Hospice Abuse

[Madeinthe1980s]

Hello everyone, I am new to these forums as I was searching for a place for information. Over the past few years I have worked in assisted living. The staff assignments are typically 1 nurse to the building and have 3-4 resident aids. Right now I have almost 60 residents I must pass meds to and be responsible for. I have noticed that when a resident can no longer meet state mandated guidelines to qualify for an assisted living facility versus a nursing home, they are placed on hospice thus rendering them exempt from the regulations. They can not get out on the own volition in the event of a fire in the mandated 16 or less minutes for example. This puts much higher stress on my care staff and I. Administration never hires additional staffing, nor would they even with documentation that highlights the need to allot more hours. At first I thought this was an isolated incident at my first assisted living facility, but it turns out, is common practice. The residents' quality of care ultimately suffers and employee morale continues to spiral downward. I was contemplating reporting this to someone, but i am not sure to whom. What do you all think?

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

In most states you can make an anonymous report, I think it's to the board of health. However, in most states the laws are so ridiculously backwards that ratios that are unacceptable to anyone with common sense, are still legally allowed. The system is set up to maximize profits for corporations, not provide care for the people that deserve it.

[Nunya, BSN]

If I recall correctly there's usually a notice at the entrance to most places like this as to who you can report abuses to, which this definitely is. There also may be something on the resident admission paperwork if you have access to that. Or call your BON and ask them.

[Thanksforthedonuts, MSN, APRN]

What state is this in?

[Madeinthe1980s]

This is in TN. It has been a common theme at each assisted living place I have worked in.