Posted on December 14, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia

HOME SAFETY CHECK – ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA FOR THE CONFUSED ELDER BEFORE THEY RETURN HOME AFTER A STAY AT THE NURSING HOME

Bertha had been so sure she was ready to “go home.” Why anyone could see she had lost a considerable amount of weight since being in the nursing home. Even her doctor was calling the changes in her nothing short of amazing.

Bertha had come to the nursing home from the hospital following a fall at home.  She lived alone, said she had been doing so “for years” and enjoyed it. Bertha had a small dog that was now with friends until Bertha returned home.

When Bertha arrived at the nursing home, she was a familiar face, having been a resident about 3 months earlier. At that time Bertha insisted on going home against medical advice and now because of her recent fall, was back in the nursing home.

So this time the staff didn’t want any discharge to home, to come too early, before Bertha was ready. So a trip home was planned for Bertha and two of her therapists, to hopefully see her in her home environment.  Some of the things Bertha said about her home were technically true, however not totally accurate.

Bertha’s home environment:

• Bertha did have an elevator that ran along the stairway to the second floor; however it didn’t work, and hadn’t worked for some time.
• Bertha could now walk with a walker.  She did have carpeting; however her carpeting was covered with small throw rugs and had electric wires running everywhere.
• Bertha did have a path from room to room, but it was just a path, the rest of the floor area was covered with ‘stuff.” Bertha wasn’t a true hoarder, but she did have a large amount of clutter to walk around.
• She did have a back door where she could easily let the dog out, but the evidence all over the floor in the spare bedroom told another story.
• Bertha did say that she needed some work done in the bathroom, grab bars and so forth. However what Bertha filed to mention was that her town house did not have a shower, only one small bathtub. She was going to need a large renovation, not just a few grab bars.

Now Bertha had a plan with goals. No, she wouldn’t be going home for some time, but when she does, with the help of the nursing home, she will be successful.

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com