high. The average daily cost is in the range of $130 per day with geographic variations. This daily costs covers a complete range of services, including room, board, medical and personal care, health professionals on staff or on call, and a full range of activity programming. Once the range of services is taken into consideration, it becomes that the daily charge is reasonable.

It is also important to note that the primary goal of nursing facilities is to maintain the individual’s quality of life while providing needed care, rehabilitation and a safe environment. Staff members encourage patients toward self-reliance as much as possible so they can maintain or achieve the highest level of independence possible.

Myth: Medicare or my health insurance will pay for a lengthy stay in a nursing facility.

Reality: Because so many people mistakenly believe that Medicare or health insurance will cover their long-term care costs, they are forced to spend their savings to cover the cost of care.

Consumers should be aware that the government provides little financial assistance for nursing facility care unless a person is impoverished and qualifies for Medicaid. Nursing facility coverage falls under Part A of Medicare and is very limited. If certain stringent conditions are met, Medicare pays 100% of the first 20 days of care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) if that many days are needed. For the 21^st through 100^th days, the patient must share the cost of care by paying a daily co-insurance rate that changes yearly. In 2002, the co-insurance rate was just over $101 per day. Medicare Part B may help pay for covered services from a doctor in a SNF, if that person has chosen to participate in the Part B medical insurance program. If they have used up their Part A coverage for a spell of illness, Part B also covers a portion of services received in a SNF, such as physical, occupational or speech therapy.

Under the Part B program, they must pay an annul premium and a deductible for all Part B services including physician services, after which Medicare pays 80% of reasonable charges for covered services.

Long-term care insurance offers a more viable solution to accessing the facility or setting of your choice, paying for it while preserving personal assets. However, due to a lack of public awareness about long-term care and who pays for it, long-term care insurance is used by only 5% of the public.

Financing nursing facility care should be approached with as much thought and preparation as any major expense. Obtain in writing what the basic charge will be and understand clearly all financial arrangements before signing a contract. For more information, contact the American Healthcare Association’s National Center for Assisted Living.