Identifying Needs of Clients entering Long Term Care

Many many thanks for the infor. as I was offered the position ,when I just started to volunteer I had some ideas, working in aged care for years, but this is fantastic , makes May Day to day
job easier, so I can concentrate on other things and spent more time with the consumers
May god bless to all the member's input, really appreciated.

I'm doing diploma in community services and require to conduct complex assessment and referral found your web insightful thanku

excellent website going for an interview

Hi
Bianca's assessment of ACFI's effect on Lifestyle is accurate. As it is secondary to all nursing requirements, hard to assess & 1:1 care is not a financially viable option.

I am doing Cert IV in Kinesiology and this requires information on Complex Client Needs. This website is most helpful. Thanks!

Great source to use on my level VII leisure & health & apply in the Facility I work.
Thank you

Whilst we have comprehensive tools to evaluate and to asses Residents needs in aged care, the question has to be posed can we meet these needs? We collate, observe, document and communicate to gather information about residents’ likes, dislikes, capabilities, deficits, diagnosis, and personal history and personality characteristics. Hancock, G. A. et al (2006) conducted a study where the goal was to quantify the unmet needs of residents with dementia in an aged care setting and the characteristics linked with high levels of needs. Needs were identified using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly (CANE). The study concluded that whilst physical and environmental needs were satisfactorily addressed, social & emotional needs were consistently unmet. Due to these unmet needs there were clear escalations of psychological disorders.

Meaney, A. M et al (2005) conducted a similar study in a community setting and concluded that similar outcomes were experienced in community dwelling Elderly with dementia, the study was able to identify, using The Care Needs Assessment Pack for Dementia (CareNap-D) that there were also elevated levels of unmet need. It was concluded that these elevated levels impacted on behaviour and mental state (84% of those experienced agitation) and on social interaction and access.

We hear the term person centered care constantly bandied around in our industry. According to Dawn Brooker (2003) this term is predominantly used in the context of outcomes for residents with dementia. What lies behind this terminology in terms of practical application, may be disputed as being unrealistic and at best marginally achievable to address these key issues of unmet social emotional needs in aged care.

With the introduction of ACFI (Aged Care Funding Instrument) Diversional therapy was removed as a means of generating funding, as ACFI is designed to ‘focus on the core measurable needs and to allocate funding to services on this basis’. Though ACFI also states that according to the Accreditation Standards under the Aged care Act (1997) the Aged care standards and accreditation agency will continue to monitor aged care homes to ensure that the expected outcomes under the Accreditation standards are met. In that case why was there not more importance placed on including Diversional Therapy as part of a multi disciplinary approach to funding in Aged care? As it stands at this time our departments (Diversional Therapy) do not generate funding and are therefore not regarded as a priority when funding is provided for staffing levels. These key issues highlights the importance of developing a funding tool on the basis of the actual needs identified.

Online resources:

The ACFI and Allied health professionals.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE)

References:

Hancock, G. A., Woods, B., Challis, D. and Orrell, M. (2006), ‘The needs of older people with dementia in residential care’. Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry, 21: 43–49. doi: 10.1002/gps.1421 viewed: 4th of May 2012

Meaney, A. M., Croke, M. and Kirby, M. (2005), Needs assessment in dementia. Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry, 20: 322–329. doi: 10.1002/gps.1284 viewed: 4th of May 2012

Dawn Brooker (2003). What is person-centred care in dementia?. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 13 , pp 215-222 doi:10.1017/S095925980400108X viewed: 4th of May 2012rn - Hancock, G. A., Woods, B., Challis, D. and Orrell, M. (2006), ‘The needs of older people with dementia in residential care’. Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry, 21: 43–49. doi: 10.1002/gps.1421 viewed: 4th of May 2012rnrnMeaney, A. M., Croke, M. and Kirby, M. (2005), Needs assessment in dementia. Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry, 20: 322–329. doi: 10.1002/gps.1284 viewed: 4th of May 2012rnrnrnDawn Brooker (2003). What is person-centred care in dementia?. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 13 , pp 215-222 doi:10.1017/S095925980400108X viewed: 4th of May 2012rn

Hi Bianca, Thank you for the feedback. The term 'person centered' tends to be overused without the support needed to carry it out. This is especially true for leisure staff who try their hardest to care for the spiritual and emotional needs of the residents as well as the social needs. Residents considered 'high care' for instance, unable to follow or participate in the 'Monthly Leisure Program' fair poorly, despite extensive assessment of needs. Their needs require 'one-on-one' attention from staff which is often not catered for by management.

I am doing Cert. 3 in Aged Care and have found helpful tips from your site. Thank you very much.

Thanks, this information is extremely helpful. This website is such a gift to us all.

With gratitude
Karen Moren :)

I am doing cert 4 in Ageing & Disability and really thankfull for information I got clearly from your sight

Am doing cert III aged care and have found the information on your page very useful THANKS!!!

Thanks for the info on assessment on clients needs when entering an aged care facility. Would you have a template of an assessment form I could use. Thanks

I am so pleased to have found your website and the information here. Thank you.