This is such a hard question to answer appropriately. Who is in charge of determining what is a good quality of life and what is not? Is everyone entitled to a good quality of life?
These are some very interesting and tough questions.
The very first question I must ask is does quality of life differ based on where you live? Is quality of life different for someone who is elderly and living at home alone different from a long term resident of a nursing home?
Home, Independent, but struggling
Who gets to make that call? Is good quality of life living home indenently but struggling to pay bills and put food on the table? Where does the right for quality of life come from where they are already on social security but draw too much to qualify for Medicaid to help pay for medical care and medications?
Long term care in a Nursing home
The quality of life issue is even more complicated in a Nursing home. There are so many different aspects of what can be perceived as quality of life. This can vary drastically based on current health and diagnosis. It can be said that someone who still has good cognitive ability would have a different standard as someone who has severe dementia and unable to interact at all.
What determines it
The hardest factor is who makes that decision. It has been put in the hands of the family and caregivers.
It has also been expressed even more in the therapy world when the letter from CMS reeducation of what is considered covered skilled services for residents of a nursing home.
Does maintenance mean quality of life?
I firmly believe that maintenance of current function or range of motion instills an improved quality of life. Unfortunately we have been hammered in therapy by managed care insurance as well as fear mongering of certain companies that have pushed the envelope too far over the years.
We need to remind ourselves as caregivers, regardless of license or role in a Healthcare setting, that if we still have the compassion that drove us to this work, we can’t go wrong if we make any positive impact on someone. You need to put yourself in the shoes of the resident or the family member. Will my interaction better the quality of life of this resident…..no matter how small of an impact it seems at the time.
Break out of your shell…..
Be proud of the impact you can make on a daily basis and never take it for granted. Get back to making a difference.
