 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| ||||||
 Sign Guestbook |
 View Guestbook |
   PLEASE VISIT OUR DISCUSSION BOARD LINKED AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE. ALSO, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU TAKING A FEW MOMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR INFORMAL POLL ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO LET THE "POWERS THAT BE" KNOW WHAT THE GRASS ROOTS EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN. ALSO IT WILL HELP FIND WHICH STATE PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT EFFECTIVE FOR THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU. "SAVING GRACE"   APEVIRTUAL VISITATION Coalition backs 'granny cams'By Deborah Sharp, USA TODAY 9/14/99 Patient protection group wants video cameras in nursing homes CNN September 14, 1999 NEWS: for immediate release Contact: Violette King, President Nursing Home Monitors 618-466-3410 vkmonitor@earthlink.net Nursing Home Owners and Advocates Working Together To Keep Nursing Home Residents Safe The nation's foremost advocacy group, NCCNHR, and the nation's largest lobby group for nursing home owners, AHCA, have taken a stand in supporting the nursing home residents' right to camera surveillance Contemporary Long Term Care, the foremost nursing home industry publication, in its Nov 1999 issue quotes Sarah Burger, executive director for the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, (NCCNHR): "Camera surveillance is an option for people who feel something is wrong they can't put their finger on" The American Health Care Association agrees to this right according to a joint statement issued to providers and published in the Illinois Health Care Publication of November 12, l999: "If residents and families feel more secure with a camera in a patient's room, they should ask the facility for help in installing one" Given the very vulnerable state of the residents, the astronomical staff turnover rate in nursing homes, and the shortstaffing, it is not possible for the nursing home owners to keep all the residents safe, no matter how good their intentions. Although nothing can replace adequate supervision , this option will help create an atmosphere of trust between the industry and the consumer. Abuse is perpetrated by a very small segment of nursing home workers. The vast majority of nursing home staff is very hard working and very dedicated in - spite of the insufficient pay. Persons with bizarre behaviors will stay away from facilities with this option, and the public may no longer prefer to die than to end up in a nursing home as 30% of those currently polled do. Abuse is often perpetrated by one resident against another. We would like to see AHCA come out with an even stronger voice on this issue. Customer satisfaction is the goal of every business. They are in a position to help eliminate the fears of the nursing home consumers and they should do so. INCIDENCE REPORTINGA HELPFUL FORM TO USE WHEN REPORTING INCIDENTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN NURSING HOMES USED BY NURSING HOMES  INCIDENCE REPORTING |
The following are letters from advocates across the nation on this issue. Please send us your comments. grace@vcn.com  To: Janet Wells, NCCNHR As a NCCNHR member, family of a nursing home resident and advocate, I support NCCNHR's policy regarding the use of cameras in nursing homes. I agree with the reasons stated for the need and the fact that such technology does not replace the importance of regular visits nor (ESPECIALLY) improved enforcement of regulations. I concur with the priority given to the residents' wishes or what their wishes would be (as I believe is best known by the residents' own representative/family), and the privacy rights of other residents sharing the room. I strongly agree with NCCNHR's opposition to the facilities' use, and therefore control, of cameras in the residents' rooms. That would be like the fox guarding the henhouse. Control of the equipment should only be by the residents, residents' family, or legal representative. I concur with the expense not being public responsibility and that any such available funds be used instead to specifically strengthen survey and enforcement activities. Janet Clayton JANET CLAYTON HAS BEEN A CARETAKER FOR MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OF HER FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS AND AN EXCELLENT ADVOCATE FOR ELDERLY ISSUES. YOU MAY CONTACT HER AT Janet Clayton 517 West Hickory Street P.O. Box 128 Neosho, MO 64850 Phone: 417-451-1215 Fax: 417-451-1215 Email: greatdadape@yahoo.com OR THROUGH "SAVING GRACE" |
|
. |
| Visitors: 04159 |