In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of senior care centers calling on first responders, particularly fire departments and emergency medical services (EMS), to assist with non-emergency lift assists for residents. This trend has raised concerns about the strain on emergency services and the underlying reasons why these facilities are not relying on their own staff to handle these situations. Several factors contribute to this reliance on external help:
1. Staffing and Liability Concerns
One of the primary reasons senior care centers are turning to first responders for lift assists is related to staffing challenges and concerns over liability. Many care facilities operate with limited staff, particularly during evenings, nights, and weekends. This understaffing can leave care workers hesitant to attempt lifting residents on their own, fearing injury to both themselves and the residents. Furthermore, labor organizations in some facilities have explicitly removed patient handling from the responsibilities of non-medical staff, such as security and maintenance workers, due to liability concerns and worker compensation issues.
2. Increased Acuity and Complexity of Care
The complexity of care required by residents in senior care facilities has increased, with many residents needing more intensive support than in the past. This rise in resident acuity makes handling falls and similar incidents more challenging for care staff, who may not be adequately trained or physically capable of safely lifting patients, especially those who are bariatric. This has led facilities to default to calling first responders, who have the training and equipment to handle these situations more safely.
3. Risk of Injury and Litigation
There is also a significant concern about the risk of injury and subsequent litigation. If a care staff member were to attempt to lift a resident and that resident were injured in the process, the facility could face costly lawsuits. By involving first responders, who are seen as better equipped to handle such situations, facilities may believe they are mitigating these risks.
4. Cost Shifting
Interestingly, there is also an element of cost-shifting at play. By relying on public emergency services for lift assists, some senior care centers may be attempting to reduce their own operating costs, passing the burden onto local taxpayers. This trend has not gone unnoticed by municipalities, some of which have started implementing fees for non-emergency lift assists to discourage this practice.
5. Lack of Appropriate Equipment
Finally, some facilities may simply lack the appropriate equipment, such as patient lifts, which are essential for safely moving individuals who are unable to lift themselves. Without this equipment, attempting to lift residents manually is not only risky but often impractical, leading to a reliance on first responders who have access to such tools.
Moving Forward: Solutions and Implications
The increased use of first responders for lift assists highlights a broader issue of preparedness and resource allocation within senior care facilities. Addressing this issue will require investments in staffing, training, and equipment, as well as clearer guidelines on when it is appropriate to call for external help. Some communities have already begun to impose fees for non-emergency lift assists, encouraging facilities to better equip and train their own staff to handle these situations internally.
The growing reliance on first responders for lift assists underscores the need for systemic changes within the senior care industry to ensure that residents receive the care they need without placing undue strain on public resources.
For further reading on this topic, you can explore more detailed reports and analysis from sources like Senior Housing News and the National Council on Aging.