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Canadians concerned about the quality of a nursing home will now have access to a wealth of data thanks to its inclusion into the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s (CIHI) Your Health System tool. This information will be available across all Canadian provinces through the online tool.
The tool lets the public compare long-term care indicators, such as restraint use in longer-term care, falls in the last 30 days in long-term care and potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotics in long-term care, among more than 1,000 long-term care facilities in the country. These indicators have been collected by the CIHI to determine the safety, quality of life and health of long-term care residents for ten years.
“When looking at the numbers, it is important to consider that each province, region and facility faces its own unique social, economic and environmental circumstances and challenges,” said Brent Diverty, Vice President of Programs for the CIHI, in a press release. “Our data can help identify what practices work well, and where there may be opportunity to consider these best practices to improve the health of residents living in long-term care facilities.
“Many facilities have been using this data in their quality improvement initiatives and have seen promising results, before this public report was issued today.”
When we have a loved one in a long-term care home, we hope that they’re being well cared for during their stay. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case with reports of numerous nursing home violations, high use of antipsychotic drugs and elder abuse. This report offers a glimpse into the measurements used to determine the quality of care in long-term care homes and how it compares to other facilities.
“Comparative performance information allows organizations to learn from those that are doing well and improve care for residents and their family members,” said Maureen O’Neil, the president of Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI), in a press release.
The use of restraints can cause injuries and falls, along with lead to the confusion and agitation of residents. Using restraints on a daily basis has dropped within the last few years with the national rate of use dropping to 10 per cent in 2013, from 15 per cent in 2010.
Falls in long-term care homes can have devastating consequences on a senior’s lifestyle or even cause death. The rate of falls at nursing homes within the last 30 days has remained stable around 14 per cent.
The mental health of residents is just as important as their physical wellbeing. One indicator that is used to measure a resident’s mental wellbeing is whether they’ve developed a worsened depressive mood after a certain period of time. Depression can lead to medical and social issues. Currently, the national rate of increased depression is 24 per cent, but BC’s nursing homes perform better at 17 per cent.
Pain also plays a crucial role in a resident’s quality of life, function and mood. The CIHI measured the number of residents experiencing moderate to significant levels of pain and discovered that over the last four years, Ontario residents saw the amount of pain experienced dropping to eight per cent from 12 per cent.
If you have a loved one staying in a long-term care home, the Your Health System is a good source of information to gain a better understanding of the care provided in a home.
The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers can help ensure that long-term care home residents are receiving proper care. They have been handling all types of injuries for over 45 years. We understand the impacts wrongful death can have on your life and we know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.
Greg Neinstein
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