Facts Facts: Geriatric Care Principles

NUMBER 6 I APRIL 2006
fastfacts
Geriatric Care Principles
Resources for Nursing Home Professionals
Health care providers and nursing home staff should be trained in the basics of geriatric care to provide the
best care possible. Below are some basic principles of geriatric care:
Increase Knowledge and ■ Create resident-centered care. Create an environment

Training in Geriatrics that makes residents feel at home by attending to their
■ Health care providers should have competency/knowl- comfort and working to improve the overall quality of life
edge in geriatrics. Not all nursing home workers have and function of residents. Build a sense of community
experience with geriatric studies and principles. Clinical and bring a family atmosphere to the nursing home.
staff should be trained in geriatric care and all staff should Study culture change work (Eden, Wellspring, Pioneer
have senior sensitivity training. One study found that Movement) and integrate the principles into the care
nursing students working in a geriatric ward had more provided to residents.
favorable attitudes towards older patients than those work- ■ Relate to the person, not the illness. When caring for
ing in a general ward. residents, don’t define them by their illness or disability.
■ Continued education in geriatrics is important. Litera- Providers should recognize that illnesses affect people differ-
ture shows that extensive and continued training is an ently and treat everyone as an individual. Sensitivity train-
important way of battling poor attitudes by staff against ing about how elders experience care in your facility is also
seniors. One study found that nurses trained in special very helpful. One DON who needed surgery became a
education found older people with dementia to be “unique patient in her own sub-acute setting. After discharge, she
human beings” rather than one homogenous group. ordered new mattresses for all residents.
■ Training in geriatrics helps everyone. As more health care ■ Expose health care workers to healthy seniors as well
providers are trained in geriatric care, this may encourage as residents. Encourage staff to seek out relationships with
more individuals to move into the field, which will help healthy seniors, not just patients, to help them have favor-
seniors today and in the future. Schools that educate health able attitudes about seniors. Studies have also shown that
care workers have a challenge to present geriatrics as an older health care workers or those that have grandparents as
exciting field of study; one where caring individuals can role models have better attitudes towards seniors.
make a real difference. Nursing homes can be very exciting ■ Uphold ethical principles, including autonomy and
and stimulating places to work. dignity. Evidence suggests that an elder’s dignity and auton-
omy are often undermined by health care professionals.
Nursing Home Residents Are Individuals A health care provider’s pessimistic viewpoint can negatively
■ Be aware of ageism. Some health care professionals hold affect the quality of care and can translate into a loss of
more ageist attitudes than the general population.6 A survey dignity and identity for seniors. Avoid negative interactions
of nurses working with seniors found that they expressed between staff and patients and insure that providers have
“stereotypical views about old people.” But ageism can work regard for patients’ privacy.
both ways—older people can take on stereotypes of old age,
like suffering pain needlessly, “not wasting a doctor’s time,”
or believing that “old age” is what’s wrong with them.
Audience: All Caregiving Staff

NUMBER 6 I APRIL 2006
fastfacts Resources for Nursing Home Professionals
Geriatric Care Principles

References
Monitor Chronic Diseases and Provide 1. Skog M, Grafstrom M, Negussie B, Winblad B.
Consistent Treatment “Change of outlook on elderly persons with demen-
■ Use multidisciplinary team of health care workers. tia: a study of trainees during a year of special educa-
tion.” Nurse Educ Today. Aug 1999;19(6):472-479.
Geriatric care involves attention to a patient’s psychological,
2. The American Geriatrics Society. Position Statement:
social, and functional needs. The team is responsible for
Ambulatory Geriatric Care. www.americangeriatrics.
developing and carrying out the plan of care. Regular org/products/positionpapers/ambltryPF.shtml.
meetings between health care workers are crucial, as well 3. Peach H, Pathy MS. “Attitudes towards the care of
as completing documentation to maintain proper care. the aged and to a career with elderly patients among
■ Track key clinical conditions including medications and students attached to a geriatric and general medical
firm.” Age Ageing. Aug 1982;11(3):196-202.
preventive services. Health care workers should understand
4. Lothian K, Philp I. “Maintaining the dignity and
common senior complications, such as incontinence, falls,
autonomy of older people in the healthcare setting.”
depression, and dementia. New patients should be screened Bmj. Mar 17 2001;322(7287):668-670.
for high risk of re-hospitalization and functional disability. 6. Donald W. Reynolds Program in Geriatrics UoM-C.
Ongoing monitoring should include immunizations, pain Ten Principles of Geriatric Care. www.fcm.missouri.
control, end-of-life care, and prevention of chronic diseases. edu/PDFs/TenPrinInsert.pdf.
■ Provide consistent and conscientious diagnosis and Web links
treatment. Clear explanations of diagnoses are critical, The Eden Alternative www.edenalt.com
otherwise residents may refuse treatment because they don’t The Pioneer Network www.pioneernetwork.net
understand how their health can improve. Residents and The Wellspring Institute www.wellspringis.org
caregivers should be encouraged to take an active role in
managing chronic illnesses and be provided information on
self-management whenever possible.
Encourage Positive Communication ■ Ensure end-of-life care, recognizing that decline of

with Residents health, disability, and death are inevitable. Residents
■ Good communication is important to good health. should be able to live well despite their illnesses. Be willing
Effective communication can help prevent medical errors to discuss dying and other end-of-life concerns. Provide
and help build relationships based on mutual respect. education for all staff on caring skills at the end of life.
Ask questions about a resident’s family or past in order to Work with residents and families on advance directives and
promote rapport. Acknowledge a relationship based on engage with your local hospice provider.
mutual respect, communication, and trust.
■ Provide an engaging and meaningful environment.
Residents receiving care should feel secure and comfortable.
Activities and experiences should be positive and meaning-
ful while being designed to support the resident.
Author: Jose Alvear, healthcare information specialist, Lumetra

Peer Reviewer: Ranjit Singh, RN, DON
More Fast Facts available at www.chcf.org/fastfacts.
Copyright/Referencing Information: Users are free to download and distribute Fast Facts for educational purposes only.
Disclaimer: Fast Facts provide educational information. This information is not medical, legal, or management advice. Long-term care
providers should exercise their own independent judgement when adapting or adopting this information to their settings.
CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION l 476 Ninth Street l Oakland CA 94607 l tel: 510.238.1040 l fax: 510.238.1388 l www.chcf.org

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NUMBER 6 I APRIL 2006

Increase Knowledge and ■ Create resident-centered care. Create an environment

Audience: All Caregiving Staff

fastfacts Resources for Nursing Home Professionals

Geriatric Care Principles

Encourage Positive Communication ■ Ensure end-of-life care, recognizing that decline of

Author: Jose Alvear, healthcare information specialist, Lumetra

More Fast Facts available at www.chcf.org/fastfacts.

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