| Resident Characteristics |
What does this tell you? |
Why is this information important? |
| Percentage of residents with a
loss of ability in basic daily tasks |
This quality measure counts unexpected, sudden,
or rapid loss of the ability to do one or more basic
daily living activities. This measure shows the percentage
of residents whose need for help doing basic daily
activities is greater than when their need for help
was last checked. |
Most residents value being able to take care of
themselves. It is important that nursing home staff
encourage residents to do as much as they can for
themselves. In some cases, it may take more staff
time to allow residents to do these tasks than to
do the tasks for them. Residents who still do these
basic daily activities with little help may feel better
about them selves and stay more active. This can affect
their health in a good way. Some residents will lose
function in their basic daily activities even though
the nursing facility provides good care. |
| Percentage of residents with pressure
sores (Note: This measure is also
available with an additional level of risk adjustment
to comparisons.) |
The percent of residents who are reported to have
one or more pressure sores. |
Pressure sores may be: painful, take a long time
to heal, or cause other complications such as a skin
and bone infection. There are several things that
nursing facilities can do to prevent or treat pressure
sores, such as frequently changing the resident's
position, proper nutrition, and using soft padding
to reduce pressure on the skin. Some residents may
get pressure sores even when the nursing facility
provides good preventative care. |
| Percentage of residents with pain |
The percentage of residents reported to have very
bad pain at any time, or moderate pain every day. |
If pain is not treated, a resident may not be able
to perform daily routines, may become depressed, or
have an overall poor quality of life. This percentage
may include some residents who are getting or have
been prescribed treatment for their pain, but who
refuse pain medicines or choose to take less. They
choose to accept a certain level of pain so they can
stay more alert. |
| Percentage of residents in physical
restraints |
The percent of residents who are restrained daily.
Examples of physical restraints include lap buddies
and chairs with lap trays. |
Restraints should only be used when they are necessary
as part of the treatment of a resident's medical condition.
Only a doctor can order a restraint.
(Note: A disproportionate number of certified beds
at Lutheran Convalescent Home are occupied by late-stage
Alzheimer's residents.) |
| Percentage of residents with infections |
The percent of residents with a new infection such
as pneumonia, respiratory infection, septicemia, viral
hepatitis, fever, recurrent lung aspiration, urinary
tract infection, or infection of a wound since being
admitted to the facility. |
Certain types of infections can be prevented by
shots (immunizations), like flu or pneumonia shots,
and other care by nursing home staff. Complications
from other health conditions, such as diabetes, may
result in infections, which may be more difficult
to prevent. (Note: It is the goal of
Lutheran Convalescent Home to diagnose and treat infections
early and promptly.) |
| Percentage of short stay residents
with delirium (Note: This measure
is also available with additional level of risk adjustment
to help comparisons.) |
This measure reflects the percentage of short-stay
residents in Lutheran Convalescent Home who have symptoms
of delirium. Delirium is a stage of acute confusion
that develops quickly and involves changes in awareness,
attention, cognition (thinking and reasoning), and
perception. An individual's degree of difficulty in
these areas may be greater or less over the course
of the day, but overall, delirium represents a sudden
and significant decline from the previous level of
functioning. |
Delirium is common among nursing home residents,
especially those with preexisting cognitive impairment.
Approximately 25% of residents admitted from acute
care settings will have new or persistent delirium
that restricts their success in rehabilitation and
prolongs their stay in the nursing facility. Delirium
is not dementia and is never part of normal aging. |
| Percentage of short stay residents
with pain |
The percent of short stay residents who have moderate
pain daily or excruciating pain at any time. |
Residents should always be checked by nursing facility
staff to see if they are having pain. Residents (or
someone on their behalf) should let staff know if
they are in pain so efforts can be made to find the
cause and make the resident more comfortable. If pain
is not treated, a resident may not be able to perform
daily routines, become depressed, or have an overall
poor quality of life. This percentage may include
some residents who are getting or have been prescribed
treatment for their pain, but who refuse pain medicines
or choose to take less. They choose to accept a certain
level of pain so they can stay more alert. |
| Percentage of short stay residents
who walk as well or better |
The percent of short-stay residents whose ability
to walk unassisted or with limited assistance has
been maintained or improved. Note that higher values
on this quality measure imply good quality of care
relative to activities of daily living improvement.
|
Residents who stay in a nursing facility for a short
time are generally expected to maintain or improve
their ability to walk. Being able to walk on one's
own helps improve quality of life and how residents
feel about themselves. It makes it more likely the
resident will be able to go home earlier. Nursing
facility staff can help improve a resident's ability
to walk in many ways. For instance, they can encourage
residents to take part in physical activities. |
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