Special Care
Zero Tolerance for Abuse
It is the policy of the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Home that all staff have a responsibility to protect older persons from physical and emotional harm, promote and support normal physiologic functioning of older persons and acknowledge the older person’s right to self-determination. To this end, a policy of “Zero" tolerance for Resident abuse and neglect has been adopted.
The policy Zero Tolerance for Abuse and Neglect applies to any person who has contact with a Resident or client, including staff, agents, volunteers, family members, substitute decision makers (SDMs), visitors, paid trainees and paid companions.
The definition of zero tolerance for abuse is defined by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as:
“Zero tolerance” means within this policy, that the Long-Term Care Home shall:
Uphold the right of the Residents of Long-Term Care Homes to be treated with dignity and respect within those homes, and to live free from abuse and neglect.
Neither abuse, nor allow the abuse of any Resident in the Long-Term Care Home by Staff or volunteers, nor condone the abuse of any Resident by any other person(s) at the home.
Provide information and education regarding abuse and the prevention of abuse.
Treat every allegation of abuse as a serious matter.
Investigate every allegation of abuse.
Take corrective action, including sanctions or penalties against those who have committed abuse against a Resident.
Report to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care every suspected or confirmed incident of abuse.
Make every effort to eliminate abuse through the quality and risk management programs.
For the purpose of this policy, staff includes any permanent, part-time and contracted:
Employees
Physicians
Agency staff
Contracted health-care professionals
Paid trainees
Students under clinical placements
Paid companions (paid by the Resident, family member or substitute decision-maker).
This definition does not imply or create an employer/employee relationship where none exists, and it is used solely in the context of this policy to clarify that abuse will not be tolerated from any source.
Abuse can take many forms.
Abuse is defined as:
“Abuse” of a Resident means any action or inaction, misuse of power and/or betrayal of trust or respect by any person against a Resident, that the person knew or ought to have known, would cause (or could reasonably be expected to cause) harm to the Resident’s health, safety or well-being.
Abuse includes, but is not limited to:
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault
Emotional Abuse
Verbal Abuse
Financial Abuse
Exploitation or a Resident’s Property or Person
Neglect
Prohibited Use of Restraints
Measures Used to Discipline a Resident
Residents have the right to dignity, respect and freedom from abuse and neglect. The Odd Fellow & Rebekah Home has a zero tolerance for abuse; therefore, abuse will not be tolerated by any person entering the Home and corrective action will be taken in all instances of Resident abuse.
It is also the policy of the Home that Resident aggression and behaviours of aggression are not acceptable. Thus if necessary, an individual’s care plan may establish a program for the prevention and management of aggressive behaviour to ensure the safety and welfare of both Resident and staff.
Least Restraint Program
It is the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Home’s policy to view restraints as “last resorts”. Restraints are to be used only in circumstances where there exists an “imminent risk” of harm to a Resident or to others; only after careful assessment by a regulated health professional to identify the need for support by use of a Personal Assistance Device (PASD); and only after determining that available alternatives would prove ineffective.
Where it is considered necessary to restrain a Resident, the least restrictive measures shall always be used.
Restraint of a Resident applies to physical, chemical, PASD (Personal Assistance Services Device – a device used to assist a person with a routine activity of living i.e., wheelchair), and environmental restraints..
The Odd Fellow & Rebekah Home believe that the Resident has the right to be free of any restraining device. Regardless of its intended purpose, the use of a restraining device carries a potential risk to the physical safety and psychological well-being of the Resident to whom the restraint is applied. Limiting a Resident’s freedom of movement in any way carries with it a responsibility on the part of staff to exercise a high degree of caution and care.
Recognizing risk management and legal liabilities inherent in the use of restraining devices, the Odd Fellow & Rebekah Home has developed policies and procedures which define the use, criteria and management of restraining devices.
Procedures have been developed to implement and support this approach. It is acknowledged that changes in the physical plant can result in the promotion of Resident's physical movement and independence in a way that minimizes restraint use.
Dementia Care
Support and guidance in the care of Residents experiencing various forms of Dementia and associated responsive behaviours is provided by the Behavioural Supports Ontario Mobile Support Team, the Wendat Program, the Behavioural Intervention Response Team and the local Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant. Employees of the Home are educated in techniques to care for Residents with Dementia including Montessori Based Approaches to care, Non-violent Crisis Intervention, PIECES assessment and care planning and U & Me First training.
Palliative Care
The staff shall work closely with the Resident and their family to provide compassionate end of life care. Family and visitors are invited to remain at any time in one of the Family Rooms available with a pull out couch or chair and linens for staying overnight if requested.
The multidisciplinary care team is available to support Residents and their families when end-of-life palliative care or advanced symptom control is needed. The goal of palliative care is comfort and dignity for the Resident living with the illness as well as the best quality of life for both the Resident and his/her family, including relatives, partners, and friends. An important objective of palliative care is relief of pain and other symptoms. Palliative care is planned to meet not only physical needs but also the psychological, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual needs of each person and family.
Skin and Wound Management
The Home has an interdisciplinary Skin and Wound Care Team as part of the Skin and Wound Care Management Program. The Team’s purpose is to act as a resource to the staff of the LTC Home caring for Residents experiencing and/or at risk for altered skin integrity. The Team makes recommendations and guides the care of Residents in the area of wound prevention and management. In addition the Team is responsible to review current policies and procedures and make amendments to ensure the Home maintains compliance with the LTCH Act program requirements for skin and wound care.
The Nurse Manager performs weekly rounds to assess wounds and follow up with the registered staffs that provide routine wound care to the Residents. Weekly wound assessment documentation is completed electronically as per the Ministry of Health Regulations. A skin assessment continues to be done on admission and with each quarterly assessment or change in Resident status.