Aged Care Funding Instrument: Rebuilding Senior Healthcare

Many milestones will be fulfilled once we reach our retirement age. One of the many problems that old people have is how they will live during this time. Living in a fast-paced world, families often place their elders in nursing homes to assist them on their daily needs. As much as we want the best for them, sometimes the quality of care given is affected due to poor resources and financial instability. As running costs continue to rise, they are unable to deliver the proper treatment unless they have enough funds to support them. This is where the government comes in. The Australian authorities are concerned with its senior citizen's healthcare and focused to rebuild its ACFI or Aged Care Funding Instrument.

The ultimate goal of the ACFI is to offer health attainment and monetary stability to every qualified aged resident. Healthcare benefits are ought to be distributed among the poor, disabled, and especially old age citizens. They are already weak, old and need most of our attention. This is why the government allocated more funds to sustain proper healthcare among its population. Many nursing homes and aged treatment facilities would claim funds on their behalf to sustain its health needs. The common issue among facilities is that funding levels do not complement the basic needs of weak and older Australians. Luckily through this health program, many residents are relieved from the burden. Although there are a few requirements to be qualified under this program, many would still benefit from it. Residents are assessed through a number of questions on different components. Being aware of its rules and policies would easily facilitate funds towards their treatment. The ACFI targets precision and honest data in order to reach high level and accurate documentation. Helping senior citizens complete their daily tasks, provide an adequate supply of medicines and equipment to help them live better are the main objectives of every nursing home facility.

Leading aged care assistance in Australia is almost fulfilling one resident need at a time. With funds linking to the elderly's specific needs, the problems of healthcare are minimized every year. This will produce more quality jobs for medical workers to apply their knowledge and skills. As these facilities continue to serve our elderly population, therefore they need to be assessed and be properly equipped with the right tools to maintain its standard of care. Focusing on the goals and purpose of each role will lead to the success of the community.

Living Independently in Old Age

Growing older into retirement can, and should be, an enjoyable time of life. The opportunity exists to relax after retirement and to pursue hobbies that one has not yet had time for. Spending time with family and giving back to the community can enrich the lives of seniors. A person can pass their wisdom and knowledge and rest happily on the successes of the past.

Old age can be a time for socialization and creativity. However, many might worry that as certain physical faculties start to weaken that independence can be lost. However, with certain preparations and some renovating of the home, senior citizens can maintain much of the independence and dignity they have earned in their hardworking lives despite infirmity.

As we age, our balance and mobility can sometimes deteriorate. With the loss of calcium in our bones and the lessening of balance, fractures and broken bones can occur from falls that would not have fazed one back in one's youth. Luckily, there are a few tips to consider when it comes to making a home safer.

A Safer Bathroom

For the bathroom, along with considering getting a bathtub with a walk in door, consider rubber mats that will not cause tripping to reduce the unneeded risk of slipping. Handrails near the tub and the toilet can help with unsteadiness when trying to stand or sit down. For safety, it is a great idea to join a medical alert company and to keep a button, or a nearby emergency phone that will prompt emergency workers in the event that a fall does happen.

A good place for this is the bathroom, since often the surfaces in a bathroom can be slippery and wet. To prevent from adding more of a risk of slipping, it is great idea to avoid the use of bath oils since they tend to leave residues. For better and safer results, moisturize with a lotion or cream right after one is out of the shower on a carpeted surface to take the danger away.

Additionally, the risk of burns while using the shower or bathtub can be heavily minimized just by setting the maximum water temperature on the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Making the Kitchen Safer

In the kitchen, certain accidents can be greatly diminished by putting normally used products in drawers and cabinets close to eye level. If anything is put too low to the ground, it might cause straining of the back or a fall. Anything too high that requires a stool could cause an unneeded fall in the case of sudden vertigo or loss of balance. To prevent accidents with kitchen tools, certain handles with better grips for arthritic hands can be found.

A Safe Home

For the rest of the house, certain simple changes can make a load of difference. Install rails and keep stairs from getting slippery. Keep phones in most of the rooms so that no one has to rush and potentially fall to reach a ringing phone. Having bright lighting and keeping a nightlight in every room can ensure that there is never a risk of tripping in the dark. To prepare for the occasional power outage, keep a flashlight in every room as well. Installing a carpet is also a very good idea, since it helps prevent slipping and adds a coziness and warmth to a room.

