Question

When working in an aged care facility it is important to be aware of the legal and ethical considerations and possible assessment tools relevant to the older person. For each area below, define and determine the legal aspects surrounding both the legislation or assessment tool and its relevance to the aged care sector (in 40-60 words each).

Question 1 Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI)

Answer 1

When working in an old age facility it is important to know about the legal & ethical considerations & possible assessment tool relevant to the older adult.

Legal issues

1) Negligence

Failure to give adequate care.

Nurse should provide assistance to the elderly based on the difficulty level. Neglect from the care giver side will mentally disturb them.

2) Malpractices

Failure to give care by a professional.

Not giving the care or not follwfoll the prescription etc coming under this category.

Nurse should always focus on her responsibilities with passion.

3) Omissions

It is not giving the prescribed treatment to the patient

Nurse should understand that it's her duty to follow the treatment plan & should not make any exception for that which may lead implications

4) Torts

Act performed by nurse with an intention to harm.

Nurse should avoid Assault & Battery ( unwanted Physical contact ) here

5) Invasion of privacy

Invading the right of the person to be left alone & live in a noninterference environment

6) Elder abuse & neglect

Physical

Psychological / Emotional

Financial

7) Abandonments

It occurs when the responsible person leave the dependent elderly alone

Ethical issues

1) Restraints

If the threats overrides the benefits

2) Withholding & withdrawing treatment

Not giving emergency treatment or giving forcefully the refused medicine

3) Assisted suicide & Euthanasia

In some areas it is illegal

4) Concent

Cnscious patient should be informed about the treatment & consent should be collected from them

Aged Care Funding Instruments ( ACFI )

It is used to m​​​​​​easure the level of care each resident needs, based on activities of daily living, complex health care & resident behaviour.

It is administered by Australian government's department of health stands for aged care funding instrument.

The aged care services divided into 3 broad domain here;

Activities of daily living

Behaviour

Complex health care

Based on the assessment obtained, each area is given funding according to the following needs;

High

Medium

Low / Null

The questions include residents mobility, nutrition, hygiene, cognitive skill & day today care factors. With the assessment recognising a resident low care or high care. Along with that the residents health assessment also result in ACFI score.

It is important as it provides fund to the elderly. The assessment is done by trained health care providers.