Page 52 - Ombudsman Participant Manual Optimized_Neat

Occupational Therapists Licensed clinicians who focus on activities of daily living and

positioning: bathing, dressing, meal preparation, etc. TIP:

Occupational Therapists or Certified Occupational Therapy

Assistants (COTA) help the resident in the areas of dressing,

eating, bathing, routine household chores – cooking, dishes,

laundry, etc. This is especially important after a stroke or an

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injury that has compromised previous level of function.
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therapy department is under the impression that a resident is not

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returning o their home/a lower level of care – they may not do

any Occupational therapy. Again, communication between the

therapists and the resident is key. Occupational therapists can

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play n important role in “positioning issues” – in other words,

what type of chair, bed, device would best serve the resident.

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Geri-recliner versus wheelchair, etc. resident is having
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comfort issues – wheelchair is painful, hard to propel, etc. –

occupational therapy may be helpful and can be involved.

Usually, the resident would request this type of assessment

through nursing or the social worker. Ideally, issues should be

identified through routine nursing assessments and referred to

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therapy matter of protocol. Nursing may notice, for

example, that a resident is slumping or sliding, and they can ask

o take a look and make recommendations.
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Speech/Language Pathologist Licensed clinicians that focus on speech and swallowing

functions. Tip: Not all facilities have a full time Speech/Language

Pathologist, but all nursing homes need to have access to one.

Some routine assessments must be done but, they also address

specific issues on an “as needed” basis. Residents with

Parkinson’s, recovering from a stroke, etc. May need assistance

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learning o speak or chew/swallow again or differently. SLP plays

a key role in testing to determine consistency of food for people

at risk for choking or aspirating. Sometimes, when a resident is

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on pureed or “soft” diet, they may eventually be re-tested to

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see f there is any possibility of resorting a more typical diet or

normal consistency. o access the SLP, a resident would usually

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look o nursing and/or the Rehab Director.

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Administrator The licensed professional in charge of the entire facility and held

accountable for licensing compliance. TIP: Although the

training/licensing requirements are different, both PCH and NH

have administrators. They are “in charge” and at the top rung of

the ladder. Administrators involvement in/knowledge of the

“day-today” varies from home to home. For this reason, they are

not always the best person for a resident to go to first when

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trying o resolve a problem. However, for PEERs, the

administrator’s knowledge of the Office and support of the Office

will be “key” to their success. Administrators may often have

designees who function in their absences/days off. However, the

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ultimate responsibility/liability still the administrator’s. It is
important o remember that, in homes that are part of a larger

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corporation, the administrators may have a supervisor that is

holding them accountable to corporate goals, budgets, policies.

Office of the LTC Ombudsman
Office of the LTC Ombudsman
Version 1.0 September 2020
Version 1.0 September 2020
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