Entering a nursing home can be a scary and confusing experience, whether you are entering one as a patient yourself, or helping a family member who is entering one. You may have no idea what to expect, or what the nursing home will be doing for you or your loved one.
All nursing homes in New York must create a care plan for each resident. They are required to submit your care plan to the federal government.
Information included in a care plan
The purpose of a care plan is to have detailed information on your health needs. The care plan will contain information on what type of health care services you need, which staff is to provide these services and any equipment you required.
A care plan can also include specific goals to be achieved and outline steps to meet these goals. Care plans are regularly reviewed to monitor the nursing home residents progress and make any necessary changes.
Goals can be tailored for short-term or long-term residents. A common goal for a short-term resident is being discharged from the nursing home and rejoining the community.
Long-term residents may have goals such as gaining increased mobility or regaining independence with certain tasks or activities.
How this information is gathered
Care plans are created using information from the resident. A family member or third-party acting on behalf of the resident can participate in providing this information.
A health assessment is conducted on the first day the resident enters the nursing home and must be completed within 14 days. It is important for you to cooperate with the nursing home staff by providing accurate health information, so the best possible care plan is created for you.
Going forward, a health assessment should be conducted approximately every few months. The information from the regular health assessments is used to update the care plan.
The nursing home you work with should have your best interests in mind. If you have concerns about anything that is happening at the nursing home, or questions about you or your loved one’s care, you should seek advice from an experienced elder care attorney.
