As we age, our health becomes more fragile, and we are more susceptible to chronic conditions and diseases. This is why it is essential to keep a close eye on the health of seniors who require care. Health assessments in senior care play a vital role in identifying potential health problems, preventing illnesses, and ensuring that seniors receive the care they need.
Before anyone can move into your senior resident community, a thorough, in-person health assessment of the person’s physical and cognitive health is conducted. This assessment determines the level of care needed and forms the basis of the all-important Care and Support Plan.
A typical health assessment looks at and ranks a person’s behaviours, chronic illnesses, communication abilities, dietary requirements, ability to perform everyday activities such as dressing and bathing, ability to manage medications, need for assistive devices, and much more. Typically, families/caregivers attend the assessments to help with information gaps and provide objective insight into the senior’s level of functioning.
Health assessments: why they are essential to senior care
The health assessment is the basis for a detailed care and support plan which must be stored in a secure area where it is readily accessible. It must include protocols to ensure care is coordinated between all staff and re-assessed every six months or when caregivers determine it is needed.
The plans are reviewed and accepted by the resident or their caregiver/family member.
Every action taken to support the resident must be recorded in the care plan for all staff and family to review.
Aside from providing a baseline level of health and informing a care plan, health assessments are important for so many reasons:
Early identification of health issues
As previously mentioned, the primary purpose of health assessments is to identify any health problems early. This is especially important for seniors as they may be more vulnerable to developing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Health assessments help identify potential health issues before they become serious and require more intensive care. This can help seniors stay healthier for longer, reduce their need for hospitalization, and improve their quality of life.
Inform personalized care
Health assessments help caregivers create a personalized care plan for each senior. By identifying any health issues, caregivers can tailor their care plan to meet the individual needs of each resident, which can help improve outcomes and ensure that seniors receive the specific, personalized care they need to stay healthy.
Provide preventative care
Health assessments also help with preventative care. By identifying potential health issues before they become a problem, care staff can take steps to prevent them from developing into more serious conditions. For example, if a senior is identified as having high blood pressure, the caregiver can work with the resident and other members of the care team like dieticians and activity coordinators to develop a plan to manage it. This can help prevent the senior from developing heart disease or having a stroke.
Improve Outcomes
By identifying potential health issues early and intervening before the condition becomes serious, the need for hospitalization or other intensive care is reduced or avoided altogether. This can lead to better outcomes, such as improved health, reduced morbidity and mortality rates, and increased quality of life.
How health assessments can keep you compliant
Health assessments also play a crucial role in ensuring that facilities remain compliant with regulatory requirements. Regulatory bodies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), set standards for senior care facilities to ensure that they provide safe and high-quality care to residents. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in penalties, fines, and even closure of the facility.
Here are some ways that health assessments can help senior care facilities remain compliant with regulators:
Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI)
QAPI is a requirement for all senior care facilities. It involves ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the quality of care provided to residents, as well as implementing measures to improve that care. Health assessments play a critical role in the QAPI process, as they help identify areas where improvements can be made. By regularly assessing residents’ health, facilities can develop and implement strategies to improve the quality of care they provide.
Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI)
The RAI is a standardized assessment tool that senior care facilities are required to use to evaluate residents’ health and functional status. The RAI includes several different assessments, including the Minimum Data Set (MDS), which must be completed for each resident within 14 days of admission and again annually. The MDS helps identify residents’ needs and develop care plans to meet those needs.
Compliance with State and Federal Regulations
Senior care facilities must comply with numerous state and federal regulations related to resident care, including staffing levels, infection control, and medication management. Health assessments can help facilities ensure compliance with these regulations by identifying potential issues and providing guidance on addressing them. For example, if a health assessment identifies a high rate of medication errors, the facility can implement additional training for staff or change its medication administration protocols.
Risk Management
Health assessments can also help senior care facilities manage risks related to resident care. By identifying potential health issues early, facilities can take steps to prevent those issues from becoming more severe and potentially leading to adverse events, such as falls or hospitalizations. This can help facilities reduce their liability and avoid costly lawsuits.
The final word
Healthy, happy residents not only lead fuller lives while in care, but they can also become advocates for your senior care organization. By using standardized assessment tools, monitoring residents’ health regularly, and implementing strategies to improve care, facilities can ensure that they provide safe and high-quality care to their residents. This not only helps facilities remain compliant with regulations but also improves outcomes for residents and enhances their quality of life.
