If you could build your perfect Nursing Home......how would it be?

Have you ever heard of Lenawee Medical Care Facility in Adrian, MI ? We've spent the last 10 + years making our nursing home a HOME. Our residents have choices. They get up when they want to. They eat what they want to. The staff are cross trained. We are an Eden facility. Check it out...It takes time, training and people who care...I'm proud to be a geriatric nurse!

Bigger rooms, bathrooms that will fit a w/c, the resident and a couple of nurses. Doors that are wide enough to get the bed out without squishing your fingers. Management that knows what we are doing and understands that when we ask for something it isn't because we are trying to make their lives more difficult. Be nice to all.

One RN and 3 LPNs for 96 patients is not reasonable.

Pets. Definitely pets. The caged birds some of them have are fine, but you can't...pet them.

I would dispense with the crazy diets and let them eat whatever they wanted. Is it really necessary to put a 90 year old on a 1200 cal 2-3gm Na, NCS diet? If I live to 90 I want to eat as much chocolate and McD's fries as I want to.

Also meal times need to be flexible and more choices need to be available. If a resident doesn't want to have a hot meal at the regularly scheduled meal times there should be a kitchen stocked with cold foods that they can eat whenever they want to.

I would let them wake up and go to bed when they wanted to. If you're a night owl being forced to wake up before 6am and be put to bed at before 8pm is abuse.

I would let them wear what they wanted to. If the resident wants to stay in their PJs or wear a fur coat and a tiara let them as long as it's appropriate for the weather and it's clean.

I would let them do the things that they are interested in. If the resident wants to stay in their room watching T.V or reading books all day that's their business. I don't see why they have to be forced to go to a day room with people they may not like to participate in stupid activities that wouldn't interest any one over 5. Some residents have been life long introverts and it's not a sign of depression if they don't to want a lot of interaction with their peers.

I would make sure that everyone received adequate pain medication.

I would make sure that the choices of those who are willing and capable of making choices are respected. If the resident doesn't want artificial nutrition or wants to be a DNR than that is what goes and a relatives wishes will not supercede the residents.

This is a touchy one because I'm not a doctor and I don’t claim to know as much as one but...less medications. Especially the drugs like Namenda, remeron, exelon etc....how effective are they really? They might provide some very mild improvement but they can't turn back the hands of time. When you add in all of the anti-htn, cardiac, and anti-diabetic meds....thyroid...Parkinson...etc to infinity meds along with these dementia drugs it's just too many meds to take in a day. Oh yeah and can we dispense with all the vitamins already? Let’s stop at one mult-vitamin a day.
Also no one likes that dang protein powder and it doesn't matter what you mix it with everyone hates it.

I mean these people managed to live as long as they did without all of these pills. How much longer is all of that extra stuff going to extend their lives and is it a quality life if your choking down tons of pills everyday or sucking it down with applesauve or pudding?

Finally, I would staff enough nurses and CNA to patient ratios so that we can provide dignified care.

Harley rides for any resident who wants to (side cars available).

What an amazing post!!!! Everything you say is soooo true!!! I promise you that if I make it to ninety and you tell me I cannot use salt on my food we are going to have a problem. The only thing I would add is what a previous poster said about the "Eden Alternative". I think every home should have a childcare facility attacted to the grounds for the staff (the children participate in intergenerational activities). Another thing is the animals...I love my cats and dog. I have always been an animal person and when I get old I want access to animals, not to look at but to pet and love. Someday I hope I will be able to make these things a reality!