LTC facility-TAKE DOWN THAT ARTWORK NOW!!!

[juzme]

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I were in to visit my MIL today and an aide told us that state was in a couple of days ago and saw the artwork of the residents on the unit(my MIL is on a dementia unit)that were hung on the wall in the activity/dining area and state said they had to come down, because the artwork was age inappropriate because it and was damaging to the residents dignity basically. The residents who could still understand were upset because they liked seeing what they made up on the way and the families were upset also.

The artwork is the only thing some of these residents even enjoy! Some of these things were pieces of different material on paper, collage types and some were drawings of different holidays, special events, etc. I feel bad for the residents, because when we have gone in, we have pointed them out and get a conversation going about the colors, ideas, etc. and some have worked really hard on these projects! What gives?

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

I don't think you can effectively careplan an issue like this. A better idea is to take it thru resident counsel and have the residents vote on the idea. If the residents vote that they want their artwork displayed this way it should be strongly stated as such in the resident counsel minutes.

[juzme]

yes, I think I will ask the DON about the State's regs. Thanks.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I agree with the person who said it was probably a manager using state to get her wishes. I wouln't believe it until I saw it written in the final report. If it really is from State, I think it is a violation of States authority. The common areas of a facility is supposed to be the resident's home. Who has the right to say which artwork you would like to put in your home? I could understand it, if it was profane, but I am guessing it's not.

I also say the Apprentice last night, and agree that a lot of the art was childish. However, art isn't mean to grow your intellect, but to center you and bring you to a better time and place. Who are we to tell someone that their beautiful souls who created these pictures are not quite up to par. Art gives us a peek into the hidden beauty inside of each of us. How dare State demean people for exposing their indiviuality and sweet personhood. Shame on State, or Management. Maybe it's because they don't have a soul, that they don't understand basic humanity.

Actually we had a resident who was an art teacher who had (tastefully done) pictures of naked men that she kept in her bedroom. They weren't in the hall or anything but they were there.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I agree with Morte CAREPLAN IT!!!

But on the positive side, that must be a dang good facility if all the state had to ding them on was the question of dignity and age appropriate artwork

lol, this was my second thought as well.....i have heard it said that you should always leave them some small thing to cite you about, because they are gonah git ya one way 'tother.

[juzme]

well the unit my MIL is on, is pretty dang good!:-) We just love the staff! and so does mom. State actually was in to investigate a resident who suffered a dislocated shoulder(I believe that is what the aide said)while being transferred improperly(on another unit and decided to take a quick walk through the building) and that is when they noticed the artwork on the walls.

[withasmilelpn]

They can ask for a variance. I worked in a nice place that really cared about the residents. We got cited for closet size - apparently they are supposed to be x and ours were y - it was an old building. So in the spirit of endless pointless paperwork we applied - and were granted a variance so we remained at the coveted 'deficiency' free status.

They also periodically got on the 'dignity' kick - Halloween parades with dressed up Residents is 'not dignified.' so we stopped doing something people really enjoyed. And a confused, constantly moving resident who fell repeatedly despite med changes and hospitalization and 1 on 1 staffing, could not use a bean bag chair that worked to keep her safe - because it was 'undignified'. Didn't win that argument or the Halloween with the state - which I am still angry about years later.

Luckily there is a real trend towards more home like environments and attitudes - the state is going to have to catch up to the fact that change is in the air and what's fun is fun. Geesh!