Health and personal care

Aims

To provide a holistic and appropriate plan of care for each service user.

To maintain each service users privacy and dignity.

To ensure each service user receives care from outside health professionals when necessary.

Objectives

Each service user will have their own care plan in which all information required to provide a high standard of care is documented. This plan is available for all care staff to read to ensure they carry out the correct care.

Care plans will be reviewed monthly or more often if necessary by the manager or representative and any changes to the service users health and or care requirements will be documented and changes to care implemented.

Subject to the service users agreement the involvement of family and friends is actively welcomed in the service users daily life, within the scope of the care plan. Subject to us receiving consent from the service user, family and friends are encouraged to contribute to the care plan reviews.

At all times any information recorded in the service users care plan will be written in such a way that it is accessible to the service user and/or representative – taking into account the Data Protection Act 1988.

The home has a strict Drug Policy and Procedure, which ensures all service users receive the correct and appropriate medication. These will be reviewed in house by qualified staff and GP when necessary but at least annually and changes implemented under guidance from the GP.

Service users where appropriate and in agreement with the management of the home may handle their own medication in accordance with the home’s policy and procedure for self medicating service users.

Whenever a service user is receiving personal care, the door to the room will be shut and curtains pulled and only those staff required to administer the care will be present. No member of staff will enter the room without knocking to check it is appropriate.

Service users will, following a risk assessment, have the right to have a key to their room and be able to lock the door providing all safety requirements are met.

All consultations with healthcare professionals, legal and financial advisors are conducted in the privacy of service users room and a nurse will only be present when necessary or requested by a service user or their representative.

Service users may entertain friends and relative at any time, providing consideration is given to other service users and staff in the home.

All service users will have access to a private telephone in their room for personal use, outgoing calls are charged for.

Service users will instruct staff on their preferred term of address and this will be recorded in the care plan and staff will use this at all times.

Service users will wear their own clothes at all times. Service users and/or their representative are asked to ensure all clothes are marked with the service users name. Clothes will then be cared for by the home, unless special care is needed – such as dry cleaning, when it will be the responsibility of the service user or their representative.

All service users will be treated with respect and the ôPrinciples of Careö will be upheld at all times.

During a service users final illness and leading up to their death both the service user and their family and friends will be treated with respect and sensitivity and the service users privacy and dignity maintained.

Service users and their representative are asked in advance if they have any final requests, spiritual needs, rites and or function they would wish to receive leading up to and following their death and what staff in the nursing home would need to do.

The nursing staff will liaise with the service users GP and any other appropriate healthcare professional ie: MacMillan Nurses to ensure the service user receives adequate pain relief and other symptoms which are causing distress can be managed.

If a service users family wishes to stay with them during their final illness then staff will assist wherever possible.

Although the home cannot provide separate accommodation relatives are welcome to stay in the home and be provided with meals and beverages.

If the service users family require professional bereavement counseling, copies of leaflets and contact details can be obtained from the staff.

In the event that a service user has passed away the nursing staff have a strict policy and procedure to follow to ensure all legal requirements are met. Family and friends will be given adequate time to pay their respects. At all times following death staff will continue to show respect and sensitivity to the service user and their family and friends.