A Nursing Home is an institution that provides medical, nursing and social treatment to elders who cannot perform everyday actions themselves and need assistance and personal care. A nursing home is intended for elders who suffer from chronical diseases, Dementia, falling, physical or cognitive challenges or any situation that makes contending with everyday life difficult.
A nursing home definition
A Nursing Home is an institution that is licensed by the Health Ministry and provides high quality medical and nursing services to elders. A nursing home needs to stand up to regulations and the criteria withheld by the Health Ministry, concerning the living conditions, medical equipment, professional staff, nutrition, occupational and social activities, safety and quality of the services. A nursing home is assessed and monitored by the Health Ministry regularly and receives a grade in accordance with the review.
Services rendered in a nursing home
A nursing home provides its tenants with various services with the intention of keeping their health, welfare and quality of life.
The main services provided in a nursing home are:
- Medical treatment: a nursing home provides its tenants with professional medical care that suits their needs. The treatment includes visits with specialist physicians, medicine, physiotherapy, pain management, palliative care and more…
- Nursing treatment: a nursing home provides its tenants with an encompassing, personal nursing care which includes help with everyday actions, such as bathing, dressing, sleeping, mobility and using the toilet. The nursing care is provided by nurses and aiding staff who are present 24/7 in all the departments and work according to the physician’s orders and the personal treatment plan of every tenant.
- Social treatment: a nursing home provides its tenants social treatment whose aim is to keep the vitality, interest and their feeling of belonging. The social treatment includes group and personal activities, such as classes, lectures, workshops, trips, celebrations, movies, music, Yoga, pets and more. The social service is provided by social workers, occupational therapists, visiting operators, emcees and volunteers, working according to the interests and abilities of every tenant.
The professional staff in a nursing home
Nursing homes endeavor to hire and train a professional and experienced staff that provides humane, reliant and professional service to the tenants. The professional staff includes:
- A manager: Responsible for the operation, the budget, the quality and safety of the facility. The manager is also responsible for the connection with the tenants, the families, the authorities and the suppliers.
- A physician: Responsible for the medical treatment of the tenants, the medical monitoring, the medical guidelines, the medicine and communication with the external medical team. The physician is also responsible for the reception and releasing of tenants and the adjustment of the medical plan to their needs. The physician can be a geriatrics expert, psychiatry or another relevant field.
- Supervising Nurse: In charge of the nursing treatment of the tenants, the nursing monitoring, the nursing guidelines, the nursing equipment and the communication with the nursing staff.
- The supervising nurse is also in charge of the instruction and training of the nursing staff and the cooperation with the medical and para-medical staff.
- Authorized Nurses: Providing a professional and personal treatment to the tenants, according to the guidelines of the authorized physician or nurse. The authorized nurses are also in charge of the treatment to wounds, infections, pain, dialysis, palliative etc.
- Caretakers: Helping the tenant with everyday actions, such as washing, dressing, eating, sleeping, mobility and using the bathroom. The caretakers also provide companionship, support and appreciation to the tenants.
- Social workers: In charge of the social treatment of the tenants, the social matchmaking, the social counseling, the connection with the families, the assistance with rights and referring to external services. The social workers are also in charge of the planning and the management of the social activities and occupation at the home.
- Occupational instructor: In charge of the occupational treatment of the tenants, the occupational assessment, the group and personal therapy, the occupational rehabilitation, the environmental adjustment, the connection with the families, the referencing to external services. Occupational instructors are also in charge of the planning and management of occupational activities and creativity at the home.
- Physiotherapists: Medically treating the tenants with exercises, massages, Electro-Convulsive Therapy and other devices to rehabilitate and strengthen the body. The physiotherapy is intended for those who suffer from pain, injuries, atrophy or mobility restrictions. The physiotherapists in the nursing home assess the condition of the patients, set a personal plan and guide them with exercises and using accessories. The physiotherapists also cooperate with the medical and nursing staff at the home, and advise them about physiotherapeutic treatment, adjusted for every tenant.
- Dietician: the dietician in a nursing home is in charge of setting balanced menus, adjusted to the nutritional needs of the patients, in accordance to their medical, cognitive and social state. The dietician is also cooperating with the medical and nursing staff in the home and advises them on the adjusted diet for each patient. Occupational Therapist: An expert on occupational therapy, which is a treatment involving daily activities, creativity, games and other devices for rehabilitation and improving the cognitive, social and motoric functionalities. The occupational therapist in a home assesses the state of the patients, sets a personal treatment plan and guides them through activities, and using accessories. The occupational therapist also cooperates with the medical and nursing staff in the home, and advises them on treatment for the tenants.
In nursing homes, there are various staff, according to the needs and design of every place. We will be glad to assist and explain about each of them to you.
