Impact of Micro and Macro Policies on the Elderly with Dementia - Essay Example

Impact of micro and macro policies on the elderly with dementia Macro and micro policies are policy frameworks formulated to ensure quality in the delivery of healthcare services to a segmented client group in a particular societal setting. Their effectiveness can be through the establishment of proper structures, which essentially create a link between the relevant authorities and the receptor. Mostly in the health sector, formulation of such frameworks ensures the well-being of the segmented people as per their needs. For instance, the kind of policies governing the care of children would be very different from those governing adults especially the elderly. Therefore, sensitivity on the handling of these two classes of people is essential to reflect on the absolute care required by them. In this regard, this paper will take a keen look into the micro and macro policies surrounding the provision of quality healthcare in relation to adults with special needs. Moreover, its emphasis will be on the elderly people in the society whose needs appear to be unique as compared to other groups of people. A key eye will be on the elderly especially those with dementia by raising their safeguarding alerts (East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 7). Lastly, it will also be in contact with the effects of one macro policy through the implementation of the micro level processes. Introduction Dementia is a brain related complication characterized by reduced function on the brain’s responsibilities that may include thinking, speech, behavior, and memory function. Mainly, its experience is due to the occurrence of certain brain diseases that create imparity in the normal brain function. Some of the diseases that this loss of brain functionality associates with are Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease; Alzheimer and in some cases AIDS. It mostly affects people of old age who have the above-mentioned diseases making them very susceptible. In addition, various symptoms signal the arrival of this brain loss function, which are mood changes and changes in personal behavior. Other than the mentioned diseases, this condition may also occur due to the intake of a combination of prescription drugs and in minute cases hormonal imbalance in an individual. Additionally, this condition interferes with a person’s routine and daily function, as their brains no longer respond to brain commands. Unfortunately, this condition is irreversible therefore; the individuals affected require high attention and care. Further, the condition it has two categories; either being Alzheimer or Non Alzheimer related. Alzheimer is the leading cause of dementia in people who are in their late stages of life. The policy statement formulated around the vulnerable adults outlined that maintenance of the patients health was at the focus of quality delivery of health care services. Each health providing facility’s dedication was on maintaining the dignity and privacy of their patients. The achievement of this heavily relies on ensuring that no possible avoidable harm comes to them. This macro policy realization was to be through trust committees charged with delivering reasonable accommodation for this special group of people. The most vulnerable in this case would be the elderly affected by dementia. Therefore, this made up the Macro policy regulating the code of practice around the provision of specialized care for them. As a micro policy, the Trust committee in East Lancashire’s responsibility was to oversee the latter implementation of the Macro policy. Certain mechanisms came in place to meet the requirements. Concerning accommodation, they have to make sure that each gender has its own place for accommodation to uphold privacy. These include same gender toilet and bathroom facilities other than the bed area. However, same gender interactions would only occur in specialized cases like intensive care and not under any other circumstance. This is subject to choice and preference of the patients and if they do not feel comfortable then alternatives should be available (Care and Quality Commission 8). Secondly, all staff has to undergo mandatory training on the handling of their patients. In essence, proper training would ensure that fewer risks occur when handling the dementia-affected patients. Moreover, the analytical assessment of the likely risks ensures the taking of necessary steps to avoid the occurrence of accidents. This would be through the tabulation and documentation of the likely risks then carefully outlining the needed steps essential in control of the identified risks. A safeguarding Action plan would be essential at this point. However, the effectiveness of this policy depends on the collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to uphold the safeguarding of the vulnerable adults. Additionally, the trust will encourage its staff and caregivers to voice out their concerns through proper channels to uphold healthy surroundings for the patients. To this effect, reporting of all cases of abuse will be beneficial, as they will allow for proper investigation. A clear and acceptable outcome will be comfortable and readily acceptable by all involved (Department of Health 2). In accordance with the policy, information giving criteria has to be a matter of delicacy and sensitivity. This is in relation to the presentation of the issues on safeguarding of the patients vulnerability. There was to be no discrimination or bias when giving out the arising concerns. The concerns are unique to every patient therefore needed handling according to content. The members of public also have their part to play, as there is an internet service that would collect comments from them. This would be highly beneficial, as it will help the health institution to improve their service provision through their critics. Internet services and websites have been a great source of public relations for many institutions as responses and feedbacks find their way there due to the level of anonymity involved. Essentially, the ultimate beneficiary on the service improvement will be the patients within the facility through value added service delivery. However, a number of them may have lost their ability to relay issues but still they interests find a way to the surface through the voices of others (Care and Quality Commission 13). Safe guarding Alerts and Concerns The Care Quality commission classifies the information it receives as either a safeguarding alert or concern. Here, it becomes the first agency to receive the safe guarding report hence determining its urgency. As a responsive measure, the Compliance Manager or inspector receives the communication verbally then he properly advices the council on the appropriate measure to be taken on the same day the incident is reported. The latter, which is the safe guarding concern also safeguards information whereby information does not arrive to the CQC first. Therefore, they do not make any immediate reaction to the information acquired as probably other authorities may have reacted to the information. These other authorities might be either the police or the local council. At this stage, the CQC only does risk evaluation by either going to the ground or through the local council to ascertain whether urgent action would be appropriate. In this regard, the safeguarding concerns brought forward are dealt with within two days of receipt therefore critical compilation of the data is essential because of the period provided. This is in accordance to the Quality and Safety Essential Standards that are in existence (East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 14). In the event that the first alert occurs, the ultimate action would be to report the matter to the police who will ensure proper issuance of justice. Exceptionally, those contracted to provide certain services like cleaning and maintenance of the facility also have to ensure that they comply with the policies and regulations in place. In addition, proper documentation is a factor