Creating a Safe and Secure Environment for Long-Term Care Residents

Healthcare facilities must be safe places for residents, loved ones, and staff—it should be the top priority. It can be challenging to make residents comfortable in their living environment and family and friends feel secure in leaving their loved ones. Here are five steps to ensure a safe and secure environment for nursing home residents.

1. Build Relationships: Relationship building cultivates understanding, reliability, and trust with residents and loved ones. It also allows people to feel safe to report a problem.
2. Be Honest: Withholding information can break trust and respect. If you don’t have the answer or are waiting on results, data, etc., it’s essential to communicate that information.
3. Be Composed: Don’t lose your temper. It’s important to have self-control and poise, as this can minimize workplace anxiety. Furthermore, if you’re a leader, it’s vital to remain level-headed to work towards the desired outcome.
4. Surveillance: Having strong surveillance in a facility can help ensure any issues can be reviewed and monitored. This can help resolve and correct incidents as needed.
5. Have a Plan: In the case of an emergency, having a plan that has been thoroughly communicated to residents and staff can make a world of difference in ensuring safety.

“Implementing just one of these things in our daily tasks can be the difference between a fine and happy resident. Also, for the most part, these five things are quick and easy to apply. It’s important to do everything possible to make for a comfortable stay in a long-term care facility,” – Joe Kubulak, Chief Operating Officer at SpecialtyRx.