Geriatrics and Aftercare Department

A prepared PDF document in which personal details can be filled in electronically before printing the contract for signature:

Contract for the provision of social care services.pdf

Extension of the contract for the provision of social care services

• To be informed about their illness.
• To have appropriate and continuous medical care.
• To be useful in work and leisure for as long as possible.
• To be regarded as an adult, not as a child, in all dealings.
• To be taken seriously when expressing their feelings.
• If possible, not to be treated with psychotropic drugs.
• To live in a safe, understandable and predictable environment.
• To enjoy everyday activities that give life meaning.
• To be able to go outside regularly.
• To experience physical contact, including hugging, stroking and hand-holding.
• To be with people who know the patient’s life, including their cultural and religious customs.
• To be cared for by staff trained in caring for people with dementia.

* here you will find a link to the ČLS website

The counselling service for patients with Alzheimer’s dementia and their relatives is held every even-numbered Monday – according to demand and by prior telephone arrangement on +420 567 157 188 or +420 567 157 188 (outpatient nurse).

These meetings will address your specific problems and also provide information about facilities offering specialised care for clients with Alzheimer’s dementia. Our geriatric clinic specialises in the care of such patients. We carry out comprehensive examinations, including testing, to determine whether the condition is Alzheimer’s dementia or another disease.

We then continue to monitor the patient and adjust their treatment, we also offer materials for cognitive training at home and provide social counselling.

Introduction

The likelihood of illness increases with age. A situation may arise in which a person is no longer able to lead a full life. This makes high-quality and accessible health and social care all the more important.

This charter concerns older patients. It is generally recognised that some functions, such as sight or hearing, may deteriorate in old age. Another well-known fact is that it usually takes an older person longer to recover from illness or surgery. However, old age can in no way be regarded as the cause of or explanation for a physical or mental illness. The amount of services an older person needs also varies greatly. Some older people need practically no services, while some frail elderly patients are dependent on permanent comprehensive care.

The tasks of health and social care for older people are as follows:

• To promote the good health and well-being of older people, and to prevent or alleviate illness and dependency
• To treat the patient in the event of illness
• To help older people lead full and independent lives as active and valued members of the human community
• To ensure continuity between health and social services so that older people can stay in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, with hospitalisation or a stay in an institution made available to them when it becomes necessary
• To guarantee that there is no discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, religious belief, nationality or the place where the person currently lives.

1. General principles

Older people are entitled to the health care they need, according to their state of health and degree of dependency, not according to their ability to pay for such care, the environment they come from or their lifestyle.
Most health problems should be resolved by the primary care team. If more complex or serious problems arise, referral to the appropriate hospital department is indicated.

2. Komunikace a informace

As a patient, an older person can expect:

• -That they will be regarded by healthcare professionals as a partner and will take part in all decisions concerning their health and care
• That all members of the care team will listen to them in a patient, therapeutic and supportive manner
• That they may, if they wish, be represented by a relative, friend or other person who will assist them if they have difficulty communicating or understanding what healthcare professionals are asking them
• That they will have aids to facilitate communication in the event of impaired sight or hearing
• That they will be informed clearly and sensitively about their health problems
• That they will be given a written report on their state of health and diagnosis, if they so wish
• That they will be fully informed about treatment options, including their possible risks
• That they will be informed about their condition before their relatives, unless the illness itself prevents this
• That they will be able to view their medical records and will be informed that all carers are legally bound to maintain confidentiality
• That their complaints will be properly investigated and that they will receive a prompt written reply
• That they will receive detailed and complete information about the health and social services available in the area and about other options for support and assistance
• That help and explanation will be available to them whenever they need information about their illness in order to make further decisions.

3. Health promotion

An older person can expect to be informed:

• About a healthy lifestyle
• About healthy nutrition
• About physical activity and exercise
• That they will be entitled to a general preventive medical examination at the age of 65 and 75, or more often depending on their state of health or needs.

4. Medicines

Older patients have the right to expect to be prescribed medicines suitable for treating their illness

It is also desirable:

• That the labels on medicine containers are sufficiently legible
• That medicine containers can be opened without difficulty
• That medicines are supplied in a way that helps the older patient, or the person giving them the medicine, to dose it correctly and minimises mistakes and omissions.

5. Transport

An older person can expect:

• That suitable transport to a healthcare facility will be provided for them if they are unable to arrange it themselves
• That all areas and directions in healthcare facilities will be signposted clearly and understandably
• That there will be transport links between hospitals that are as simple and accessible as possible

6. Health problems

It is desirable for hospitals to have departments specialising in the medical and psychiatric problems of older patients. These departments may have different names, e.g. department of old age medicine, department of geriatric medicine, etc. Teamwork with staff from other disciplines, including rehabilitation and social work, is important.

Memory disorders

Old age alone does not cause memory deterioration. Sometimes memory deterioration may have a treatable cause. If memory deteriorates significantly:

• An examination by a psychiatrist, geriatrician or other specialist dealing with memory disorders is advisable
• Where the illness is progressive and incurable, patients and those who care for them can expect to be given support and advice in a way that is helpful and acceptable both to the patient and to their loved ones

Falls and deteriorating mobility

With increasing age, the risk of falls rises and it becomes more likely that independent movement will become more difficult. If this is the case, the cause must be sought, which may be, for example, vascular disease or another illness. Many causes of falls are treatable.

Therefore, in the event of deteriorating mobility or falls, an older patient can expect:

• Examination by a specialised team of experts
• That they will be lent assistive devices if they need them and will be instructed in their proper use
• That arrangements will be made to provide them with help in unexpected situations – e.g. an emergency call system with a body-worn sensor to summon help.