It is encouraged that one does not use rugs that could pose the pernicious danger of tripping. Furniture should be sturdy, and most importantly, out of the way. The same goes for power cords and other appliances or convenience items that could pose a danger. For less hassle, doorknobs can be easily changed to be easier to open and less of a problem for those with different types of arthritis in their hands.

Consider A Lift Chair

For the ultimate in luxury, consider living room chairs that can be brought to a tipping angle to allow one to easily stand up and sit down. Many versions also come with several reclining settings, massages, heating pads, and easy controls. For anyone that spends much of their time sitting and struggles with an ailment like osteoarthritis, which can cause joints to feel stiff after sitting in one position for a long time, an affordable or luxurious power lift chair can be a worthy investment for safer independence and relaxation.

Old age does not have to be a chore. With just a few changes to your home, it can be a more stress free and safe time of life.

Confidentiality - Disclosure to a Patient's Family

CONFIDENTIALITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS

It is well documented that health professionals owe a common-law duty of confidentiality with respect to health information. In McInerney vs McDonald, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed this view by stating that:

[C]ertain duties do arise from the special relationship of trust and confidence between doctor and patient. Among these are the duty of the doctor to act with utmost good faith and loyalty, and to hold information received from or about a patient in confidence.

Physicians' obligations regarding patient confidentiality are also set out in the legislation that governs physicians in each province, in the rules of each provincial regulatory body, and in the codes of ethics or conduct that govern physicians' associations.

These authorities agree that the content of a patient's medical record may not be divulged except in specific circumstances.

[Some] circumstances... include communication to another health care-provider, who has a "need to know" information in the [patient's] record in order to carry out functions; legal authority for disclosure such as subpoena, reportable disease, child abuse; and on the consent of the patient to a third party, either implicitly, as to a paying agency, or explicitly to a lawyer or insurance company.

DISCLOSING INFORMATION WITHOUT CONSENT

When a relative becomes ill, it can be a very stressful time for the family. Family members and caregivers often assume a parental role in respect to their relative's care. Caregivers often think this role entitles them to complete disclosure of, and access to, the patient's health record.

When speaking with a patient's family, physicians should be understanding and empathetic and make every effort to alleviate their concerns. Medical information, however, may be shared with family members only with your patient's consent. Disclosure of information to a patient's immediate family without consent could result in a finding of professional misconduct by the appropriate regulatory body.

Provincial regulatory bodies, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, have developed a set of rules, known as "regulations," that define professional misconduct. These regulations are developed under the authority of the Medicine Act and have the force of law. A physician's obligations regarding patient confidentiality under these regulations are very clear. In Ontario, according to the Regulated Health Professions Act, the Medicine Act therein, and related regulations, a breach of this duty legally qualifies as an act of "professional misconduct" and includes:

Giving information concerning the condition of a patient or any services rendered to a patient to a person other than the patient or his or her authorized representative except with the consent of the patient or his or her authorized representative or as required by law.

Physicians should take steps to ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained regardless of the technology used to communicate health information. Leaving a voice message could be a problem because more than one person might access messages. Physicians leaving messages on answering machines or voice messaging systems are advised to leave only their names and phone numbers. Physicians must exercise the same caution when sending confidential material by mail, fax, or e-mail.

CONSENT TO AN "AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE"

The authorized representative who can release records, in addition to the patient, can be anyone the patient has given permission to access the records, usually by signing an authorization form. Typically, such authorization is given to lawyers or insurance companies to permit them to obtain medical information from the authorizing patient's physician. A patient's authorization for disclosure of his or her medical information to family members should always be explicit. Where such consent is given verbally, physicians should make a note in the patient's chart of exactly what the patient said in giving the consent. Written requests and consent to release information should be kept in the patient's chart.

Physicians should be cognizant of the fact that patients are not always aware of the contents of their medical records. For this reason, physicians will better serve their patients and protect themselves by informing patients of and discussing with patients what information is to be disclosed.

CONCLUSION

The special relationship between physicians and their patients is established firmly on trust and confidence. Any information patients provide in confidence must be kept private, unless a patient gives you permission or such disclosure is required by law. Patients' ability to decide with whom they will share information is crucial for protecting the right of privacy and for preserving trust in a therapeutic context. Inherent in keeping a medical record is the promise, implied or specific, that it will be kept confidential.

