Residents of assisted living facilities can be susceptible to unique risks — from falls to medication errors, and cybercrimes that target the elderly. But their caregivers can also face risks.
Long-term care homes (one of the many types of assisted living facilities) provide support to seniors who require assistance with activities of daily living and are no longer able to safely age at home. But for long-term care workers, supporting residents who may have chronic diseases, mobility issues or cognitive impairment can come with a unique set of physical and psychological risks.
For example, workplace violence and abuse is more common in assisted living facilities than the general public may realize, though it’s often unintentional. Workers are also exposed to injury risks related to the physical nature of their job, such as supporting or transferring residents with mobility challenges.
Risks faced by senior care workers
While senior care workers face many of the same risks that workers across all industries face, such as slips, trips, and falls, they also face risks unique to long-term care homes and other assisted living facilities, including the following:
Workplace violence
Residents may face abuse or neglect from staff, visiting family members, or other residents, while senior care workers are also at risk of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. Incidents involving resident‑initiated assaults are often unintentional and commonly associated with dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment. For example, a resident who is disoriented may not recognize their surroundings or caregivers, perceiving them as unfamiliar or threatening which can result in them responding defensively by striking, kicking or biting staff.
Injuries on the job
The physical demands of the job, such as lifting and moving residents, can place workers at risk of musculoskeletal injuries and injuries like chronic back pain. These challenges are often exacerbated by staffing shortages, long hours, inadequate training in safe resident handling and repositioning techniques or accessibility to equipment. Additionally, the role’s demands may also impact workers’ mental and emotional wellbeing, leading to anxiety, chronic fatigue and burnout.
Infection control
During a pandemic or global health crisis, residents of senior living facilities are at heightened risk of adverse outcomes or complications due to chronic illnesses and compromised immune function within this population. But their caregivers are at risk, too. Factors such as close quarters, staffing shortages and limited access to personal protective equipment can increase the risk of serious or long-term health outcomes for both residents and staff, including fatal consequences. These scenarios can also result in legal challenges such as lawsuits and increased employee turnover.
Professional liability
Slips, trips, and falls aren’t the only liability issue. Those who work in assisted living facilities also need to protect themselves from lawsuits related to alleged errors, omissions, and negligence. Healthcare professionals, including registered nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, personal support workers, dieticians, psychologists, massage therapists, and social workers, could face allegations of negligence or breach of duty when performing professional services — whether those allegations have any merit or not. Volunteers, too, could be at risk of professional liability.
Best practices for combatting risks in long-term care homes
Clear policies and protocols
Mitigating these risks starts with clear policies and procedures, ideally drafted by a risk management consultant or lawyer.
Continuous staff training
Staff training is critical, especially with respect to caring for residents living with dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment. Responsive behavior management training and abuse prevention training can provide staff with the tools and strategies they need to manage and de-escalate aggressive or abusive behaviors. But it’s not one-and-done: training should be provided annually, both to employees and volunteers. Continuity of care within the facility is also important, so caregivers on a unit get to know residents’ plan of care and interventions.
Infection control planning
When it comes to infection control, formal policies and procedures also play a key role in protecting workers — along with residents and visitors — from infectious disease outbreaks and transmission. These measures may include rigorous hand‑hygiene practices, appropriate use of personal protective equipment and the implementation of immunization strategies.
Each facility should maintain a documented outbreak management plan, which is reviewed and updated as required. During an outbreak, staff should work at only one facility, if possible, and strictly follow protocols. Facilities should also have staffing contingency plans in place to address potential staffing shortages during an outbreak. Insufficient staffing levels during an outbreak can increase the risk of adverse outcomes, including resident neglect.
Take care of your business, your workers, and your bottom line
Although educating yourself on the above risks can help reduce the risk of loss, having the proper insurance policy is key. To learn more about how a tailored policy can help protect you, your employees, and your bottom line, visit our Assisted Living Facility Insurance Page today!