that all record custodians have to adhere to if they need to continue working in these facilities. The mixing and absence of medical records would be detrimental to their patients’ health as the risk of administering improper medication may occur. Due to their mental state, the dementia patients will not object to any of this as their brains hardly take stock of what is going on. In the event that this carelessness occurs, the patients will suffer, as the treatment that they would be undergoing will not be of any help to them. Therefore, the staff with the responsibility of taking care of them should do so with utmost care. In addition, absolute coordination among staff members involved in the provision of health services is mandatory, as it will help in the effective attendance to the needs of these elderly. If this factor lacks, then it will be a failed institution, as each department will run by its own without factoring in the needs of its patients (Department of Health 3). For purposeful policy implementation, the institution must ensure that the health care workers are aware of what is required of them. A clearly mapped out set of rules and responsibilities should be on the lips of them all. For the clinical officers, frequent updating of their knowledge through additional training is necessary. Moreover, they need to stay informed on the evolving ways of patient care provision and treatment. They also need not stay in the Stone Age period medicine wise, as they would prove in efficient in their vocation. In addition, the institutions charged with the care of the vulnerable adults should be well equipped both medicine wise and in reference to relevant books. Their libraries should have adequate literature concerning the kind of service that they as an institution offer. A fact clearly known, continuous acquisition of fresh knowledge is the best in tackling of presented situations. Moreover, a library conveniently located within the health care premise ensures continued service delivery to those in need of it. This is because the members of staff need not be away from their workstations as they can get the books that they would require in their vicinity. In essence, time wastage will be minimal which will ensure that the patients are properly taken care of and in good time. As a monitoring measure, the employment of the services of clinical governance systems would be inevitable (Care and Quality Commission 21). This body will ensure the actual implementation of these policies. On the other hand, patients with dementia may suffer either physical or emotional abuse because of their mental state. Therefore, the primary role of every healthcare giver to these patients is to make sure that they do not suffer any of this. The society we live in has little regard for such people hence making them very vulnerable to abuse. As a result, the caregivers should train their patients on ways that they can somehow communicate in case there is any form of abuse on them. However, this may prove tricky, as their mental ability is dysfunctional but it is somehow. They can learn how to influence these skills to their patients through extensive research and learning. In addition, they can highlight what abuse entails and where one can get help in case they are abused. This will be effective to the public and to those suffering from this condition. The prompt reporting of these cases is better as the chances of helping these sick individuals become high. Additionally, the immediate response to the reports made provides safety for these vulnerable individuals as it ends their physical or emotional torment (East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 25). Subsequently, the establishment of a support system for the one who experienced the abuse becomes a milestone in effecting their protection plan. Ideally, the safeguarding of adults currently falls under the No Secrets (2000) Health Policy framework department that gives the local councils the mandate to establish and coordinate localized multi agencies to respond to abuse claims. Commendably, it introduced the idea that the departments of social services set up adult protection frameworks to oversee local protection arrangements. These arrangements are in essence the Adult Safeguarding partnered boards. As of 2008, the Health department initiated a public health consultative forum that reviewed and made amendments to the No Secrets policy. Gradually, the government reaction in 2010 to the public consultation included empowerment and delivery of justice to safeguard these adults (16). It also evoked the inclusion of national and widespread leadership on safeguarding these adults. Its legislature also formulated laws that put the boards at a statutory position. As intended, these boards encourage local incorporation to their small systems that are in existence to date. Meaning a board’s mandate was strictly in its area of jurisdiction and control. In excess, the formulation of new policies would enhance the responsibility of the local councils to be in the lead in the coordination of the agencies. The publication of set regulatory standards in 2005 by the Association of Social Services Directors on Safeguarding adults proved fruitful. It presented a platform for the good practice of health care provision by the relevant personnel. Recently, the Department of health rolled out elements that would help both social and health care. The elements initiated between 2010 and 2011 supported the good conduct towards the safeguarding of adults. A legal guide is also at the disposal of the health practitioners to ensure that they remain on the right track through knowledge of the repercussions of ignorance on their side. By so doing, quality and professional health sector output is an experience that many will enjoy. The safe guarding boards through their independence have been able to provide aide to those in need of it as it has much government backing at its disposal. Without the government backing, they would be in efficient, as they would not have any muscle that sustains its relevance. Additionally, the legislative policies formulated have enabled the running of these boards to be as smooth as possible as people are more aware of the rights and privileges of everyone. According to the bill of rights, every individual is entitled to adequate access to medical services irrespective of their condition. In turn, this rules out the possibility of discrimination, as it is an offence to human rights (Department of Health 2). In conclusion, the government has been able to undertake the advocacy and implementation of the required frameworks despite its budgetary strains. Very little allocation is on the marginalized groups and therefore the existing local agencies work on a strict financial allocation. Though strenuous, the government has made great strides in ensuring that the needs of the elderly have priority. After all, they are the most senior citizens and thanks to them, the society is what it is because of the effort that they put in when they were still productive. Overly, the continued common assessment of the structures in place to sustain quality service to its senior citizens has been of high help. It has managed to make the needed changes to accommodate improvement of service. This is essential because it has been able to catch up with the current times when it comes to disbursement of much needed health care. In essence, focus on the rights of the elderly has promoted dignity for those with dementia. On the other hand, the use of user-led structures in implementation of policies has been important in influencing the much-needed assistance. An organization led by an elderly citizen experiencing the condition ensures that all their needs see the light of day. Works Cited Care and Quality Commission. Responsibility and commitment to safeguarding, 2010. Web, 29 Sep. 2012. Department of Health. Statement of Government Policy on Adult Safeguarding, 2011. Web, 29 Sep. 2012. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Policies & procedures, Protocols, Guideline, 2011. Web, 29 Sep. 2012. Read More