Non-consensual access to, and collection, use, or disclosure of, health information is a violation of patients' right of privacy, compromises a physician's duty of confidentiality, and could disrupt the trust and integrity of the therapeutic relationship. Attending physicians should never lose sight of the fact that accountability is owed first and foremost to their patients. The fundamental principle regarding health care information is that it belongs to the patient, not to the physician or the patient's family, nor to any other health care or government agency, unless required by law.

This article was originally published March 2003. Canadian Family Physician VOL. 49

Should an Elderly Person Be Sent to a Nursing Home?

A lot of the health problems that an elderly encounters are often times overwhelming to their family. As such, a good home as well as health care service is very important. As most family members have work or other businesses to attend to, it becomes very hard in favour of them to appropriately take care and look after an elderly parent, or grandparent, aunt, or uncle. What's worse is that most elderly people already have grave health concerns that need regular medical awareness. This is as usual where a home care service comes enters the picture.

The ultimate objective of this package is bring back a senior citizen's "golden years" by enabling them to be independent in the best way they can, as well as increase their capacity to interact with the people around them.

At times, it's a bit difficult to decide whether the services given by a home care service would be the best option for your elderly family member. Here are a couple of questions you may enquire yourself to help you figure out whether it's time for you to bring your elderly relative to a home care facility:

o Are you losing valuable moment at work whilst trying to offer your aged family constituent care?
o How do you survey your home care giving alternatives when the family unit in call for care lives distance away?
o How do you give elderly parents who have diverse home care requests the correct care and still assure they stay together?
o How do you get home care giving for an important person who no longer qualifies for visiting nurse services under Medicare?

If you are able to ask one or more of the above questions to yourself, it means that it's time for you to seek advice from a home care facility.

Nurses specializing in Geriatric Management usually run home care facilities. They can provide you with all the information you need regarding home care service. They will also be able to offer you an array of services that are aimed to improve your elderly loved one's on the whole quality of life. Most home care facilities also have websites that indicate most of the information an interested party may need.

Before a home care facility accepts a client, they will first conduct a comprehensive interview with the prospective patient and his or her family. In this interview the client's medical condition and home care needs are assessed. The clients are also advised by the home care facility of services they would benefit from. Examples of these services would be: nursing care, evaluation and decision of problem areas, action recommendations, and review of the patient's medications, and consultations with physicians as well as specialists, and collaboration with other health professionals.

In the United States, choosing the right home care facility for a loved one can be really confusing due to the wide array of nursing homes a person could choose from. This has been a usual problem of people who are thinking of placing their aged loved ones in the care of geriatric facilities. For people who do not understand the situation of a geriatric patient or their families, it may be easy to say that choosing a senior care home is easy because they are all over the country. However, due to the varying services that senior care facilities offer, it is very important that an elderly individual be admitted in a nursing home that can properly respond to his or her health-related needs and over all welfare.

Home care facilities are practically everywhere and most of the time they have the same type of services. What's important is to make sure that your loved one is in good hands. Keep in mind that you should be doing what's best for your elderly loved one's health and well-being.

Are you sending your elderly loved one to a nursing home for the right reasons?

Different people have different reasons for choosing to place their elderly loved ones in the care of nursing homes. Most of them decide to do so because they feel that their relative, friend, or family member will receive ample care and attention in a home care facility. Nevertheless, the most important thing to remember when thinking of getting the services of nursing homes is that there should be a valid reason for making this kind of decision.

The following are a list of well-founded reasons for sending off an elderly to a senior home care. You should be able to come up with a sound decision once you review these rationales.

1. A nursing home can give appropriate health care for the elderly

Unlike placing an elderly in the care of a private nurse or a relative, a senior care facility has a team of medical professionals and the proper medical equipment that can monitor the health of your loved one. Senior care homes have in-house doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, caregivers, and physical therapists, who are always ready to respond to the needs of the nursing home's residents. For instance, caregivers and nurses make sure that the seniors take their medicines regularly, and that they get sufficient rest and sleep. In a senior care home, you can be sure that your elderly loved one is in very capable hands.

