Feeding Assistant in Nursing homes

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Hi Everyone,

I have a question?

Has anyone in the long term Nursing homes field been using feeding assistants get? If yes, How is it working out? Do you like them? Does it help you in nursing so you can do your other duties?

thanks,

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I have not seen them used in my short experience. However, I believe when the Med Aides,Bath Aides and all other non Aide/nurses are consistently involved in feeding it can be of great help to the aides. I know some medication aides at my facility help with feeding and others don't. If they have the time, which I assume they do, then I think it would go along way to implment a rule to have them help feed all meals or only on swing shift if that is easier.

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We have feeding aides where I am working and that one extra hand is a big help to us when they are there. I am on a dimentia unit in a long term care facility and it seems like every day there are more people that need that help to finish their meal.

LPNLew

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We have feeding aides where I am working and that one extra hand is a big help to us when they are there. I am on a dimentia unit in a long term care facility and it seems like every day there are more people that need that help to finish their meal.

LPNLew

Health Issues: Long-Term Care

Feeding Assistants

NSCLC is opposed to federal regulations that allow nursing facilities to use minimally trained "feeding assistants" in place of certified nurse aides. These regulations allow feeding assistants to care for residents with as little as eight hours of training, without being under the direct supervision of a nurse. Previously, individuals doing this type of work had to have completed at least the 75 hours of training required under the federal Nursing Home Reform Law.

Feeding a nursing facility resident is not just a matter of putting a spoon in a resident's mouth. Choking and aspiration are constant dangers, and positioning of the resident can be critical. Certified nurse aides must have 75 hours of training, and are required to pass a competency test. However, feeding assistants will be required to have only eight hours of training, and no competency test will be required.

Reducing the hours of training requirements does not seem like a promising strategy to improve the quality of care in nursing facilities. HHS claims that the use of feeding assistants will free up nursing aides to provide care to residents with more complex needs, but it is more likely that feeding assistants will take the place of nurse aides. HHS acknowledges that feeding assistants will be minimum-wage employees, and cost-savings are a primary justification for the feeding assistant category.

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We call them dining room monitors. They assist residents with feeding, getting their drinks, etc. This allows the other floor staff the ability to help the other residents get to the dining room, etc. We also have "Open Dining", and that has been a wonderful experience, not only for our residents, but for staff also.

All of our dining room monitors are CNAs.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Oh, man, having BATH AIDES would be GREAT.

It used to be that one place i worked at had a "whirlpool team" who did all the whirlpool baths. The team members were different everyday (so everyone got a "break") and people got baths and showers a lot earlier than before.

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What do you think?

"QUOTED WITH PERMISSION AND GRATITUDE:

Volume 9 Number 150

Thursday, August 5, 2004

ISSN 1091-4021

News

Nursing Homes

Proposed Class Action Lawsuit Targets

Rule on Nursing Home Feeding Assistants

SEATTLE--Nursing home residents in Washington and their advocate

organizations filed a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit in federal

court July 30 seeking an order requiring the Department of Health and Human

Services to end the practice of allowing "poorly trained" feeding assistants

to provide direct care for residents (Resident Councils of Washington v.

Thompson, W.D. Wash., No. CV-04-1691, filed 7/30/04).

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the

complaint for declaratory, injunctive, and mandamus relief charges that the

federal agency is violating the Nursing Home Reform Law by allowing the

assistants to provide feeding help to nursing home residents after as little

as eight hours of training, according to a July 30 statement by the National

Senior Citizens Law Center and the Center for Medicare Advocacy, whose

attorneys filed the lawsuit. ...

"The use of paid feeding assistants would diminish the quality of care

provided in nursing homes, placing nursing home residents at risk of serious

injury and possibly death," the lawsuit said.

The statement announcing the filing of the complaint said states that are

allowing feeding assistants to work in facilities are Delaware, Illinois,

Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nebraska, North

Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Statements regarding the feeding assistant rule are on the National Senior

Citizens Law Center Web site at

http://www.nsclc.org/news/04/june/cmsrtopfeedasst.htm."

end quote

Thank you.

Yours truly,

Marti Ann Benenfeld, RN, FNC, ALA, LTC

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Council

North Miami Dade, FL

Nurse Consultant, Long Term Care

[email protected]

Assisted Living Administrator: Core Trained

Family Council Consultant

Research and Development nurse

Business Office: 305- 626-6144

Personal Office: 305- 792-7979

Mobile Office: 786-797-8686

Fax: 305-633-7593

Recognition Award 1998

Achievement Award 1998

Ombudsman of the Year: 2001

Ombudsman Chairwoman: 2003 and 2004

Governor's Golden Choice Award 2004

Award of Excellence 2004

Ombudsman 1997 to present

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day!

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