Surprise! I am writing this article to tell you some good things concerning nursing homes. Since my associates and I have had the opportunity to visit numerous nursing homes and rehab centers and also numerous hospitals and numerous other medical centers and sections, I can give you a bird's eye view of something that is very important.
I am writing about the physical and occupational therapists -- who are working inside of nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation and care centers. This is probably one of the good things that can happen to someone inside of a nursing home IF they are able to access these treatments/training and exercise sessions. Once residents were allowed to actually go to the physical therapy room, and once they actually got their scheduled time with the therapists, the therapists worked hard and long hours to help the residents get independent.
Even in the very worst rehab center, the attitude and professionalism of the physical therapists and occupational therapists was never in question. Most of the physical rehabilitation employees that we have seen have been right on target with their job. The ones that I saw working with patients were doing their jobs and earning their pay, each and every day. I observed therapists working hard to help residents be successful in therapy. Most of them were polite, professional and hard-working even in the most horrible rehab center. I have to say that and give them credit. These people were there to do a job and they did it. So the problems are not with that particular department inside of nursing homes. Many of the workers that I met, the actual rehab people were excellent, and professional. It is sad that some of them didn't even know that they were working in some of the worst nursing homes in the state. Eventually some of them might learn the true facts. Meanwhile, keep on constant communication with the rehab physical therapists to really find out the truth about what is happening with your patient/family member.
If you visit some of the "bad" nursing homes, you will see equipment that is totally outdated or you will see that there is a lack of equipment and most times that is not the fault of the physical rehab personnel.
So, once the residents actually arrived, they could get good therapy once it was there turn. Problem is the waiting. And the waiting is not the therapist's fault, but it is the fault of administration and owners who do not properly supply the therapy equipment needed. So patients would need to take turns on various equipment and it the equipment was not ready, then patients would use other equipment.
Difference between good and bad centers:
In the bad centers, they had less than adequate equipment. And the ones they did have, they did not have enough of. In the good centers, there was great equipment and there was adequate equipment, so patients are not waiting their lives away for therapy. In the bad centers, patients were told to line up at the elevators upstairs and wait until staff came to get them. The process was slow, and painful. These residents were waiting their lives away. In the good centers, patients had very short waits if any.
IN ALL the centers, both good and bad:
One of the saddest things you might see inside of some bad nursing homes is patients just patiently waiting for the day that they get to leave the nursing home. That is sad; yet that is reality.
Most of the physical therapists have not been damaged by the bad medical centers but if they stay there long enough (in the bad places), they will eventually have their reputations ruined. In some of the places, it seems that the physical therapists are the only really caring and concerned workers who are not goofing off. Most of the physical therapists that I spoke with or saw working with patients were giving excellent care. These workers are educated, informed individuals who seem to have a genuine concern for the patients that they work with. As they work, they see improvements day by day and that makes their work more rewarding.
Once I saw a person who began working in one of the better nursing homes progress from not being able to walk two inches to being able to walk for about twenty feet. So there is hope, progress and a good reason to attend physical therapy sessions at these places if you are stuck there as a patient. If you are thinking of going into the physical therapy occupation, you might want to investigate it more thoroughly, and get all the information you can get about schools in your location.
So, if you have a family member or friend who seems to be lingering on in a nursing home when they should already be at home, make an appointment directly with with the physical therapist to find out what is holding up progress.
Updated 2012
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