2. Nursing homes can closely monitor the patient's diet

As we all know, senior citizens should have a very controlled diet because there are a lot of foods that are no longer healthy for them. If you are taking care of your elderly loved-one at home and there are other people in the house, you might be faced with the dilemma of having to prepare different types of food per meal. This kind of situation can be tedious, time consuming, and costly. Since nursing homes are preparing food for people in the same age group, you can be sure that your loved one is eating food which is suitable for their metabolism, and digestive capacity. Also, if a resident has special dietary needs (ex. Low sodium diet) due to a medical condition, the nursing home can make the necessary arrangements for that patient.

3. Nursing homes can provide the elderly enough attention and care

The most common reason why families or individuals send their elderly loved-ones in nursing homes, is the fact that they do not have enough time to devote to them. This is especially true, if the family or companion of the elderly person has work, school, or children to take care of. Even if they want to give more intimate attention to their elderly loved one, the fact of the matter is, they are unable to. In nursing homes, the family or relatives of a senior citizen is assured that their loved one will receive all the attention and care they need.

A Desk Job Like No Other: Hospital Administrators

In order for medical professionals to be able to do their jobs as effectively and efficiently as possible, the hospital depends on a large group of administrators to facilitate the complex and often chaotic atmosphere of the hospital. You may want to run right into an emergency room and jump right onto the examination table, but you wouldn't want other patients doing this when it is finally your turn. Hospitals need organization, and there are many exciting careers to be had in this field.

Hospital Switchboard

Great hospitals function best when they run on smooth and quick communication. Messages are constantly relayed from internal departments, emergency calls, EMS services, and various other operators. Responsibilities include knowing how to prioritize calls, pages and messages, dealing with patients over the phone, and managing the operational patchwork of the hospital's internal phone system. This job is kind of like a telephone operator in a high-paced action movie, but in this case, lives might really be on the line.

Patient Registration

Another position taught as part of a medical office assistant program is patient registration. This employee will deal more face-to- face with people and thus not only needs to have excellent patience inside, but to maintain a cool and sympathetic demeanor on the outside as well. Tasks in this position include taking patient details, scheduling appointments, writing the doctor's scheduled visit list, and regulating patient visits from family and friends. This person is often the face of the hospital.

Morgue Attendant

This may sound like a very morbid job, but that does not mean that it is unsuitable for someone motivated to work in the healthcare industry. Nonetheless, it is an important role and requires a serious and organized individual. The morgue attendant should also be sympathetic, as they will sometimes have to deal with bereaved friends and families.

Hospital Cashier

Many people have worked as cashiers in part-time jobs, which they got with little or no experience. Working in such a capacity in a hospital is not all that different, except that it requires medical office assistant training. This person works with numbers just as much as with people. Their duties may include taking payments, administering the paperwork for medical insurance plans, handling remittances for patient accounts, and helping with any other administrative billing accounts.

Desk work does not have to be boring, and more importantly, it can be an important contribution to an industry as vital as the healthcare industry. The hospital as a place of employment isn't for everyone, but if you are up to the challenges involved, it can be wonderfully gratifying.

What Is the Difference Between Assisted Living and a Nursing Home?

Physical distinctions

Skilled nursing facility

A skilled nursing facility will always be located in one building. The reason for this arrangement is to ensure that patients (as opposed to residents) can receive 24-hour care, quickly, in one location. Some skilled nursing facilities will have doors locked and on an alarm system. Many patients are free to leave their room, but the facility is completely responsible for the patients' safety and requires that they stay in an environment designed with their safety in mind. Hallway handrails are provided for patients who are not ready for a wheelchair, but are less steady on their feet. A nurses' station is usually visible from the main entry, and is typically located at the intersection of two wings.

Assisted living

Assisted living, on the other hand (particularly the up-scale facilities), offer a range of living quarters from a single detached home, duplex, four-plex, group living, and ultimately one large assisted living facility that offers suites, double, and single occupancy rooms. The assisted living facilities' occupants are considered to be "residents" and free to leave and return. Some residents are physically incapable of leaving on their own, or cannot drive and instead, will use the van service. Assisted living facilities or living quarters do not require nurses' stations, although some facilities will include "aid" stations.