Inkontinence

Inability to control urine or stool occurs as a result of various diseases. All treatment options must be used, including surgical treatment where appropriate.

In the case of incontinence, whatever its cause, the patient can expect:

• A specialised examination to determine the cause of the incontinence and assess treatment options
• Where this condition cannot be influenced, expert advice, assistance and aids that will help them cope with the situation.

7. Nemoc

Older patients are entitled to urgent medical care when they need it. It can be provided by their general practitioner, the emergency service or another doctor.

If the older patient’s state of health requires hospitalisation, the patient can expect:

• That the environment of the healthcare facility and the composition of the team will respect the needs arising from their state of health
• That they will be cared for by an experienced and trained team familiar with the complex issues of older patients
• That physical and mental problems will be correctly diagnosed and treated
• That a multidisciplinary team will, if necessary, carry out a comprehensive assessment of the older patient’s state of health and health and social needs
• That all professionals involved in their care will communicate effectively in the interest of smooth treatment
• That they will remain in hospital for exactly as long as their state of health requires

8. Recovery and rehabilitation

Older patients often need longer to recover and regain their original functional status.

It is therefore important:

• That they remain in the care of the healthcare facility until they can safely return home or until another suitable solution is found
• If the older patient’s state of health does not allow a fully independent life, a set of health and social services enabling the patient to return home should be arranged within two weeks of the comprehensive needs assessment
• That older patients will be treated and cared for by a multidisciplinary team that will identify and support their residual abilities and provide rehabilitation to restore or improve their self-sufficiency and ability to live independently
• That family members and others who help the patient can also take part in the rehabilitation.

9. Discharge from hospital

It is desirable and necessary:

• That before discharge from the healthcare facility a decision is made on the optimal form of further care to meet the needs of the older patient. The hospital will arrange further home care with providers at the patient’s place of residence. The patient has the right to take part in this decision, either personally or through family members or other persons of their choice.
• That on discharge the patient is informed and instructed about all important matters so that they know how to continue their rehabilitation and convalescence.
• To enable an older patient who needs comprehensive health and social services and wishes to remain at home to receive home care according to their needs, as determined by a comprehensive professional assessment.

10. Day centres

If an older patient does not need hospitalisation, or has just been discharged, and day care is appropriate, the following is needed:

• That their general practitioner recommends a stay in a day centre for further rehabilitation
• For a multidisciplinary team to look after their health in the day centre
• That transport to the day centre is provided if they are unable to arrange transport themselves

11. Respite care

If an older patient is cared for long-term by family members, professionals or other carers, after a time everyone (both the patient and the carers) may feel the need to interrupt this care and contact for a while. It may also happen that the carer has health problems that temporarily prevent them from providing care.

Therefore, an older patient and their carer should be entitled to:

• To help in the event of a deterioration in their health, arranged either by their general practitioner or by the home care team
• To two to three weeks of respite care – a stay in a retirement home, nursing institution or hospital, depending on the patient’s state of health. This stay can be arranged in advance so that its timing suits both the patient and the carers.

12. Community and social services

For services for older people to be functional and comprehensive, good communication between the general practitioner, home care staff and social services is essential. Within community care, an older patient can expect the following services to be provided when needed:

• Stay in the day centre
• Home care
• Night-time “sitting” and evening visits (help with going to bed)
• Incontinence aids
• Appropriate aids to assist with daily self-care activities
• Laundry
• Physiotherapy
• Hygiene services (bathing), foot care
• A safety monitoring system if the patient lives alone, and means of preventing injuries.

The usefulness of these services and aids must be reviewed regularly and adapted to the patient’s current needs.

13. Moving to a new home

If an older person is no longer able to stay at home, they must be enabled to live in an institution.

Before this happens, a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment must be carried out in the community and, if necessary, further specialised examination or treatment of health problems and rehabilitation in a healthcare facility recommended. The patient and their family must be introduced to the team examining the patient.

In an institution, an older person has the right to expect:

• That a care plan will be drawn up, which will be reviewed regularly and adapted to their needs
• That they will decide, if their state of health allows, on their way of life, including when they wish to have privacy and when they want company
• That their movement outside the institution must not be restricted, nor any other contacts, including post, telephone or visits
• If they live in a nursing home, that the institution will be inspected regularly and thoroughly so as to ensure high-quality care
• That their care will be professionally managed by a geriatric specialist if their condition requires more complex medical care and nursing

Services provided at the ODN

• A day room and occupational therapy are available to inpatients on the ground floor of the building.
• In summer, patients can sit outside in the grounds under a covered awning; we also take bedridden patients out there in their beds.
• Patients can borrow books and watch television in their rooms, or watch television together in the dining room.
• A pedicure can be booked for a fee, and shaving and haircuts are provided by a private hairdresser.
• Spiritual care:
  • • • • spiritual care directly on the OGNP ward
        • mass in the hospital chapel, more information can be found HERE.

If you are going to be admitted to our department, please bring the following personal items:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste, also for patients with dentures
• Towel, washcloth, disposable tissues
• Shampoo, shower gel or soap
• Moisturising body cream
• Toilet paper
• If the patient needs them – also disposable incontinence pants
• Suitable indoor footwear with non-slip soles
• A list of the medicines the patient is currently taking
• Contact address of relatives and of the general practitioner

It is not advisable to bring larger sums of money or valuables to hospital. If the patient does not deposit them in the hospital cash office, they are responsible for their money and valuables themselves.