Our New Focus:
The Executive Committee of TLC 4 Long Term Care Residents (TLC4LTC) has announced that the organization, while adhering to their mission of achieving quality care for Virginia's nursing home residents is adopting a different approach. TLC4LTC is now promoting the concept of Culture Change, which changes the care of nursing home residents from Staff Directed Care to Patient Directed Care. This is a nationwide trend to create living situations for nursing home residents that will be in line with the Federal Law (the Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987) which requires that each nursing home "care for its residents in such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or enhancement of the quality of life of each resident". Furthermore, each nursing home is required by law to "provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care.....". Practically speaking, this means that a resident should not decline in health or well-being as a result of the way a nursing home provides care. TLC4LTC has been attempting to meet these goals by legislative means mainly by working towards minimum staffing requirements. However, we have come to realize that the disabled elderly people should not be institutionalized and have turned our attention to a significantly different model.
Our New Focus (cont.)
TLC4LTC was instrumental in bringing together interested parties to study the feasibility of changing the total structure of the nursing home industry. The idea is to create small homes in residential areas for 6-10 residents with 2 to 3 staff members. This has been done successfully in other states with far fewer costs than nursing homes which in the Northern Virginia area run about $7- $8,000 per month. Included in our new coalition (Nursing Home Alternative Project ---NHAP) are county and city government officials, a private assisted care owner, and a nursing home overseer. NHAP expects to bring in other relevant persons. The anticipated outcomes will be either a cluster of residential dwellings (to be built) or existing homes in neighborhoods that would be retrofitted to meet the required standards that are deemed necessary for quality care. An essential element of both types of homes is that they will be environmentally friendly.
Each resident would have a private room and bathroom. High lighting levels, plants, and access to outdoor spaces would be conducive to the residents' well-being. The elders would be free from the limitations of institutional schedules and can engage in activities of their own choosing---not those of the staff. In effect, the above mentioned culture change will be provided in small residences.
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TLC4LTC is an ALL VOLUNTEER organization working to improve the care of Virginia's nursing home residents. We rely on donations to pay for costs associated with this website, mailing, dues to NCCNHR and other supportive organizations, co-sponsorship of a yearly conference, room rentals for educational meetings, etc. No donated money is spent frivolously. Our coffers have become extremely low and we are in need of your financial support. If you have ever been involved with anyone needing nursing home care, if you ever think you might be, or if you are in agreement with our cause, please support our work towards making the lives of your loved ones better. Make your check payable to: TLC4LTC and send it to: TLC4ltc, PO Box 523323, Springfield VA 22152.
