Hearing

What do you hear?

• Do you hear the sound of laughter? Talking? Pleasant or not so pleasant?
• Do you hear residents talking to each other, or is it staff talking to each other – ignoring the residents?
• Is the television on full blast drowning out everything else?

Taste

You may not get a chance to use this sense. Assuming that you are given a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit or piece of cake take time to taste whether your drink is really hot or lukewarm, whether the milk is fresh or on the turn.

• Is the cake or biscuit fresh or stale?

 

This will give a small indication of how food is used and presented to the residents.

Rules

There are usually a few rules that need to be adhered to for the safety of the home and residents. They are generally kept to a minimum but might include:

• keeping fire doors closed;
• keeping fire exit doors free from obstruction i.e. cases or wheelchairs;
• medications being locked away;
• medications being taken under supervision;
• hoists being used for residents over a certain weight;
• residents being barred from certain areas, eg kitchens, laundry, etc.

Inspections And Certificates

All residential and nursing homes for the elderly are inspected regularly on a number of points. This is to ensure:

• the premises are safe and clean;
• the residents are clean, comfortable and happy;
• the kitchens and foodstuffs are stored properly, safe and clean;
• menus are balanced, enjoyable and have choice;
• all drugs (medications) are properly stored, dispensed and recorded;
• care of individual residents is carried out properly and well;
• that all care, allergies, treatment and other important information is recorded correctly.

 

There are many other things that are inspected over and above these listed items.

National Care Standard Commission

These inspections are carried out by the National Care Standard Commission. Sometimes the home is notified of an impending inspection in order that the person in charge can get all the books, certificates, residents’ care plans, fire and maintenance records, kitchen records and menus, etc ready for the inspectors to see. The inspectors leave or send a report to be kept in the home. You are at liberty to ask to see these reports if you so wish.

The Fire Service

Fire officers also make visits to check fire exits are free, there are no fire hazards resulting from excess rubbish within the home and to look for anything else which is a potential fire hazard. They check fire and smoke alarms, fire hoses, fire-blankets (kitchen) and the fire zone alarm system.

All residential homes have to test fire alarms on a regular basis. If any fail to function they have to be dealt with. The fault, the date and time of repair and times and dates of testing must be recorded. The fire officer will check all records of fire equipment and staff training each time they come.

District Pharmacist

Another inspection which takes place is in the treatment room where the medicine trolley is kept. All the medications (drugs), ointments, creams, injections, controlled drugs and records are checked by the district pharmacist regularly.

These three inspections are the main ones. Each inspection helps to ensure the well-being of the residents.

Residents’ Charter

Most homes have a residents’ charter. Sometimes this is on display. If you wish to see it or have a copy ask the matron or the nurse in charge (see sample in Figure 4).

Registration And Insurance Certificates

These certificates should be on display for visitors to see. They are usually framed and hanging on a wall in the reception area of the home. If you cannot find them ask the matron or the nurse in charge to show you where they are.

Checklist

Have you looked through the brochures and discussed them with your relative?

• Have you made a list of the questions you want to ask?
• Have you made a list of the things you wish to see?