Services

Skilled Nursing Facility

A nursing home will have a 24-hour, full-time skilled nursing staff. The facility is required to have a registered nurse as its director. Licensed practical nurses may be employed, but a registered nurse must supervise the medical oversight of patients. There are nurses' aides, a kitchen staff, activities and a janitorial staff employed. Skilled nursing is the main emphasis of the facility and all residents are patients who are recovering from a long-term illness, completing rehabilitation or perhaps may never leave the facility due to a degenerative condition. All patients will be attended several times a day for any number of reasons. Those who are able will dress and go to the social areas and can have their meals in the dining room. Others, less ambulatory will have meals brought to their rooms.

Assisted Living

Usually less expensive, along with a variety of living quarters, the same applies to services. Assisted living facilities/communities offer tiered services. The resident may require the assistance of care staff. Typical services include the assistance or supervision of bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, continence management, medication, meals. Most residents eat in a dining room setting or room service is available for those who are not feeling well. Housekeeping, maintenance and laundry services are provided. They may be there temporarily, which is often referred to as a respite stay, or wish to stay as a permanent resident.

Five Reasons to Enroll in a Healthcare Administration Program

A healthcare administration degree can help you pursue a bright and enriching career, whether you're a professional inside the industry or someone keen to break into it. Of course, it requires about four years or more of sweat, toil, anxiety, and money before you can start reaping the fruit of your labor.

Only after you have successfully waded through the mountains of coursework; endured the stress of preparing project reports; fought sleep on study nights; and braved the anguish of assessment days are you finally ready to don the coveted graduation gown and hat.

But what have you worked so hard for? A bright and enriching career for sure, but what exactly makes it so? Here are five factors that may make a career in healthcare administration the stuff dreams are made of, and why enrolling in a healthcare administration degree program could be a smart choice.

1. Job Security: Layoffs. Bankruptcies. Pay cuts. Reduced working hours. Decreased production. Diminishing demand. Whichever direction you turn, these are the words that cut like knife through your heart. Like it or not, such is the reality of the times we live in. Jobs are hard to come by and job security is a feeling that retired about the same time as our folks. Except for one bright spot that continues to shine through the dark clouds of economic recession: healthcare. The nature of the industry, which is among the largest employers in the country, makes it more or less resistant to financial ups and downs. Healthcare administration is one of the primary healthcare occupations and hence can offer stability and security at a time when almost every other industry seems to have been consumed by the recession.

2. Employment Opportunities: Healthcare administrators held 303,000 jobs in the year 2010, and the profession is likely to add 68,000 more jobs through 2020*. The growth in employment of healthcare administrators is projected to be much faster than average for all occupations, spurred by an increase in the number of baby boomers reaching retirement age and requiring professional medical services. Clearly, there's no dearth of jobs for graduates of healthcare administration degree programs.

3. Paycheck: While puritans of academia will argue against the wisdom of treating college education as business investment, the current economic environment does not leave any room for being a romantic. The truth is that you spend a precious amount of money on getting a college degree and hence, are absolutely justified in expecting returns from it. The excellent ROI they offer is one of the biggest things going in favor of healthcare degrees. As for healthcare administrators, they can make up to $84,270 per year in this profession, depending on education, experience, and location**.

4. Management Roles: Healthcare administrators are also called health service managers. Needless to say, it is a responsible position that can provide you a taste of life as a manager/leader. You make important decisions, you drive change, you decide business strategy, you implement organization-wide policies, you bring in improvements and efficiency, you attract talent, you mentor, you guide, you influence, and you impact how things function in your facility.

Of course, specific roles depend on your qualification, specialty, and the size of the facility. In really large facilities, senior executive and management roles are typically reserved for graduates of Master's in Health Care Administration programs or other business/healthcare degrees.

5. Social Contribution: Healthcare administrators are not involved in direct patient care. They may not even visit patients all that often. But they touch the patient's life on several levels. First, by continually making efforts to improve the quality of the healthcare delivery system. Second, by developing and leading healthcare outreach programs. Third, by advocating policy changes to improve the state of healthcare in society. And finally, by taking care of the more mundane details of running a healthcare facility, so doctors, nurses, and other primary healthcare providers can concentrate on caring for their patients.

Sources:
*bls.gov/ooh/Management/Medical-and-health-services-managers.htm
**Ibid.