At least one-fourth of all state nursing home inspections should be conducted on evening, late-night shifts, weekends and holidays, the state Silver Haired Legislature recommends.
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| John Kusel, president of the OK Silver Haired Legislature |
“Many residents living in nursing homes have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia,” the Silver Haired Legislature notes in a bill now heading to the 2016 Oklahoma Legislature.
“It is not uncommon that these individuals are active and awake at night. Also, falls may occur at night, when fewer staff are available to assist residents or respond to call lights,” said Silver Haired lawmakers who held their state convention Tuesday and Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
A Silver Haired Legislature bill calls for minimum staff-to-resident ratios of 1-to-6, 1-to-8 and 1-to-10 on three usual evening and night shifts.
The organization sends bills to the Legislature every other year or on odd-numbered years.
Currently, unannounced “off hour” inspections and investigations are conducted by the state Health Department. But the Silver Haired Legislators want to see such inspections increased to at least 25 percent to 33 percent of all inspections.
This week, a new Silver Haired vice president for legislation was chosen — long-time and now retired state Ombudsman Esther Houser.
“The Silver Haired legislators showed, once again, that their priority concerns revolve around the needs of the frail elderly and the risks those vulnerable elders face in both their homes and in care-providing facilities,” she said Thursday. (Continue Reading)
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Advocates seek night inspections in Oklahoma nursing homes