Senior Care Legal and Ethical Issues 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of a Long-Term Care Ombudsman in the US?
- To manage the daily operations of nursing facilities
- To advocate for the rights of residents in long-term care facilities and investigate complaints (Correct answer)
- To provide direct medical care to residents
- To audit the financial records of care facilities
Correct answer: To advocate for the rights of residents in long-term care facilities and investigate complaints
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for resident rights and investigates complaints about care in nursing and assisted living facilities.
Question 2: A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order means:
- The resident refuses all medical treatment
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should not be initiated if the resident's heart or breathing stops (Correct answer)
- Staff should not enter the resident's room without knocking
- The resident has chosen to go home for hospice care
Correct answer: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should not be initiated if the resident's heart or breathing stops
A DNR order is a physician's order documenting the resident's wish not to receive CPR in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of neglect in a senior care setting?
- Offering a resident their choice of clothing
- Failing to turn an immobile resident, resulting in the development of a pressure injury (Correct answer)
- Encouraging a resident to self-feed
- Documenting care accurately
Correct answer: Failing to turn an immobile resident, resulting in the development of a pressure injury
Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide essential care, such as repositioning, that results in preventable harm.
Question 4: What must a caregiver do if they witness a colleague abusing a resident?
- Wait to see if the behavior recurs before reporting
- Report the incident immediately to the supervisor and, if necessary, to the state abuse hotline (Correct answer)
- Handle it privately by speaking to the colleague first
- Document it in a personal journal for future reference
Correct answer: Report the incident immediately to the supervisor and, if necessary, to the state abuse hotline
Caregivers are mandatory reporters of abuse and must immediately report witnessed abuse to the supervisor and appropriate authorities.
Question 5: Which document designates a trusted person to make health care decisions on behalf of someone who lacks capacity?
- A living will
- A durable power of attorney for health care (health care proxy) (Correct answer)
- A last will and testament
- A DNR order
Correct answer: A durable power of attorney for health care (health care proxy)
A durable power of attorney for health care designates a health care proxy to make medical decisions when the person cannot.
Question 6: Restraint use in a US nursing home requires which of the following?
- Only verbal order from the nurse in charge
- Written physician's order, resident or surrogate consent, and ongoing monitoring (Correct answer)
- Family approval alone
- No documentation since restraints are a safety tool
Correct answer: Written physician's order, resident or surrogate consent, and ongoing monitoring
Federal regulations require a physician's written order, informed consent, and regular monitoring and documentation for any restraint use.
Senior Care Legal and Ethical Issues 2
What is the role of a Long-Term Care Ombudsman in the US?